Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has no alternative however to make some educated gambles when deciding on his ultimate Ladies’s World Cup squad.
It’s only a matter of what number of cube he’s keen to roll.
Of the 29 gamers Gustavsson has to chop to 23, as many as 20 – led by Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley – form as locks for the ultimate squad named on Monday.
It’s the ultimate few, together with some massive names with restricted uncovered kind, that the Swede faces massive selections on.
The largest gamble can be deciding on Kyah Simon.
The striker was referred to as into the preliminary squad and a latest Gold Coast coaching camp regardless of not enjoying since tearing her ACL in October.
Harm-plagued Manchester Metropolis centre-back Alanna Kennedy hasn’t featured for the Matildas since September, but it surely’s arduous to see Gustavsson overlooking her if she’s match.
Powerful selections
Midfielder Chloe Logarzo hasn’t performed since January after recovering from a knee reconstruction, then battling plantar fasciitis.
Attacker Emily Gielnik’s season led to March as a consequence of an ankle damage – and she or he beforehand had restricted minutes underneath Gustavsson.
The coach must select between members of that quartet – or match fringe sorts like Amy Sayer, Larissa Crummer, Remy Siemsen and veteran Aivi Luik.
Different key gamers are underneath damage clouds.
Younger gun Mary Fowler has been recovering from a late-season again fracture suffered at Manchester Metropolis coaching.
Fowler informed AAP in Might she can be superb for the World Cup.
Veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne hasn’t featured in Sweden just lately, whereas Tameka Yallop (ankle) hasn’t performed since April.
Midfielder Emily van Egmond just lately returned from a again damage and may be a part of Alex Chidiac as one among Gustavsson’s influence substitutes.
Goalkeeper Teagan Micah has fought again from concussion and is anticipated to be named alongside Mackenzie Arnold and Lydia Williams.
Match-again defender Steph Catley overcame a number of damage scares whereas watching Arsenal teammates Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson endure ACL tears that ended their World Cup goals.
“You begin to choose up just a few niggles and one thing doesn’t really feel proper right here and there and also you clearly do get nervous,” Catley informed AAP.
“I had my foot (damage) and I rehabbed again from that and there was just a few moments there the place it simply wasn’t feeling higher for some time.
“I used to be like, ‘oh my gosh, this isn’t the yr that this may be taking place’.”
If there’s one distinction between this squad and former iterations, it’s depth.
‘Strongest squad we’ve ever had’
The emergence of centre-back Clare Hunt and speedy full-back Charlotte Grant offers defensive reliability.
Kyra Cooney-Cross’ rise and her dynamic partnership with Katrina Gorry has the midfield ticking over.
It’s a ringing endorsement of Gustavsson’s willingness to debut 19 gamers throughout his tenure – initially casting the web extensive earlier than narrowing his focus over the previous 9 months.
“That is the strongest squad we’ve ever had,” Foord informed AAP.
“Prior to now that’s possibly been one thing that’s harm us in tournaments once we get deep and we choose up accidents or persons are drained and (there’s) not a lot rotation.
“We now have a squad the place you possibly can put out anybody and make modifications to the crew and nonetheless be as robust as what you began off with.
“That’s, for me, what essentially the most thrilling factor goes into this World Cup.”
MATILDAS’ PRELIMINARY SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah, Jada Whyman, Lydia Williams
Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Aivi Luik, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne
Midfielders: Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Chloe Logarzo, Amy Sayer, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop
Forwards: Larissa Crummer, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Emily Gielnik, Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Remy Siemsen, Kyah Simon, Cortnee Vine.