- Star striker Caitlin Foord was struggling with a hamstring injury
- Was substituted in Matildas’ 1–1 draw with China in Adelaide
- The Olympic Games in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11
- Matildas will face Germany, Zambia and USA in Group B
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has admitted he is ‘a little concerned’ about a possible hamstring injury to star striker Caitlin Foord, as debate rages over whether she should have been rested ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Foord was substituted just after the hour mark in the friendly against China in Adelaide on Friday after reporting tightness in her hamstring.
Gustavsson insisted it was a precaution but the Arsenal star will not feature in Monday night’s rematch at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
“I’m a bit worried,” said the Swede at full-time Australia drew 1-1 after Michelle Heyman’s injury-time equalizer in Adelaide.
‘It’s easy to say when something like that happens: I really should have used her [Foord] Or should I have let her rest?
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has admitted he is ‘a little concerned’ about star striker Caitlin Foord’s hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw against China in Adelaide on May 31.
Arsenal star Foord was replaced as a ‘precautionary measure’ – and she will be a key figure for the Matildas at the Paris Olympics with Sam Kerr injured
‘We don’t know how serious it is, but she said she felt something.
“If it had been a World Cup or Olympic match, I think she would have tried to continue playing, but at this point we absolutely cannot risk that.”
Gustavsson also played an experimental XI on Friday and it showed, with his team being disjointed early on.
“We wanted to assess players for selection,” he explained.
“That has affected the game a bit… with a new relationship on the right, a new relationship on the left and a new relationship in midfield.
‘And I think you could see that too. It wasn’t as synchronized and connected as we normally see.”
On June 4 – the day after the Matildas’ second match against China in Sydney – Gustavsson will announce his 18-member Olympic team.
Australia’s campaign in Paris begins on July 26 (AEST) with a match against Germany in Marseille, ahead of other group matches against Zambia and the United States, who have captured four Olympic gold.