Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has refused to verify whether or not famous person striker Sam Kerr will play in Australia’s opening Cup of Nations conflict in opposition to Czechia on Thursday night time in Gosford.
At least three Matildas have already been dominated out of the match resulting from issues over participant welfare and the brief time the squad has had in camp.
National captain Kerr brings red-hot kind into the match, having scored 4 targets for her membership facet Chelsea in an English League Cup conflict final Friday morning (AEDT).
Soon after she boarded a flight to Australia for the four-nation match, which the Matildas are utilizing to arrange for the July-August FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“If you ask Sam, she never needs rest,” Gustavsson stated when requested whether or not Kerr would play from the opening whistle on Thursday night time.
“She wants to play every single minute of every game. She loves the game so much that she always wants to play.”
And with good motive currently.
After a “slow” begin to the English season, Kerr has hit her straps.
“She’s definitely in good form, looking at not only her goals but how she’s been playing of late,?” Gustavsson stated.
“You could see she had a slow start to the season when she had a longer break … which didn’t worry us or her because we knew that was part of a bigger plan, and then she player her way into form.
“She’s coming into this camp with fantastic form and I hope she keeps doing that for the national team as well.
Gustavsson said the Cup of Nations was a “World Cup rehearsal”.
“It doesn’t mean the focus is only on winning, … but we need to train the tournament format, he said.
“Every opening game in a tournament is important because it sets the tone for the tournament.
“We want to perform as good as we can but we want to have continuity and a consistent line-up, but also we need to be mindful of the minutes for players.
“It’s all about preparation for the World Cup so we need to protect the players as well.”
The Matildas’ Cup of Nations schedule additionally contains matches in opposition to Spain on Sunday at CommBank Stadium, and Jamaica subsequent Wednesday in Jamaica.
“This is a challenge and that means I need to plan a little bit differently than I normally do going into a tournament like this,” Gustavsson stated a few host of his gamers having not participant a aggressive match because the Matildas’ camp in October final 12 months.
“Everyone knows that if players get a of minutes in top clubs in top leagues, that helps the national team. If they get less minutes, or play in lesser ranked leagues, or less good clubs, it’s going to influence their own development.”
Cup of Nations
Australia v Czechia
Thursday, 7.10pm (AEDT)
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, NSW
Time: 7.10pm kick-off (AEDT)
TV: 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Originally revealed as Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson protecting his choice playing cards near his chest
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
