Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has opted to roll the dice by selecting several players who have been under injury clouds, including Kyah Simon and Alanna Kennedy, in his final squad for the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
Gustavsson on Monday revealed the list of 23 players he will take into camp ahead of the tournament on home soil, having cut six from a provisional squad that was put through its paces at an intensive training camp on the Gold Coast over the past two weeks.
The experienced Simon, capped 111 times by her country and heading to her third World Cup, did enough over the past fortnight to warrant her inclusion, despite not having played a competitive game since tearing her ACL while playing for her club, Tottenham, last year.
The 32-year-old is not expected to win a place in the Matildas’ starting XI, but has been selected as an impact player to be employed off the bench, in particular with a view to making a difference in the knock-out rounds, should Australia get that far.
“She’s not selected based on where she’s at right now, eight months post-op, she’s selected on where we think she can be in a month from now,” Gustavsson said. “[She is] a gamechanger that is good in big games, never shies away, mentally strong and has a phenomenal connection not just with Sam but with the attacking players.”
Manchester City defender Kennedy, who has 108 caps to her name, has been plagued by injury recently but also got the nod despite not having run out for the Matildas, who head into the tournament ranked 10th in the world, since September.
Fellow veterans Clare Polkinghorne, Emily van Egmond and Tameka Yallop joined Simon and Kennedy, despite similar lack of recent game time due to injuries. Dynamic attacker Mary Fowler, who has not been seen on a pitch since sustaining a back injury for Manchester City towards the end of the WSL season, was also selected.
Gustavsson said concern a month ago over the spate of injuries and lack of game time had eased, and he expected a fully fit squad to be ready for the opening game against Ireland on 20 July. If not, player replacements are allowed to be made up to 24 hours in advance of the big kick-off.
“We had multiple players with injury issues over the last six months. A lack of playing time, maybe availability and form, could be a big question mark,” he said. “I do have full trust in our processes in the weeks leading in that we will have most of the players both available and in form.”
Gustavsson’s faith in his experienced players gives a familiar feel to the bulk of the squad, which is headlined by captain Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord. Goalkeeper Lydia Williams, along with Polkinghorne, will go to a fifth World Cup.
“I’m very honoured,” said Kerr of her selection. “Any time you go to a World Cup whether its your first or your third or fourth. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s something you can never take for granted and I never will. But to do it on home soil is a once on a lifetime opportunity for not many people so I’m very very honoured.
“Every time I talk about it I get emotional because I can’t believe in 20 days time we’re hosting a Women’s World Cup. When I started playing for the Matildas I would never have dreamt of this. I’m very excited and just want to get started.
“I’m ready. I want the game to be now, I can’t wait until we walk out that tunnel at Stadium Australia. It’s going to be amazing.”
But there was no place for young goalkeeper Jada Whyman, Chloe Logarzo, Amy Sayer, Larissa Crummer, Emily Gielnik and Remy Siemsen in the final squad. Those players remain on standby, should any of the selected 23 pull out.
With less than three weeks remaining before the start of the tournament, expectations are high on home soil with Gustavsson backed to better the Matildas’ best finish to date – the quarter-finals in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Four years ago, they crashed out at the last-16 stage in France.
“This is a special group of players who, when you see the anticipation around the tournament and level of interest for women’s football, have already sparked a transformation,” Gustavsson said. “We can’t wait to get the tournament underway in front of a record crowd of support.”
But the Swede said he wasn’t thinking too far ahead and would take each match as it came.
“Everything we do is to prepare for the opening game against Ireland, make sure we nail the game plan, know exactly what we’re going to do, and that every single player feels they’re prepared,” he said.
Australia head into the tournament in good form, having won eight of their last nine games, including victories over England and Spain this year. They play France in their final pre-tournament outing on Friday in Melbourne, before opening their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Sydney on 20 July. Olympic champions Canada and Nigeria are also in Group B.
Matildas 2023 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah, Lydia Williams
Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Aivi Luik, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne
Midfielders: Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop
Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Kyah Simon, Cortnee Vine
