‘I’m a bit concerned’: Gustavsson takes blame as Matildas rocked by Foord injury scare

Tony Gustavsson admits he may have made a mistake by not resting Caitlin Foord on Friday night after the Matildas star lasted just 15 minutes before succumbing to a hamstring injury against China.

The Matildas turned in a disjointed performance and were fortunate to salvage a 1-1 draw against the reigning Asian champions, after Michelle Heyman toe-poked the ball into the net from a free kick in the 95th minute at a packed Adelaide Oval.

But the immediate focus post-match was the fitness of Foord, who was subbed into the match early in the second half along with four other first-choice players, but trudged off soon afterwards after reporting tightness in her hamstring in a dispiriting sight for the team’s Olympic preparations.

Her withdrawal was only precautionary, Gustavsson said, and had it been a competitive match at a World Cup or Olympics, she probably would have played on – but if she was even remotely at risk of further aggravating the injury, she would not take any part in Monday night’s rematch in China at Accor Stadium.

“I’m a bit concerned as well,” Gustavsson said. “And I’m looking at myself a little bit here ... some of the players came in very tired, both mentally and physically, and had a couple of niggles.

Matildas’ Caitlin Foord reacts after an injury during the international friendly match between Australia and China at Adelaide Oval.Credit: Getty Images

“She’s been one of them that hasn’t trained fully until yesterday. But we always have long meetings with my [medical] team and look at recommending our minutes, can we protect players, do we play them?

“It’s easy to say afterwards, right, when something like that happens. Should I really have used her today? Or should I let her rest? As a coach, you always think that way. We’ve played it safe, she felt something. We don’t know how serious it is.”

Foord is coming off her most demanding campaign yet with Arsenal, logging a career-high 1569 minutes in the FA Women’s Super League, as well as multiple games in domestic cups and the UEFA Champions League, not to mention the fact that she and teammates Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross flew to Australia for a post-season friendly against the A-League All Stars.

Gustavsson said he was worried about the physical impact that game and the associated schedule would have on his players when it was announced.

“But I also understand the ‘why’ behind it,” he said.

“And I think that’s something that we’re going to see more in the women’s game. We’ve seen it in the men’s game for years now, the off-season trips ... you can understand why clubs to do it. I think it’s up to us to learn to handle that.

“We’ve always looked at the wellbeing of the players. Even looking back to that June window, the year before the World Cup, we gave some players [time] off because they knew they’re not going to be off for 18 months afterwards. It was a big criticism of us doing that at that time, but we were one of the first national teams to see what was coming and wanted to think a step ahead and really look at wellbeing here.”

With Australia’s first Olympic match against Germany not until July 25, there is ample time for Foord to make a full recovery even if her hamstring injury proves to be a low-grade strain, but it is a headache Gustavsson could do without as he prepares to unveil his 18-player squad for Paris next week.

Australia’s Mary Fowler and China’s Li Mengwen compete for the ball.Credit: Getty Images

“One or two” fringe players, he said, had locked in their Olympic spots with their performances on Friday night, without revealing any names.

Gustavsson named an experimental line-up on Friday night, handing rare starts to Charlotte Grant and Clare Wheeler, and not deploying World Cup stars Foord, Catley, Cooney-Cross, Hayley Raso and Ellie Carpenter until they were all subbed on at the same time in the 62nd minute.

The lack of chemistry in their starting side was obvious. Australia could not manage a single shot on goal in the first half, let alone on target. Gustavsson said they played “way too slow” and were easily contained by China, who were well-structured and disciplined in former Matildas boss Ante Milicic’s first match in charge.

Milicic set up the Steel Roses in a low defensive block, limiting the Matildas’ ability to use their pace out wide, while Gustavsson instructed his players to try to provoke their press and entice the opposition to come out of their shells as they built up their play from the back.

Australia’s Michelle Heyman scores a goal.Credit: Getty Images

It made for a difficult watch for the sold-out crowd of 52,912 – just 96 short of the all-time South Australian record for soccer set in Liverpool’s 2015 friendly against Adelaide United.

China took a deserved lead in the 30th minute when Central Coast Mariners star Wurigumula beat her marker, Kaitlyn Torpey, and crossed for Zhang Linyan, who produced a delightful finish to beat Mackenzie Arnold’s outstretched glove, although Australian players protested for a foul on Torpey in the build-up.

But some tactical tweaks at half-time, followed by the injection of Australia’s big-name stars off the bench, helped swing the momentum, and Heyman’s goal from Mary Fowler’s stoppage-time free kick ensured those in the stands got what they came for.

“Even though we didn’t have a great game, we got the support from the fans all the way through – and then that never-say-die attitude of the players to never ever give up and play until the last second paid off once again,” Gustavsson said.

“Maybe no coincidence that it’s Michelle Heyman there, scoring that goal and being in the right spot at the right time. I think that was important for her and the team.”

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