After breaking her back seven years ago, Hayley Raso never dreamt of making 100 Matildas appearances.

Just being able to walk again was Raso’s priority, so the likelihood of her chalking up a century of games for Australia when the Matildas meet Wales in Cardiff on Sunday morning (AEDT) has the 31-year-old Queenslander both emotional and proud.

“I remember during that injury and during my rehab questioning whether I would be able to play again,” Raso said in reflecting on the devastation she felt after three vertebrae in her back were fractured when she copped a knee to the back playing for American club Portland in August 2018.

“I had a lot of fear around that, so it was a really tough time for me, but it definitely made me a lot stronger.

“I’ve come out the other side of that, and I’

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