Teagan ready for 'Tillies world bid

Picture: Ex-Redcliffe student Teagan Micah back with the Tillies. Picture: Ann Odong/Football Australia

Teagan Micah has not forgotten the past, but her focus is very much on the future – especially the next six weeks.

The former Redcliffe resident, student and waiter, is gearing up for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, in Australia and New Zealand (July 20-August 20).

Micah is one of three goalkeepers in the Matilda’s squad and hoping to add to her 14 international caps in a warm-up game against France on Friday.

If cap 15 arrives, it will be another significant step for the 25-year-old who as just returned from six months on the sidelines after “a major concussion”.

Micah was mostly “bed-bound” for two months and at times “struggled with the idea of ever being able to play professional football again”.

However, she now says: “I’m looking forward to the World Cup. I think there are similarities with the Olympics (where the 'Tillies finished fourth).

“The team’s together, we’re having a good pre-camp and expectations are a bit higher being a host nation. I think we’ve improved since then (2021).”

Micah was a standout as Australia reached the bronze medal play-off in Tokyo, particularly in the 4-3 quarter-final victory over Great Britain.

It is perhaps the highlight of a career which started in regional Victoria and continued when she moved to the peninsula at the age of 10.

Micah was in the Redcliffe State High School (RSHS) Excellence in Women’s Football program, as well as representative teams Brisbane Blue and Brisbane Central.

During that time, Micah also worked for 18 months as a waiter, barista and bartender at Pilpel By The Sea, when it was on Suttons Beach.

“Redcliffe (SHS) gave me my education and helped me massively,” said Micah, whose career is followed closely by her former teachers.

“The school pushed me towards UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), having a good career there and kept me in the game there.

“I was always super thankful to a lot of the teachers at Redcliffe. They helped me manage my studies and soccer, as I was away a lot of the time.

“I keep in touch with a few friends from my year, but I get a lot of messages from former teachers saying congrats on making the team.

“That’s always nice to see they are following my career.”

Micah’s sporting resume also includes the Queensland Academy of Sport and A-League clubs Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City.

Overseas, she has played for UCLA Bruins, Norwegian clubs Arna-Bjornar Fotball and Il Sandviken, and is now contracted to FC Rosengard in Sweden.

Matildas' World Cup Group B fixtures

Australia v Republic of Ireland
Date: July 20, 2023
Venue:  Stadium Australia, Sydney/Wangal
Kick-off Time: 8pm (AEST)

Australia v Nigeria
Date: July 27, 2023
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane/Meanjin
Kick-off Time: 8pm (AEST)

Canada v Australia
Date: July 31, 2023
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne/Naarm
Kick-off Time: 8pm (AEST)