Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson keeping his selection cards close to his chest

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson will have to manage his players, including Sam Kerr, carefully during the Cup of Nations.

Caitlin Foord (left) and Sam Kerr prepare for a Matildas training session. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has refused to confirm whether superstar striker Sam Kerr will play in Australia’s opening Cup of Nations clash against Czechia on Thursday night in Gosford.

At least three Matildas have already been ruled out of the match due to concerns over player welfare and the short time the squad has had in camp.

National captain Kerr brings red-hot form into the tournament, having scored four goals for her club side Chelsea in an English League Cup clash last Friday morning (AEDT).

Soon after she boarded a flight to Australia for the four-nation tournament, which the Matildas are using to prepare for the July-August FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“If you ask Sam, she never needs rest,” Gustavsson said when asked whether Kerr would play from the opening whistle on Thursday night.

“She wants to play every single minute of every game. She loves the game so much that she always wants to play.”

Sam Kerr has some fun during a Matildas training session. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

And with good reason lately.

After a “slow” start to the English season, Kerr has hit her straps.

“She’s definitely in good form, looking at not only her goals but how she’s been playing of late,?” Gustavsson said.

“You could see she had a slow start to the season when she had a longer break ... which didn’t worry us or her because we knew that was part of a bigger plan, and then she player her way into form.

“She’s coming into this camp with fantastic form and I hope she keeps doing that for the national team as well.

Gustavsson said the Cup of Nations was a “World Cup rehearsal".

“It doesn’t mean the focus is only on winning, ... but we need to train the tournament format, he said.

“Every opening game in a tournament is important because it sets the tone for the tournament.

“We want to perform as good as we can but we want to have continuity and a consistent line-up, but also we need to be mindful of the minutes for players.

“It’s all about preparation for the World Cup so we need to protect the players as well.”
The Matildas’ Cup of Nations schedule also includes matches against Spain on Sunday at CommBank Stadium, and Jamaica next Wednesday in Jamaica.

“This is a challenge and that means I need to plan a little bit differently than I normally do going into a tournament like this,” Gustavsson said about a host of his players having not player a competitive match since the Matildas’ camp in October last year.

“Everyone knows that if players get a of minutes in top clubs in top leagues, that helps the national team. If they get less minutes, or play in lesser ranked leagues, or less good clubs, it’s going to influence their own development.”

Cup of Nations

Australia v Czechia

Thursday, 7.10pm (AEDT)

Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, NSW

Time: 7.10pm kick-off (AEDT)

TV: 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+