The grand optimist, or world's worst pessimist...it comes down to choice.

There is a small glimmer of hope we can still qualify for London. We can win our next two matches and finish with nine points. That is the only thing within our sphere of influence over which we can exercise control.

It's a difficult thing to summarise your thoughts and try to explain what emotions we have all felt over the last few days. It isn't so clear when you are trying to come to grips with what just one result could mean for the next year—pressure escalates no matter how hard you try and put it to the back of your mind. During a game it is a different level of concentration, with the game itself demanding your undivided attention. Upon reflection of the game (and result) you then get thinking how much we want to be at London next year, flying the Aussie flag on the world stage.

We must win the next two matches to remain in the running for Olympic qualification. The last three matches we have faced quality opposition. Especially North Korea in the first match and the World Champions, Japan!!! To the credit of the Japanese girls, we were out-played, out-smarted, out-muscled, and they deserved their victory. It is what it is and here we now have our two mountains to climb. We also have to depend on North Korea faltering at one of theirs.

This tournament with its back-to-back games has been a true test of body, mind, and spirit.

To go two days' break between the five most important games that we have ever played (outside of an Olympic or World Cup match) creates a degree of difficulty that is hard to put into words.
It has been especially difficult for me in the last few days to digest my own thoughts. We all have several niggling injuries, but for me, and after the Thailand game in which I copped a severe cork in the thigh, I am still struggling to even run. That is the issue with a tournament such as this—there is no such thing as time, and that's what injuries need: time. Because my cork is in such a dominant part of my body and the muscle is required to kick, accelerate, and tackle, if I try to play past the pain I risk a tear to the muscle.

The girls running out on the pitch will produce something special tonight: some good old Aussie magic.

We have a choice in the way we approach these next two matches and we need to avoid—at all costs—the doom-and-gloom attitude those who have accepted defeat possess.