Huge blow for Matildas as Caitlin Foord ruled out of Monday’s clash against China

Star forward Caitlin Foord has been ruled out of Australia’s final competitive clash before their Paris campaign kicks off when the Matildas face China on Monday night.

Caitlin Foord will not take the pitch in front of a sold out Accor Stadium on Monday night despite passing the fitness test.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson isn’t willing to take any unnecessary risks this close to the Paris Olympics.

Foord, who lasted just 14 minutes in the second half of the game against China in Adelaide on Friday night before coming off injured, didn’t train with the main squad on Sunday afternoon.

Instead she walked laps around Accor Stadium with keeper Teagan Micah who only joined the camp yesterday.

Gustavsson waited until after the final training session and a meeting with team medical staff before making any official decision on Foord’s role in the last competitive game before the Olympics.

While Foord passed the fitness tests the coach isn’t willing to risk his star playing in a friendly match.

What will this mean for her Paris campaign? Picture: Getty Images

Foord has had a busy schedule in the lead up to the camp and Gustavsson said it was hard to find the balance between resting and playing players in situations like these.

But with an Olympics to prepare for Gustavsson needs to make the most of this final competitive hit-out before Paris.

Especially after the lacklustre 1-1 draw against China in Adelaide on Friday night.

“All of us in the team were disappointed about the performance,” Gustavsson said.

“We’re happy about the last second goal which says a lot about the attitude and identity of this team, the Never Say Die attitude and focus all the way to the last second.

“We have watched some videos and had some reviews, we want to be much more energised, more powerful, more attacking minded and more aggressive than they were in the last game.”

Caitlin Foord is looking likely to miss Monday’s clash. Picture: Getty Images

Gustavsson started a very experimental side on Friday night. At the pre-match press conference he hinted that wouldn’t be the case on Monday night.

“This game is a bit different, it is later on in camp and we have managed to save some legs and hopefully some of those that had limited minutes will be more available now,” Gustavsson said.

“It is the last game before we travel to France and we really want to finish off with a good performance and hopefully a win here.”

The coach said it was extremely difficult to find the balance between delivering a game the fans want to see but also ensuring the team is in the best possible position for Paris.

“It is challenging because you want to make sure that this team is connected to the fans, the fans are such a big part of this team,” Gustavsson said.

“I try to explain what we’re doing as much as possible so that the fans understand why we’re doing it because I also know the fans want nothing but this team to perform at the Olympics.”

The Matildas will play China at Accor Stadium on Monday at 7.40pm (AEST).

Originally published as Huge blow for Matildas as Caitlin Foord ruled out of Monday’s clash against China