Veterans Emily Gielnik and Chloe Logarzo have heartbreakingly just missed the cut for the Matildas World Cup squad, but ‘game-changer’ Kyah Simon was picked despite not playing since October.
Australian coach Tony Gustavsson and skipper Sam Kerr officially unveiled the squad in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, with just 17 days remaining until the side’s first game at what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players: a home World Cup.
Veterans Gielnik (57 caps, 11 goals) and Logarzo (49 caps, 8 goals) and Larissa Crummer (33 caps, 4 goals) were extremely close to selection, but through a combination of form, fitness and Australia’s huge depth will heartbreakingly miss out.
As expected, youngsters Jada Whyman, Remy Siemsen and Amy Sayer also got the chop – though the trio are all extremely talented and likely to play a key role in the years to come.
Gustavsson opened the squad announcement by immediately expressing he understood how the player who didn’t make the cut were thinking: ‘It was tough, you are still with us… they are always part of the Matildas family.’
Sam Kerr will captain a strong squad full of depth and experience at the World Cup, with the Matildas first game on July 20
Kyah Simon has been picked in the final World Cup squad despite not playing since October
Simon, a prodigously-talented striker who ruptured her ACL while playing for Tottenham in October, got a huge tick of approval from Gustavsson.
The striker has played 111 matches for Australia after debut way back in 2007, and her x-factor from the bench and experience performing at her absolute best in the biggest games, meant she was trusted ahead of Gielnik and Crummer up front.
‘(Simon got the) Last spot as a game-changer … we are heavy on attacking talent on this country. She’s not selected based on where she is right now, she’s selected on where we expect her to be at the start of the tournament,’ the coach said.
‘She’s a mentally strong, has a phenomenal connection with Sam and the other attackers, so she’s selected based on being a game-changer and her energy level and changing the game off the bench.’
Kerr admitted it was tough to farewell players from camp that didn’t make the final cut, but is clearly eager for the World Cup to get undeway.
‘I’m very honoured, it’s an amazing feeling, something that you can never take for granted. To do it on home soil is a once in a lifetime opportunity,’ she said.
‘It’s an emotional rollercoaster having to say goodbye to some of your mates … but now we can really knuckle down and put in to this team. We’re ready, we’re excited.’
Australia will get their campaign for a historic World Cup trophy at home underway against Ireland on July 20 in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 80,000 fans at Sydney Olympic Park.
Matches against Nigeria in Brisbane (July 27) and challengers Canada in Melbourne (July 31) will follow, with the Matildas heavy favourites to advance out of the group.
Prior to that, the side will play friendly against one of the favourites for the title, France, on July 14 in front of a sell-out crowd in Melbourne.
Fullbacks Ellie Carpenter (left) and Steph Catley (right) are some of the best in the world at their position, and will be hugely important both in rebuffing opposition forwards and generating attack from the back
Caitlin Foord, pictured after scoring against Sweden in November last year, will be crucial to the Matildas attack alongside Kerr
Foord, whose combination with Kerr up front will be crucial to the Matildas hopes, is confident that Australia can put aside the pressure of playing in front of home fans and put themselves in contention.
‘This is the strongest squad we’ve ever had,’ Foord told AAP as the provisional squad prepared on the Gold Coast.
‘In the past that’s maybe been something that’s hurt us in tournaments when we get deep and we pick up injuries or people are tired and (there’s) not so much rotation.
‘We now have a squad where you can put out anyone and make changes to the team and still be as strong as what you started off with.
‘That’s, for me, what the most exciting thing is going into this World Cup.’
More Stories
Furious Lions star Dayne Zorko claims AFL has legalised attacks on players’ genitals after rival who left him with ‘bruised’ groin got off with just a fine
Manchester United 2-3 Borussia Dortmund: Errors in defence lead Ten Hag’s men to defeat in Las Vegas
LeBron James ‘kept telling diners how grateful he was’ to be at dinner with son Bronny, 18, just four days after his cardiac arrest in basketball practice