Analysis: Injured stars create complex World Cup selection headaches for Matildas

Untimely injuries for Kyah Simon and Chloe Logarzo have complicated Australia’s World Cup selection debate. ADAM PEACOCK unpacks all the big calls that coach Tony Gustavsson must make.

Can the Matildas squeeze both Kyah Simon and Chloe Logarzo into their World Cup squad?

This was always going to be the most uncomfortable weekend in Tony Gustavsson’s three-year reign as Matildas coach.

The Swede, who radiates enthusiasm and positivity, has some dreams to make come true, and others to crush.

On Monday at 2.30pm AEST, Australia’s 23-player squad for the World Cup will be named in Melbourne.

A once in a lifetime opportunity. Play in a home World Cup. Maybe win it. The Matildas can do it, though a lot needs to go right in one of the most open tournaments in history.

There are, on paper, 18 absolute locks for the squad. All the big guns – Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley – plus others who have made a late play, like Clare Hunt, Cortnee Vine and Charli Grant.

Sam Kerr headlines the list of automatic selections. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

To fill the five remaining spots, some decisions appear to be clearer than others.

The biggest conundrum involves two class players coming back from injury; Kyah Simon and Chloe Logarzo.

If fully fit, neither would have a question mark next to their name.

Simon, with a knack for important goals, provides a point of difference in the final third with her creativity. She suffered an ACL injury with club side Tottenham last October, which means she hasn’t played with the Matildas since April 2022. But her x-factor, even if used solely in cameos off the bench, is almost impossible to overlook.

It proved a frustrating summer for Chloe Logarzo. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Logarzo, an adaptable midfielder who provides so much drive centrally, has battled knee and foot problems, and has featured in just seven minutes of play for the national team since September 2021. Gustavsson is a fan, even inviting Logarzo into camp mid-recovery from an ACL operation, just to stay in tune with where the team was heading.

Foot problems flared up over the A-League Women’s season so, like Simon, Logarzo is heading into the World Cup with little game time.

Both Logarzo and Simon have worked tirelessly to get back into contention.

They, along with the bulk of the squad, have been together in a pre-tournament camp on the Gold Coast for the past fortnight. Only those still playing in the US and Scandinavia have missed out on team bonding exercises, plus time on the pitch.

The Matildas have closed ranks for this period, with the usually talkative Gustavsson not going near a microphone by design.

He has plenty to think about.

What Gustavsson does with the Simon and Logarzo quandaries will shape what happens with the five remaining spots to add to the 18 locks.

Matilda @KyahSimon recounts an emotional homecoming after almost 600 days away from Australia. https://t.co/29Dw0a0i5y

— CodeSports (@codesportsau) November 22, 2021

Spots are at a premium thanks to the masterplan set down by Gustavsson and Football Australia in 2021 – build depth.

Some 45 players have seen gametime for the Matildas since, the side effect being a blurring of lines when it comes to fleshing out the squad from 18 to the full 23.

It is hard to see central midfielder Clare Wheeler missing out, as back up to Katrina Gorry.

Larissa Crummer looks to have edged emerging striker Remy Siemsen for the role as back up to Kerr, with veteran winger Emily Gielnik seemingly falling down the pecking order in the past six months.

So that’s 20.

An extra defender is needed, with either young gun Courtney Nevin, or dependable veteran Aivi Luik, who can also play midfield, the two in contention.

That’s 21.

Many experts have creative midfielder Alex Chidiac as a lock, especially after she won the Julie Dolan medal for best player in the A League Women’s.

My neck 🎵 My back 🎵 𝘔𝘠 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘟 𝘊𝘏𝘐𝘋𝘐𝘈𝘊 🎵

A game-changing impact off the bench from Alex Chidiac puts @TheMatildas up 2-0 in Newy

🇦🇺 #AUSvJAM 🇯🇲 is live on Paramount+ #CupOfNationspic.twitter.com/a21lAm0RLD

— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) February 22, 2023

Make that 22.

That leaves one spot for Simon or Logarzo.

Or, if both have been flying behind closed doors on the Gold Coast, does that mean Chidiac misses out? Or does it twist another, unexpected way?

Questions, questions. Gustavsson will have a sleepless weekend on the Gold Coast, that of a different kind to many others in that part of the world, before providing some answers on Monday.

Potential World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Lydia Williams, Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah.

Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Charli Grant, Clare Hunt, Clare Polkinghorne, Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Aivi Luik/Courtney Nevin.

Midfielders: Katrina Gorry, Tameka Yallop, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Chloe Logarzo/Alex Chidiac/Kyah Simon (two of the three).

Forwards: Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine, Larissa Crummer.

Originally published as Analysis: Injured stars create complex World Cup selection headaches for Matildas