Charli Grant misses Matildas’ Olympic Games squad, coach gambles on injured star

The Matildas have announced their 18-player Olympic Games squad which will carry an injured star and not a young fan favourite.

Veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams has missed out on a berth in the Matildas’ 18-player Olympic Games squad but will travel to Paris as one of four reserves with coach Tony Gustavsson taking a punt on injured star Katrina Gorry.

The squad features eight players – captained Steph Catley, vice-captains Emily van Egmond and Ellie Carpenter, Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop – who will become the first Australian footballers to become three-time Olympians in Paris.

Injured West Ham midfielder Gorry, who didn’t take part in Australia’s two-game series against China, has also been named in the 18, despite still recovering from ankle surgery.

Charli Grant missed out but Katrina Gorry has been selected.

Williams, who recently announced she will retire from international football after the Olympics, did play against China in Australia’s 2-0 win on Monday night and was given an emotional send-off by the home crowd.

Mackenzie Arnold and Teagan Micah got the nod as the two goalkeepers in the squad.

“This has been an incredibly challenging squad to select with so many quality players competing fiercely for limited spots,” Gustavsson said.

“It has been a methodical process over the past couple of years to reach to this point, and each of the players selected bring unique and beneficial qualities to our team that will be vital for our Paris 2024 campaign.

“I would like to congratulate all the players selected and the teammates, coaches, family and friends that have brought them to this moment. I know that this team will give everything for the coat of arms and will represent Australia to the best of their ability in the true Aussie way.”

The three other travelling reserves are Charlotte Grant, the most regular member of the squad to miss out, as well as Courtney Nevin and Sharn Freier.

Gustavsson has essentially picked Polkinghorne over Grant, favouring the security of a spare centre back behind Clare Hunt and Alanna Kennedy over a fullback in Grant.

Her Way wrote on X: “A little bit shocked and sad that Charli Grant isn’t in the Olympics squad. Player of the match against the Lionesses 14 months ago.”

The West Sport’s Ben Smith said: “As expected. Feel for Charli Grant though.”

One fan posted: “I’m sorry if this is an unpopular opinion but she has one bad game and Tony puts her in the reserves? Charli grant deserved the call up.”

Mary Fowler (right) is ready for the Olympics. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

China’s coach Ante Milicic, a former Matildas manager, was adamant the Australians could go “all the way” and net a first Olympic medal in Paris having seen them in action twice in the past week.

“They’ve been very close in the past and it will be fitting for particularly this core group of players, this generation to get a medal as a reward for everything they’ve done for the code,” he said

“The Olympics, it’s different with 18 players and not as many teams so the quality is strong.

“But there’s definitely a strong core group of players there that now hopefully, can make Australia proud and end up with the medal.”

Matildas Olympic Games squad: Steph Catley (c) Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Steph Catley, Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Emily van Egmond, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso, Caitlin Foord, Cortnee Vine, Michelle Heyman, Clare Polkinghorne, Kaitlyn Torpey, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop.

Four travelling reserves: Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin, Sharn Freier, Lydia Williams.

Originally published as Charli Grant misses Matildas’ Olympic Games squad, coach gambles on injured star