After co-hosting a revolutionary FIFA Women’s World Cup with New Zealand last year and finishing historically fourth in the tournament, the Australian team aims to work their magic in the Olympics 2024 hosted by France. Tony Gustavsson’s side will have to do it again without the nation’s record goal-scorer Sam Kerr due to her ACL injury suffered during last season. The Matildas will also face a tough group containing record gold medalists USA, powerhouse Germany and giant-killers Zambia. Their campaign starts on 25th July taking on Die Nationalelf at Marseille.
History
Since making their debut in 2002, Australia has qualified for four Olympics with their best showing coming in the previous edition. After a group stage exit and quarterfinal finishes in the next two appearances, the team finished fourth in 2020 by qualifying for the knockouts as one of the two best third-place teams in the group stage and beating Great Britain in a 4-3 thriller in the quarterfinals. The Matildas lost by the same scoreline to the USA in the Bronze medal match after Sweden defeated them in the semifinals. Sam Kerr scored six goals in the tournament, joint second-best scorer of that edition.
Qualification for Olympics 2024
Australia arrived at the Olympics 2024 after a dominating qualifying campaign in which they won all games and did not concede a single goal. Beginning from the second round, Gustavsson’s team topped their group with 13 goals and added 13 more in the two legs combined against Uzbekistan in the third round. Their 10-0 win in the return leg at home was one of the biggest they recorded in history. Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Michelle Heyman all chipped in five goals with Mary Fowler the next-best scorer with four. The team is in terrific form by carrying a five-game winning streak into the Olympics 2024 since losing to Sweden in the third-place fight of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Matildas olympics squad 2024
Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns), Teagan Micah (Liverpool), Lydia Williams (Melbourne Victory)
Defenders: Kaitlyn Torpey (San Diego Wave), Clare Polkinghorne (Kristianstads DFF), Steph Catley (Arsenal), Ellie Carpenter (Lyon), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City), Clare Hunt (PSG), Courtney Nevin (Leicester City), Charlotte Grant (Tottenham Hotspur), Winonah Heatley (Nordsjælland)
Midfielders: Katrina Gorry (West Ham), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal), Emily van Egmond (San Diego Wave), Mary Fowler (Manchester City), Tameka Yallop (Brisbane Roar), Clare Wheeler (Everton)
Forwards: Michelle Heyman (Canberra United), Cortnee Vine (North Carolina Courage), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal), Hayley Raso (Free Agent), Sharn Freier (Brisbane Roar)
Captain: Steph Catley
Head Coach: Tony Gustavsson
Kerr’s absence is a huge blow for the Matildas but they did without her in most of the Women’s World Cup. However, the Chelsea star is not the only concern for Australia as star midfielder Katrina Gorry is also struggling with injury despite earning a call-up. The squad is blessed with experience and youth carrying the combination from the World Cup last year. Captain Steph Catley will be appearing for her third Olympics as is vice-captain Emily van Egmond, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop. Four players will debut in the competition including Cortnee Vine, Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey and Clare Wheeler.
How will Australia lineup at the Olympics 2024?
Catley, Kennedy and Foord will be the three most experienced players in the starting eleven with over 125 caps. The latter could fill up the space up front or Mary Fowler can assume the role. Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine will start on either flank after keeping the opposition busy on both sides in the Women’s World Cup. If fit, Katrina Gorry will start in midfield otherwise the 145th capped Emily van Egmond could take charge.
Australia Fixtures for Olympics 2024
Thursday, 25 July 2024
Germany vs Australia - Stade Velodrome, Marseille (22:30)
Sunday, 28 July 2024
Australia vs Zambia - Stade de Nice, Nice (22:30)
Wednesday, 31 July 2024
Australia vs United States - Stade Velodrome, Marseille (22:30)
Prediction
The Matildas have to make a grand tournament again without Sam Kerr but it will be tougher this time having drawn into a challenging group. Record winners USA and 2016 Gold medalists Germany, with strong squads in possession, will be difficult to overthrow from the top two but Gustavsson’s team should be good enough to be one of the best third-place teams moving into the knockouts. Australia are bound to face a higher-ranked side in the quarterfinal irrespective of where they finish in the top three of their group. It will take this injury-ravaged squad the huge support from their home crowd, just like in the World Cup, in a foreign land to go further into the contest.
