Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson won’t answer crucial Olympic question
The Matildas coach is playing games over the fitness of a critical player just days from the start of the Olympic Games.
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The Matildas are already missing Sam Kerr for this month’s Olympic campaign and now doubt is growing around her replacement as Australian captain.
Regular skipper Kerr suffered a serious knee injury in January, undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, ruling her out of Australia’s medal bid in France.
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Steph Catley, who filled in for Kerr at the start of the Matildas’ World Cup bid on home soil last year, was named to lead the hugely popular Aussie side in the Olympic Games.
But the 30-year-old is now battling her own mystery ailment, described only as a “lower leg injury”, putting her in doubt for Australia’s huge opening Olympic clash against Germany on July 26 (AEST).
Arsenal star Catley arrived at the Matildas camp earlier this week carrying the injury and has been ruled out of Australia’s friendly against Canada in Spain on Sunday morning.
Coach Tony Gustavsson refused to elaborate on the key left-back’s condition when asked at a pre-match press conference.
“It’s a lower leg injury that the (medical staff) need to make sure they treat right and don’t want to risk anything,” he said.
“Everything is about getting the players available for the (game against Germany).
“I wish I could (give more details), but I want to respect Steph, her club and the environment outside here.
“Always when something happens outside of our environment, it’s not our responsibility to communicate it.
“The only thing I can say is that she’s here now, she has a lower leg injury and we’re doing everything to get her back.”
Continuing the cagey theme, fellow defender Kaitlyn Torpey is also carrying a “lower leg injury” and is unlikely to feature against Canada, although she is better placed for the start of Australia’s Olympic assault.
The Matildas finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, a position they then repeated at the 2023 World Cup.
One element in Gustavsson’s favour is a recent change to Olympic squad rules, which mean teams can now use alternate squad members for injury, illness or mental health concerns.
The Matildas’ four alternate players are defenders Charlotte Grant and Courtney Nevin, striker Sharn Freier and goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
Gustavsson said Catley was always going to be part of his plans, regardless of the rule change or her availability for the start of the tournament.
“Let’s say in a few days from now I get the decision that she won’t be available for the 25th (against Germany),” he said.
“Even if there wasn’t a rule change, I would have kept her.
“It’s Steph Catley, it’s our captain and if we have her available for the second game or third game, I would have kept her.
“That’s how important she is to this team.”
Matildas schedule at the Olympic Games (all times AEST):
Australia vs Germany
Friday, July 26, 3am. Stade de Marseille, Marseille, France
Australia vs Zambia
Monday, July 29, 3am. Stade de Nice, Nice, France
Australia vs United States
Thursday, August 1, 3am. Stade de Marseille, Marseille, France
Originally published as Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson won’t answer crucial Olympic question
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