She did not speak directly to the reasons why she missed the games against Uzbekistan, but she had held ambitions of competing at the Olympics from early childhood, and would do everything in her power to impress Gustavsson and make the squad.

“Obviously, [the] Olympics has been a goal of mine since I was probably nine. Doing athletics as a youngster, I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics, so being able to do it in a sport that I love with a team that I love as well is a dream,” she said.

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“But it is something that’s in the background, it is out of my control … [I will] do as much as I can in clubland and in the next coming games to try and prove myself. I am just focusing on the A-League final series and hopefully creating history.”

The Matildas will learn on Thursday which teams are in their group for the Olympics, but the draw is so stacked - World Cup winners Spain, France, Canada, Germany and the United States have all qualified - that even the most charitable outcome will look daunting.

“[Our] extremely challenging assignment over the coming months, and next two FIFA international windows, is to narrow down on the final 18 players that will provide the best chance for success when taking on those rivals in France,” Gustavsson said.

“That those decisions will be difficult speaks to the genuine depth and competition for places that we have created over the past three years. Unfortunately, due to limited roster spots for the Olympics, that results in some very good players in strong form missing out on selection for this window and for the Olympics.”

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