Matildas mentor Tony Gustavsson has turned to super coach Ange Postecoglou for some “inspiration” in his bid to guide Australia to this year’s Olympic Games without the help of star striker Sam Kerr.
Gustavsson has named a 23-player squad – missing the injured Kerr – for this month’s two-legged, home-and-away Paris Olympics qualifier against Uzbekistan in Tashkent and Melbourne.
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Kerr (knee) was one of three injured players not considered for selection, along with goalkeeper Lydia Williams (ankle) and defender Charlie Rule (hip).
Recalled to the squad after a six-year absence is veteran Canberra United striker Michelle Heyman, while Western United midfielder Chloe Logarzo also returns after failing in her bid to be picked for World Cup duty last year despite recovering from a serious knee injury.
“Selecting this squad has been a challenge with a lot of moving parts, from injuries to some players and reduction of competitive match minutes for other players due to off-seasons,” Gustavsson said.
“There’s been a lot of players fighting for spots here and a lot of players performing, so we tried to look at a combination of continuity and connections, people that know the way we play, that know each other, that’s been with us for a while.
“We also look at form and playing time.”
Gustavsson is also taking a look at himself as he bids to not only guide the Matildas over the Uzbekistan hurdle but also inspire the team to a medal in Paris after fourth-placed finishes at the World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics.
It’s one of the reasons he was due to visit former Socceroos coach and current Tottenham manager Postecoglou on Tuesday in London.
Read on foxsports.com.au