Matildas FIFA World Cup squad: Australia team named, Kyah Simon, Sam Kerr captain
There were plenty of nerves prior to the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup being announced. See the moment coach Tony Gustavsson told each player they were in.
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A tearful Kyah Simon feels like the weight of the world has lifted from her shoulders after completing a remarkable eight-month recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament to win Matildas’ selection for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.
The 111-game veteran was the shock inclusion when Tony Gustavsson named his 23-player team on Monday, capping a stunning recovery from the ACL injury despite playing just two hours of competitive football since the injury last October.
Gustavsson admitted it was Simon’s attacking ability to break a game open that won her selection, knowing she still had some hurdles to clear to be game ready for Australia’s opener against Ireland at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on July 20.
“For me it’s a massive relief really and I just broke down in tears,” Simon said.
“The challenges I’ve faced, it wasn’t a smooth sailing rehab, there were ups and downs.
“For it to finally come to a head and obviously achieve that goal I set when I underwent surgery was just massive relief, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.
“I don’t want to go to the World Cup to be a squad player, I want to go to hopefully help the team achieve something special.”
It’s finally time. 23 different paths led to this… 🛣ï¸
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 3, 2023
This is ð—¢ð—¨ð—¥ country, ð—¢ð—¨ð—¥ World Cup and this is ð—¢ð—¨ð—¥ squad! ðŸŒðŸ†#FIFAWWC#TilitsDonepic.twitter.com/O2nQEve5Zy
Simon, who will attend her third World Cup after missing 2019 through injury, admitted there were times in her recovery that she questioned if it was all worth it.
“I had doubts in my mind throughout that time, why do I want to play football really? Why do I want to put myself through this?” she said.
“Emotionally I was a moody wreck some days and then other days I would be on top of the world because I had small wins in my rehab.
“I tried to stay present, just day by day and not think about the World Cup.”
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL MATILDAS WORLD CUP SQUAD
Even when Simon joined a private pre-World Cup camp on the Gold Coast with the squad, she had no idea if she was close to selection or fighting a losing battle.
“Does he still see me as the player I was? Am I still in his plans?” she recalled.
“I didn’t believe it until the words came out of his mouth.”
We're not crying, you are 🥹
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 3, 2023
📹 Watch the moment our players found out they made the final squad for the #FIFAWWC#TilitsDonepic.twitter.com/Pp4umMCOyn
Gustavsson said while Simon is in the squad now, if her recovery falters at all between now and the tournament starting she will be replaced by one of the six players dumped from the Matildas squad on Monday.
“(Simon) is not selected based on where she’s at right now, eight months post-op, she’s selected on where we’re thinking she can be a month from now,” he said.
“I don’t expect her to start the game, I don’t think she’s ready for that, but being a game changer off the bench and change the game when you’re needed.
“She is based on being a game changer.”
Matildas skipper Sam Kerr says her wildest dreams are about to come true leading Australia into a World Cup on home soil as coach Tony Gustavsson finally revealed his 23-player squad for the tournament.
Kerr headlines the final squad of 23 players which includes established stars such as Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Ellie Carpenter, Katrina Gorry and veteran Simon who has played just two hours of football since injuring her anterior crucial ligament in October last year.
Lydia Williams and Clare Polkinghorne become the first Australian footballers - male or female - to feature in five World Cup tournaments.
While Simon was picked for her history as a game changer with an attacking flair and understanding with star striker Kerr, Gustavsson said players can be changed up until 24 hours before the first game and if her recovery faces any setbacks she will be substituted out of the final Matildas outfit.
ðŸŒðŸ†SQUAD: ð€ðððŽð”ðð‚ð„ðƒ.
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 3, 2023
Introducing our 23-player squad for the #FIFAWWC - ready to give it our all on home soil!#TilitsDonepic.twitter.com/igvxAhRgQQ
“She is not selected on where she is right now, eight months post-op, but where we think she can be a month from now,” he said.
“She is based on being a game changer.”
Kerr said there was a sense of excitement and disappointment when the squad were told in camp last Thursday, but now they’ve come back together as a group preparing for the tournament the team were ready for the action to start.
“I’m ready, I want the game to be now,” Kerr told a press conference in Melbourne.
“It’s going to be such a big moment.
“Any time you go to a World Cup, whether it’s your first or third World Cup it’s an amazing feeling.
“It’s something I will never to take for granted ... to do it on your home soil is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I can’t believe in 20 days time or whatever it is we are going to be hosting the Women’s Wolrd Cup. When I first started playing for Matildas I could never have dreamed of this.
“It kind of feels like now is the time, we’ve all been fighting for a spot and can finally knuckle down and get into this as a team.”
SQUAD: Lydia Williams, Courtney Nevin, Aivi Luik, Clare Polkinghorne, Cortnee Vine, Clare Wheeler, Steph Catley, Alex Chidiac, Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond, Mary Fowler, Teagan Micah, Tameka Yallop, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Hayley Raso, Kyah Simon, Mackenzie Arnold, Katrina Gorry, Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Charlotte Grant, Kya Cooney-Cross
The six players cut from the squad of 29 include: Larissa Crummer (caps 33), Emily Gielnik (caps 57), Chloe Logarzo (caps 55), Amy Sayer (caps 6), Remy Siemsen (caps 6), Jada Whyman (uncapped)
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Originally published as Matildas FIFA World Cup squad: Australia team named, Kyah Simon, Sam Kerr captain
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