Fans have reacted strongly to some unusual pre-match scenes prior to the Matildas’ 3-1 friendly defeat to Brazil in Brisbane.

She is the defensive stalwart for the sporting team that has become Australia’s darling, yet after 18 years with the Matildas, Clare Polkinghorne has a clear-cut view of retirement: “I’ll definitely need a job.

Matildas hero Clare Polkinghorne was given a Queensland-flavoured farewell full of emotion at Suncorp Stadium in a 3-1 loss to Brazil.

Australia's most capped Matilda believes the game is in "good hands" ahead of her football farewell in Brisbane. Clare Polkinghorne grew up watching soccer matches at Lang Park. Now, she'll step off the pitch as one of the sport's greats.

How do you say goodbye to someone like Clare Polkinghorne? Such is the journey she has gone on with the Matildas across an 18-year international career, doing so was always going to prove difficult. The stalwart has,