Women’s World Cup 2019: Matildas ready for Dutch test as tournament preparations step up

The Matildas are holding their breath over the fitness of two key contributors as their first game of the Women’s World Cup draws closer.

Ante Milicic is likely to have to do without Laura Alleway against the Dutch.

• Matildas pair’s selfless act for common goal
• 25,000 rival fans await Matildas in France
• How ankle injury saved Gorry’s career

Elise Kellond-Knight and Laura Alleway are set to miss the Matildas’ final World Cup warm-up match against the Netherlands through injury.

Both sat out training in Eindhoven on Friday morning (EST), in a sign the pair could be walking a fine line to be fit for Australia’s tournament-opener against Italy on June 9.

Midfield linchpin Kellond-Knight walked laps around the pitch while defender Alleway sat and watched the session from the sidelines.

Ante Milicic is likely to have to do without Laura Alleway against the Dutch.

“Just a little bit of soreness at this stage, that’s day to day unfortunately,” coach Ante Milicic told News Corp Australia

.

“KK hasn’t had a lot of minutes since the USA game so she’s gone back to Seattle and hasn’t played as much as we – and KK herself – would have expected.

“The training sessions in Turkey were quite physically demanding so she’s just got a little bit of soreness.

“It’s more precaution than anything. And Laura has just had an impact injury on her foot. But she’s walking fine, she’s ok.

“At this stage they’ll probably sit out. We’re in a situation where I don’t want to risk anyone not 100 per cent, because I saw what happened with Kyah (Simon) which was a shame.”

Simon, who had been training in Turkey with the Matildas on standby, suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury and returned to NWSL club Houston Dash.

“To be honest I looked at her minutes and thought that was going to be the case, but you’re always hopeful a player of her calibre can come in and add,” Milicic said.

Elise Kellond-Knight is struggling with some general soreness.

“And one thing that was clear for me was seeing that she’s a quality player. She can provide a difference and she’s got a real presence about her.

“But when you’re talking international intensity, that was my biggest concern with Kyah. You can’t go through a World Cup carrying players who can’t train, who you can’t consider to start but maybe come off the bench and you’re still not sure. It’s too much of a risk.

“But I’m glad she came in because I got a chance to meet her and work with her and she got to see the environment.

“And now the focus is clear she needs consistent match minutes to put herself in a position where she can contribute for the Olympic qualifiers.”

NETHERLANDS v AUSTRALIA: International women’s friendly Phillips Stadion, Eindhoven Sunday June 2, (2.15am EST)

AUSTRALIA: Australia head to France believing they can contend and this test will go some way to showing if they are the real deal. With an interrupted preparation, a win will demonstrate they mean business. Anything less will show work to do.

Coach: Ante Milicic Captain: Sam Kerr Ranking: 6 Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2007, 2011, 2015) Key player: Alanna Kennedy. Kerr might take the headlines but, in a team packed with attacking talent, Kennedy is the key as the fulcrum of the Matildas’ defence.

NETHERLANDS: The Netherlands shocked by winning the European Championships in 2017. They loom as a dark horse in France. In Lieke Martins and Vivianne Miedema, they have strikers worthy of any nation.

Coach: Sarina Wiegman Captain: Sari van Veenendaal World ranking: 8 Best World Cup finish: Round of 16 (2015) Key player: Lieke Martins. Named the world’s best player two years ago, Martins has played in five countries and scored goals in all of them.

HEAD TO HEAD: Overall: 6 matches - Australia 3 wins, Netherlands 1 win, 2 draws Last meeting: Australia 3-2 Netherlands, 2017 Algarve Cup, Portugal.

Originally published as Women’s World Cup 2019: Matildas ready for Dutch test as tournament preparations step up