- The Matildas went to the beach on Monday
- Well-deserved rest after two resounding victories
- No sign of Mary Fowler’s love interest, Nathan Cleary
The Matildas reached Perth’s City Beach on Monday as Sam Kerr’s side took a well-deserved rest after their two resounding victories during this international break.
But there was no sign of NRL superstar Nathan Cleary as rumors of a romance with forward Mary Fowler continued to swirl.
Cleary, 25, has been romantically linked to Fowler, 20, since Australia’s fairytale World Cup campaign earlier this year, when the pair were spotted together walking along the banks of the Nepean River in August.
The Panthers halfback was spotted at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday night to watch Matildas’ impressive 8-0 win over the Philippines, despite living in Sydney, further fueling speculation.
But it was ‘no men allowed’ on Monday as Kerr took her team to the beach, where the players enjoyed a dip in the water before sunbathing on beach towels.
The Matildas headed to the beach on Monday and took a well-deserved break from training
Mary Fowler took a dip in the sea with Courtney Nevin, but Nathan Cleary was nowhere to be seen
Fowler has entered into a romantic relationship with Penrith superstar Cleary and was present for the Matildas’ thumping 8-0 win over the Philippines on Sunday.
However, the Tillies remain fully focused on the task at hand, with Tony Gustavsson keen for his side to qualify for the Olympic Games as quickly as possible.
Gustavsson has hinted he will resist the temptation to rest his biggest stars despite already sealing passage to the next round of Olympic qualifying.
Australia’s 8-0 defeat to the Philippines last Sunday, combined with the 2-0 win over Iran last Thursday, means the Matildas have little to play for in Wednesday night’s match against world number 38 Taiwan.
Gustavsson played a second series XI against Iran before unleashing his strongest line-up against the Philippines.
Kerr and Caitlin Foord both scored hat-tricks in the defeat, with rising star Fowler and substitute Clare Wheeler also getting on the scoresheet.
The three-day break between Sunday’s win over the Philippines and Wednesday’s clash with Taiwan means Gustavsson will have some lengthy discussions with his medical team before deciding on the selection.
But Gustavsson says he is keen to reward in-form players with a starting spot, as well as better prepare them for how to deal with a hectic schedule like the one they will face if they qualify for the Paris Olympics next year .
Matildas captain Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord take a dip after scoring hat-tricks
The team has a few days off before their next match, against Taiwan
Kerr dries herself with a beach towel while talking to Caitlin Foord and Mackenzie Arnold
The Matildas players sunbathed on City Beach after Sunday’s huge win
Australia must win a two-legged play-off against a yet-to-be-determined team from the Asian Confederation to qualify for the Olympics.
“I immediately told the circle that they should be extremely proud of the performance, but also that they should be extremely professional when it comes to recovery, because this is also a rehearsal,” said Gustavsson.
“If you want to go all the way to the Olympics, this is how tight the games will be at an Olympics. Only 48 hours left to recover and then there will be a new game.
‘So we have to be extremely professional.
‘Physical and mental recovery is crucial now and then I will probably have some very in-depth and difficult discussions with my coaching staff about how we line up the team on Wednesday.’