Cortnee Vine ruled out of Matildas’ Olympic Games qualifiers against Uzbekistan

With captain Sam Kerr already sidelined the Matildas, have lost another key player for crucial Olympic qualifiers against Uzbekistan.

Cortnee Vine has withdrawn from the latest Matildas squad. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

The Matildas’ hopes of reaching the Paris Olympics have suffered a further blow with the withdrawal of Sydney FC star Cortnee Vine from this month’s qualifiers against Uzbekistan.

Already without star striker Sam Kerr (knee), the Matildas have now lost midfielder Vine for personal reasons for the two-legged, home and away battle with Uzbekistan.

Vine has been replaced in the squad by Western Sydney Wanderers forward Sophie Harding, who has scored nine goals in 15 A-League women’s appearances this season.

The Matildas meet Uzbekistan on Saturday week in Tashkent before returning home for the second leg at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on February 28.

But the disappointment for Vine and Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson was matched by the delight of Harding who was working a 10-hour shift when she got the call she would be joining the squad.

“I was very overwhelmed. I just burst out laughing because I was so shocked in a way and then I got a bit teary and then rang my mum and Robbie (Wanderers coach Robbie Hooker) and they were all so excited.

“It’s a super-important moment for me. It’s obviously extremely exciting, something I’ve dreamt about for a long time

🎉 Our very own Sophie Harding sat down with us after being called up to the Matildas squad for their upcoming Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024™ Asian Qualifiers 👏 #WSWpic.twitter.com/Td1q9ejjrg

— WS Wander Women (@WSWanderWomen) February 15, 2024

“Sometimes it didn’t really seem achievable so this season’s been super important in playing a part in that and I’m really excited to just take in as much knowledge as I can and learn as much as I can.

“They’re some of the best female players in the world so just playing around them in itself is a privilege.”

Gustavsson had already turned to 35-year-old striker Michelle Heyman to help fill the void left by Kerr to try and get to Paris and conceded it had been a challenge putting together the squad.

“Selecting this squad has been a challenge with a lot of moving parts, from injuries to some players and reduction of competitive match minutes for other players due to off-seasons,” Gustavsson said.

Cortnee Vine has withdrawn from the latest Matildas squad for personal reasons. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“There’s been a lot of players fighting for spots here and a lot of players performing, so we tried to look at a combination of continuity and connections, people that know the way we play, that know each other, that’s been with us for a while.

“We also look at form and playing time.”

The aggregate winner over the two legs will qualify for this year’s Olympics in Paris.

Originally published as Cortnee Vine ruled out of Matildas’ Olympic Games qualifiers against Uzbekistan