ELLIE Carpenter has already achieved the sort of heights in her football career that others dream of, but the 18-year-old still has the drive to do better.
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The Western NSW Football graduate wants to add a World Cup appearance to a resume which already includes 21 Matildas caps and playing at the Olympic Games for her country.
Australia has been drawn in a tough pool alongside Brazil, Italy and Jamaica for the tournament, which will be hosted by France next June-July.
Talented defender Carpenter wants to be there as part of the Matildas squad.
“Everyone who plays football watches the World Cup. I watched the girls in 2015 and it looked like an amazing experience,” the player who once showcased her skills on Bathurst fields said.
“I’m just trying everything I can do to be selected in that squad next year and hopefully I’ll be there in France.”
READ MORE: Carpenter was happy to stay with Canberra
READ MORE: Carpenter links with the Portland Thorns
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While Carpenter has become a regular in the national squad since making her debut as a 15-year-old, to retain her spot means she must keep working on her game.
That drive to improve saw her become the youngest ever player to start a NWSL game earlier this season as part of the Portland Thorns outfit. Now she is using that experience to help her shine for W-League team Canberra United.
“I think it helped a lot playing abroad this year over in Portland, it’s nice to bring it back to the W-League and share what I learned over there,” she said.
“In my Portland Thorns team, I had a lot of world class players from the US national team, the Canadian national team.
“So every week I was either defending or playing against a world class striker.
“It’s my fourth [W-League] season now. I set out goals to achieve and I’ve achieved them very early, so now I have to go back and re-set even bigger goals.”
