Australia v Uzbekistan Olympic qualifier: Goalscoring hero Michelle Heyman facing likely Paris selection pain

Despite her much-celebrated return to the Matildas fold, striker Michelle Heyman is facing an uphill battle to make the final aquas for Paris. ERIN SMITH explains why.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has revealed how he plans to pick the 18-player Olympic squad – should they qualify tomorrow night and it doesn’t bode well for goalscoring hero Michelle Heyman.

Heyman, 35, might have broken the banks in the 3-0 win against Uzbekistan, but if she can’t deliver in the second leg her chance of playing at the Olympics could well be over.

Gustavsson has given rare insight into how he plans to approach the difficult task of narrowing his squad of 23-women to 18 for Paris.

On his list will be three goalkeepers, three centre backs, three outside backs, three centre midfielders, three nine/tens – leaving just one spot open.

Michelle Heyman is mobbed after scoring the Matildas’ opener in Tashkent. Picture: Tolib Kosimov/Getty Images

“That can be a multifunctional player because you need depth or it could be a player coming off the bench to do certain things to close out a game – score a goal for example,” Gustavsson said.

With the core striker positions going to Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso — Heyman’s only shot at making the team is to prove to Gustavsson she can be the game changer, as her skills are limited to playing as a dedicated striker.

“I can admit it’s the toughest part of the coaching job to have to select players and especially when you’re that emotionally invested in a group of people for so long,” Gustavsson said.

“To have to say to someone that actually deserves to be there that there’s no spot for you, that is the toughest part of the job.

“There’s more players that are good enough and deserve to be in the roster that’s going to be selected.”

Heyman will be in the running against some versatile players such as Cortnee Vine who was unavailable for this camp due to personal reasons, Amy Sayer, while so far unused this camp has proven herself capable recently.

Heyman won a recall due to her prolific form with Canberra United. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

Even Chloe Logarzo could be considered due to her ability to play multiple roles. Alex Chidiac is also finding form in the A-Leagues women’s and has big tournament experience against her name after playing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

How much time Heyman will have to make her mark remains a secret with Gustavsson remaining, as usual, tight-lipped on what his starting 11 will be for the second leg.

He said Foord and Heyman were both in the mix, with Foord’s workload still a concern.

“We’ll see in training today how she look in terms of how many minutes and then whether we use those minutes from the start or in a second-half,” Gustavsson said.

“You might see a couple of rotations but we also need to remember that consistency and chemistry is key.”

While the focus is on closing out the qualifiers Gustvasson said the match also doubled as a chance for him to firm up who might be in the final 18.

“It’s also a game to get minutes preparing for a potential Olympic role,” he said.

“So finding the balance between consistency and getting playing time together and the chemistry together but also give some players a chance.”

Heyman and a fan after the victory over Uzbekistan. Picture: Tolib Kosimov/Getty Images

THE MATCH

Australia will go into the match with three goals on the board and a huge home field advantage but Gustavsson said he didn’t plan to adjust his playing style or tactics — with “attack, attack, attack” the message for players.

“Am I glad that we got three goals? Yes. But it also means we have a little bit of an advantage starting this game because maybe their patience and time is not the same in terms of that low block in order to compete to go through which maybe opens up some more space for us,” Gustavsson said.

“Once the game started we are through on a tie, it doesn’t mean we are going for the tie but you have that mindset that we know if we draw then we are through unless we give something up.

“But we are never going to change our attacking mindset. When we go out tomorrow we are going to fly forward from the second one. Even if it’s in the heat, we’re not going to hold anything back.

“We are going to run in behind, we are going to break lines, we’re going to regain the ball, we’re going to attack, attack, attack that’s the way we are going to approach the game.”

Australia will play Uzbekistan at Marvel Stadium at 8pm on Wednesday (AEDT).

Originally published as Australia v Uzbekistan Olympic qualifier: Goalscoring hero Michelle Heyman facing likely Paris selection pain