Matildas gamble on fitness of star duo as squad named for Olympic Games

Charlotte Grant has been left out of the Matildas’ 18-player squad for the Paris Olympics as coach Tony Gustavsson backs Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry to overcome injury in time to play their part in the Games. The 22-year-old Grant became a regular for Australia at right-back while Ellie Carpenter was sidelined with an ACL injury but struggled for playing time at the Women’s World Cup and has been selected as an “alternate” for the Paris Games.

Foord and Gorry have been named in the Matildas’ Olympic squad despite injury concerns, with Grant and three other reserves included as potential cover. Star striker Foord picked up a hamstring issue and lasted just 15 minutes as a substitute in the first friendly against China on Friday, while midfielder Gorry has been out of action since March due to an ankle injury.

Steph Catley will captain the side with Ellie Carpenter and Emily Van Egmond as vice-captains, with the three leaders set to join Foord, Mackenzie Arnold, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop in becoming three-time Olympians.

“This has been an incredibly challenging squad to select with so many quality players competing fiercely for limited spots,” Gustavsson said. “It has been a methodical process over the past couple of years to reach to this point, and each of the players selected bring unique and beneficial qualities to our team that will be vital for our Paris 2024 campaign.”

Michelle Heyman is set to lead the line, as she did in the two friendlies against China, with Sam Kerr to miss the Paris Games and continue her rehabilitation after rupturing an ACL in January. The Canberra United striker’s inclusion completes her remarkable return to the Matildas set up, after making her one and only Olympic appearance at the Rio Games in 2016.

But with Kerr sidelined long-term, Heyman was picked to play her first international since 2018 when Australia faced Uzbekistan in the final stage of Olympic qualification in February this year, netting five times in the two-legged tie. The 35-year-old added a last-gasp goal to salvage a draw for the Matildas in the first international friendly with China at Adelaide Oval.

Goalkeeper Lydia Williams was named as another alternate after her international send-off in the second friendly against China on Monday night, while Sharn Freier and Courtney Nevin have also been included as back-ups. The four alternates can be called into the playing squad at any time during the Paris Games to replace an injured teammate.

The Matildas kick off their Olympic campaign against Germany on 26 July, then face Zambia and the USA to complete the group stage. Australia have never won an Olympic medal in women’s football, coming closest at the 2020 Tokyo Games when losing the bronze-medal playoff against the USA.

Australia squad for Paris Olympic Games

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah; Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley (captain), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, Kaitlyn Torpey; Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Emily van Egmond, Katrina Gorry, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop; Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine; Alternates: Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin, Lydia Williams.