Chloe Logarzo’s World Cup heartbreak after missing out on Matildas squad
Sam Kerr wasn’t the only Matilda to shed a tear during the World Cup opener. Chloe Logarzo opens up to ADAM PEACOCK about coming agonisingly close to a home World Cup.
It was the anthem that did it.
Chloe Logarzo was holding it all together, keeping busy for three weeks after her omission from the Matildas World Cup squad.
Hers was the hardest call. A lock for the squad with a clean bill of health, Logarzo had clawed her way back from two years ravaged by injury, and completed every session in the pre-camp.
And then, she was cut.
“I literally couldn’t have done anything else, it just wasn’t my time,” Logarzo tells CODE Sports.
So just like Sam Kerr, stricken with her calf, when Advance Australia Fair started last Thursday night, and eleven of her best friends lined up, every part of Logarzo tried to hold it together.
She couldn‘t help but let it all go.
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An ACL injury suffered in a friendly against Ireland in September, 2021 was the start of Logarzo’s problems.
14 months later she returned in the A League Women’s but plantar fasciitis restricted her to just six appearances.
Still, she threw everything into being ready for June’s pre-camp on the Gold Coast.
She trained everyday.
Felt ready.
Matildas-coach Tony Gustavsson decided to stick with others who had played more in the lead up, and Logarzo was omitted from the biggest occasion any footballer can experience, a home World Cup.
“I just spent a couple of hours by myself to digest and process,” Logarzo says.
“Then I called three people. My fiance, my mum, and my manager.”
Logarzo’s omission from the final 23 wasn’t a huge shock, even though she performed strongly at the 2019 World Cup, and at 28, had fully matured into handling any occasion.
Still, Gustavsson’s decision rattled to her core. The coach handed Logarzo the news in a face-to-face meeting on a Friday. The team moved to Melbourne the next day.
Logarzo and other players cut, including good friend Emily Gielnik, had a chance to say goodbye.
The squad gathered in the meal room. The staff cleared out.
“It was a really sad moment.,” Logarzo says softly. “The whole room was in tears.”
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After leaving camp, Logarzo had two options.
Sit at home in a dark room and scream at fate, or confront reality, and find a positive.
She chose the latter, signing up with Optus Sport’s coverage, where she provides analysis few can, given her knowledge of every team at this World Cup.
“I would be lying if I said it’s been easy,” Logarzo tells CODE Sports.
“It’s been extremely challenging. But it’s been great because I always said I didn’t want to be bitter or envious of what’s going on because I’m just one small part.
In 2015, she was cut from the World Cup squad. Full fit, just not required. On that occasion, a then-20-year-old Logarzo plunged into a deep hole of bitterness and anger.
This time was different.
“Grateful to be a part of the Matildas journey to where we are right now, and actually as we were rolling up to the first game, I realised I’ve never got to experience the ambience on the outside.
“It was nice, cool, humbling.”
“I can see from the outside how captivating it is, and how inspiring.
“Now being on the outside, I just feel, I dunno, I love them, they’re so cute. Is that what everyone else feels like?!
But when those opening bars blasted through the sound system at a full Stadium Australia, Logarzo couldn‘t help but let go.
“It’s everything you ever dreamed of to be able to do,” she says.
“We’ve known about this for three years. Just dreaming, thinking, wanting it so bad. It’s not about being there in the team, it’s more self-gratification of all the hard work you’ve done.”
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Either side of the anthem, Logarzo was like every other member of the 75,000 crowd last Thursday, totally invested in every tackle, pass and chance.
Before the game, sideline for Optus, she gave a few Matildas a hug as they came out for the warm up and after, she was bursting with happiness.
“I will always be there in a heartbeat to give them all a huge, give them all the love and support they need,” Logarzo says, who got another taste of how big the event is the morning after over a coffee with Ellie Carpenter and Teagan Micah.
“So cool to see how many people stopped to say congratulations, you did amazing,” Logarzo says.
“We’re captivating the older generation of people who don’t love football, not just kids, but people who are just there to experience another major sporting event in Australia.”
The same people in those coffee shops are also talking about the most famous calf fibres in Australia.
Sam Kerr’s injury has put an asterisk next to any genuine hope the Matildas had of winning the whole thing.
“The Matildas aren’t strangers to adversity,” Logarzo says.
“We’re embedded in our principles, no matter who is going to play in the role and everyone knows exactly what their roles are.
“I don’t know what we’re capable of. Will be interesting to see how we go against high-ranked European teams.
“But in terms of inspiring people, we’ve got that in the bag,” she continues.
“The Matildas will be everlasting, no matter what happens moving forward, but I hope we take this opportunity with both hands.”
Logarzo knows her life as a footballer has an end point. Maybe soon. She’ll give the 2024 Olympics team a crack, but at 28, anything beyond that is uncertain.
“I‘m really at the threshold of resilience and character-building!,” she chuckles.
But now the tears have cleared, all that really matters is throwing every part of emotional energy into her new role.
And, her forever role. Supporting the Matildas.
“I could be sitting here miserable and unfulfilled with the things I’m missing out on,” Logarzo says.
“Always say – I’ve unfortunately been blessed with a lot of injuries.
“It’s what you do with the opportunities to have a different view on life.”
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