A whole team effort to have full Matildas squad fit and firing for Paris Games opening clash

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has declared the full 22-woman squad fit and ready for their opening match against Germany on Friday morning.

All 22-Matildas are fit and ready to go for their opening Games clash with Germany – with coach Tony Gustavsson saying he has never seen them more prepared and focused.

Gustavsson confirmed captain Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Tameka Yallop, Katrina Gorry and Kaitlyn Torpey were all in contention for the match day squad despite earlier injury concerns.

Going into the camp Gustavsson had said Catley, nursing a calf injury, Torpey and Yallop had big question marks next to their names.

But all players have had a solid week of training – with not even a piece of strapping tape in sight at their final session.

Gustavsson said Gorry, who had ankle surgery in April, was so in form he had to hold her back in training.

Gorry had played just 45 minutes since the injury – the pre-Olympics game against Canada.

“She’s worked hard and at tempo, she doesn’t hesitate in any single tackle,” Gustavsson said.

“It’s just classic Mini again.”

The Matildas are a fully fit squad leading into the Games. Picture: Ann Odong / Australian Olympic Team

Gustavsson said it had taken a whole team effort from his support staff and medical team to get the whole squad fit.

“It’s been a challenging preparation period, to be honest,” Gustavsson said.

“If you look at the games that these players have played over the last six months, with everything from stress fractures, to foot surgeries to soft tissue injuries and all that then a break coming in too – we have had to do a lot of hard work and individual planning.

“We even brought in extra physios into pre-camp to make sure we had enough hands.

“It’s been a bit of a challenge to get everyone up to speed but to then see 100 per cent of the players available for training today was amazing.”

Katrina Gorry has been in great form of training. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Having his full arsenal at his disposal greatly improves the Matildas odds against the world No.4.

If the Matildas final session before their opening match is anything to go by they should come out firing against Germany.

“I’ve been part of a lot of match day minus one sessions going into games, we’ve had a lot of good ones, but this one was probably one of the best when it comes to the energy and the vibe, you can see the team is really bustling and wants to get started,” Gustavsson said.

Extra physios were brought into camp to ensure all the players were treated and ready to go. Picture: Michael Klein

Germany have one of the best attacking line ups in the world – striker Alexandra Popp is a super talent.

It means Matildas line of defence – Mackenzie Arnold in goal with Clare Hunt and Alanna Kennedy will be under constant pressure.

Hunt said they had spent hours analysing the German team and knew exactly what they were in for.

“We’ve analysed the way they play,” Hunt said.

“Obviously they have lost one of their key players in (Lena) Oberndorf, so I think we just look at their strengths. I think we have some world class players as well to nullify a lot of their positive plays.

“It will be a tough clash but we have ways to work around Germany, we’re quite excited to get on pitch and show the world that.”

Matildas will kick off their Olympic campaign against Germany on Friday at 3am (AEST) in Marseille.

Originally published as A whole team effort to have full Matildas squad fit and firing for Paris Games opening clash