Ferguson-Cook’s special bond with the team is well documented, you only need to go back to last week to find an incredible shot of Lisa De Vanna jumping into Eesh’s arms after the Matildas emphatic 5-1 win over Jamaica.

“Apart from playing in the Aussie team together, Lisa came and played for Brisbane Roar for a season and she lived at my house with me, we formed a pretty close bond then and it’s great," she said.

“Lisa and I have one of those friendships where you don’t always talk, you don’t always see each other, but nothing ever changes.

“She’s come to London a couple of times after the Algarve Cup or after tours, her family have stayed at my house with my husband while I was over here and she is going to come and stay with me when the tournament finishes.

“We’ve just known each other for a very long time and I love the fact that we can talk openly and honestly.

“We caught up for an ice cream yesterday and spoke about her, how she’s feeling, about me, about the team and it’s just easy.”

Taken by Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)

Ferguson-Cook’s influence extends to the team as a whole, but her affection and sentimentality towards her former teammates and close friends, don’t muddy the water when it comes to game time.

“The time I got to spend with the Matildas in Turkey, at the pre-tournament camp, was really good,” she said.

“I had a bit more of an opportunity to just catch up with players like Tameeka Yallop, Elise Kellond-Knight, Clare Polkinghorne, Lydia Williams. These were all the youngsters that now form the main part of this team.

“Seeing them going from being the young ones to now maturing into the players they are, is just really heart-warming.

“But me as a person and a player, I’ve always been very honest and transparent, so it’s not hard for me to remain objective,” she explained.

“If I had some critiquing or constructive criticism to give them as a player, I would do that and have a discussion with them – and that hasn’t changed.

“We have open discussions about what’s working, what’s not and it all comes from a place of respect, because I would appreciate that feedback as well and that’s always been the same from when I was a footballer, until now.

“Generally, I’m not too far off understanding their mindset and what’s going on for them, so it helps from that point of view.”