Yallop using Olympic heartbreak and joy to fuel Tokyo 2020 journey

Samuel Green 1579846568,1579847061

Tameka Yallop has felt the pain of missing an Olympic Games and the euphoria of qualifying – so the Westfield Matildas attacker is drawing on both experiences on the road to Tokyo 2020.

Ante Milicic’s 20-strong squad have assembled in Sydney ahead of a trip to China to compete in the 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the chance to claim one of two places at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July and August 2020.

Yallop was a member of the Westfield Matildas roster that felt short of advancing to London 2012 and part of the group that topped the qualifying table for Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The 28-year-old believes helping to punch the Green and Gold’s ticket to a first Olympic Games since 2004 had a huge impact across the nation and she is determined to recreate that moment.

“Being in my third campaign, I’ve experienced one where we didn’t make it and that was gut-wrenching,” Yallop told matildas.com.au

“The Matildas hadn’t made it for a little while before that as well so – to come around to the second campaign and to qualify – that was unreal for us.

“Not just for us, but for women’s football in Australia in general.

“So coming into this third campaign, you know how to don’t want to feel and you know how you want to feel.

“We’re anticipating the good feelings, and that’s what we’re chasing.”

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Australia will face Chinese Taipei, Thailand and host nation China PR at the Jiangnin Football Training Centre in Nanjing across six days from Monday, 3 February.

Milciic’s side must finish as one of the two best teams from Group B to advance to the final stage – a winner-takes-all two-legged playoff, scheduled for March 2020, for a place in Tokyo.

The penultimate stage was originally scheduled to take place in Wuhan – 600km west of Nanjing – until the location was switched due to a health risk, but a late change in venue is not fazing Yallop and her teammates.

“Heading to China, we’ve done it a lot in the past, with the U-20s and the senior teams and we know what it’s like,” she said.

“We’re doing the same as what we’ve always done and we’ve got great medical support behind us and lots of other people checking things and making sure travel is alright.

“We’ve got full faith in what is going on behind the scenes as well.”

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The Brisbane Roar star has her sights locked on the Westfield Matildas’ first opponents, Chinese Taipei, on Monday, 3 February and Yallop believes an opening-game victory will be key to keeping the Olympic dream on track.

“I think the first game is the key to us progressing through the tournament. It’s the most important one,” Yallop added.

“We need to go out with a high standard and then keep that going game-to-game and that’s what we’ll be looking to be doing.

“We’re focused very much on the first game.”

Upcoming Matches – Westfield Matildas

Westfield Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Monday, 3 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)

Thailand v Westfield Matildas
Date: Thursday, 6 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)

Westfield Matildas v China PR
Date: Sunday, 9 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local); 10.30pm (AEDT)

Ticketing & broadcast information to be advised.