Sam Kerr has been officially ruled out of the Matildas‘ Olympic campaign, five months after she suffered a serious knee injury.
On Tuesday, Football Australia announced the Matildas’ 23-player squad which will face defending Asian Cup champions China in a two-game farewell series in preparation for Paris 2024.
However, Kerr, alongside fellow attacker Amy Sayer, will not be available for selection as they continue their respective knee rehabilitation programs in their club environments abroad.
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Kerr ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Chelsea’s mid-season camp in Morocco in January.
As recovery from reconstructive surgery can take anywhere between six months to a year, the Matildas and Football Australia had been unwilling to speak definitively about Kerr’s fitness for Paris — though Kerr’s time has now run out.
Sayer also ruptured her ACL earlier this month.
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Defenders Clare Hunt and Courtney Nevin and goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who has announced she will retire from international football after the Olympics, all return to the squad having missed the last FIFA international window.
Katrina Gorry (ankle) and Aivi Luik (hamstring) have been omitted for the upcoming friendlies as they continue to rehab their respective injuries. However, coach Tony Gustavsson refused to rule the duo out of the Olympics.
“I think everyone can do the math here and understand that obviously the Olympic roster will be based mostly out of those that are in this upcoming May/June camp,” Gustavsson said in a press release on Monday.
“However, we also have some players in Katrina and Aivi unavailable for selection for this window but most likely will be physically available to be part of an Olympic roster. This window will be a tough one for me and my staff in terms of evaluating players, where they are, and then the final selection process for Paris.”
The squad features 21 of the 23 players who helped Australia qualify for Paris 2024 and includes 17 players based internationally and six Australian-based players.
“We want to use this camp to summarise the evolved playing style we have built upon in the last couple of months. To go back to what we did at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup and the core things we did well there and then add the layers we have worked on since,” Gustavsson said.
“Then we will see if we can get more of a complete overview of where we are positioned, work on nuances and details and get some answers of where are we and what we need to keep working on come the Olympics.
With Gorry and Luik still in the mix, as few as 16 members of the provisional squad could board the plane to Paris with IOC rules limiting nations to just 18 players instead of the usual 23 or more for FIFA tournaments.
Gustavsson stated the importance of the warmup matches for the players to state their claim for the final Olympic team.
“The squad we have named for this upcoming series against China PR is based on their performances for their respective clubs and also in our national team environment,” he said.
“Some players are selected based on past performances, in tournaments and previous camps, while others are chosen for their current strong form.”
“With the Olympics approaching, selection is about seeing the overall picture over four years of performance and assembling the best team possible.
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“We have looked at providing cover in each of the different positions and ensuring the player profile for those positions enhances the squad. We are pleased and confident we have those options across the pitch.”
The Matildas will face China in Adelaide on May 31 and in Sydney on June 3.
MATILDAS FAREWELL SERIES FINAL SQUAD
Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United), Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyon), Steph Catley (Arsenal), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal), Mary Fowler (Manchester City), Sharn Freier (Brisbane Roar), Charlotte Grant (Tottenham Hotspur), Winonah Heatley (FC Nordsjælland), Michelle Heyman (Canberra United FC), Clare Hunt (Paris Saint-Germain), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City), Teagan Micah (Liverpool), Courtney Nevin (Leicester), Clare Polkinghorne (Kristianstads), Hayley Raso (Real Madrid), Kaitlyn Torpey (San Diego Wave), Emily Van Egmond (San Diego Wave), Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC), Clare Wheeler (Everton), Jada Whyman (Sydney FC), Lydia Williams (Melbourne Victory), Tameka Yallop (Brisbane Roar)