What Matildas star Cortnee Vine does before every game
After a breakout season with Sydney FC in 2021-22, including leading the team to a third straight A-League Women premiership, Cortnee Vine has been lapping up being able to represent her country on home soil.
The biggest sporting event in Australia since the Sydney Olympics kicks has kicked into another gear, as the Matildas face France in the quarter finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Speaking to 9Honey Coach in the lead up to the huge tournament, the Matildas star says she is "living the dream".
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Cortnee Vine is ready to represent Australia at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Getty
It's certainly been a crazy 18 months for the 25-year-old from country Victoria, so it's no surprise there are a few things she does to help keep her grounded.
When it comes to what a day in her life looks like, Vine tells us it varies day by day.
Some of course are a "bit more relaxed" than others depending on whether the team is in training or having a break. But one thing she does daily to help "distract" her from everything that may be going on is read.
She's also got a bit of a pregame routine to make sure she "feels refreshed". That includes a bit of 'me-time' spent shaving her arms and legs and moisturising, before trying to go to bed and wake up like any other day.
Sometimes there may also be a bit of a midday nap in a dark room.
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Cortnee Vine plays for Sydney FC in the W-League. Corbis via Getty Images
In the W-League, Vine has also previously played for the Western Sydney Wanderers, the Brisbane Roar and the Newcastle Jets.
She represented Australia at under-17 and under-20 level before making her senior debut at the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
While she enjoyed all different sports growing up, Vine knew she wanted to take the shot to make it professionally in football so she could "play against the best".
So she threw herself into training and admits she really had "no back up" if things didn't work out.
Luckily, things turned out quite alright and she's loved the chance at being part of a team and making lots of friends.
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She represented Australia at under-17 and under-20 and made her senior debut in 2022. Getty
Of course, things aren't always smooth sailing, with Vine admitting she has sometimes found herself asking "why continue?"
"Sport is like a roller coaster ride," she tells us.
The only way to get out of that feeling is remembering how much you "want to be there".
"The key is to enjoy the journey, and have fun with everything that you're doing."
As she prepares to step out on the biggest stage in women's sport, there will be plenty of young players looking to Vine as a role model.
And she has some advice for aspiring future Matildas.
"Listen to your coaches and don't compare yourself to others," she says.
Additional reporting by Nadia Scurria.
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