Clare was a member of the 2006 Under-20 World Cup squad in Russia alongside current Matildas teammates Lydia Williams and Caitlin Cooper.

They were the last junior Australian women’s squad to qualify for a World Cup.

At the age of 17, Clare was selected to play for Australia against China in a friendly match in the lead up to the 2006 Women’s Asian Cup.

Clare became the 140th player to pull on the green and gold for the Matildas.

After her debut, she played a friendly against the United States in October 2006.

Tom Sermanni, who was head coach of the Matildas at the time, gave Clare the task of marking renowned forward Abby Wambach.

Sermanni’s instructions… stick to her like glue.

Where Wambach went, Clare went too.

At one point in the game Wambach went to the sideline for a drink and to get instructions from the USA coaching staff and Clare was standing right beside her.

A year later, Sermanni announced the Matildas team for 2007 World Cup in China and Clare was shocked when she was selected.