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Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson 'bit concerned' following hamstring injury to Caitlin Foord - as China earn 1-1 draw ahead of Paris Olympics

5 months ago 25
  • Star striker Caitlin Foord suffered hamstring complaint
  • Was replaced in Matildas' 1-1 draw with China in Adelaide
  • Paris Olympics will run from July 26 to August 11
  • Matildas take on Germany, Zambia and USA in Group B

By Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia and Steve Larkin For Australian Associated Press

Published: 02:26 BST, 1 June 2024 | Updated: 02:26 BST, 1 June 2024

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has admitted he is a 'bit concerned' about a possible hamstring injury to star striker Caitlin Foord - as debate rages as to whether she should have been rested ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Foord was replaced just after the hour mark on Friday in the friendly against China in Adelaide after reporting tightness in her hamstring.

Gustavsson insisted it was precautionary - but the Arsenal star won't feature in Monday night's rematch at Accor Stadium in Sydney.


'I'm a bit concerned,' the Swede said at fulltime, where Australia drew 1-1 following an injury time equaliser from Michelle Heyman in Adelaide.

'It's easy to say after something like that happens - should I really have used her [Foord] or should I have let her rest?

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has admitted he is a 'bit concerned' about a hamstring injury to star striker Caitlin Foord during the 1-1 draw with China on May 31 in Adelaide

Arsenal star Foord was replaced as a 'precaution' - and she will be a key figure for the Matildas at the Olympics in Paris with Sam Kerr injured

'We don't know how serious it is, but she said she felt something.

'If that was a World Cup game or Olympic game I think she would have tried to play on, but at this point there's no way we would risk that.'

Gustavsson also fielded an experimental XI on Friday and it showed, with his team disjointed early on.

'We wanted to evaluate players for selection,' he explained.

'That influenced the game a little bit....with a new relationship on right side, new relationship on left side, and a new centre midfield relationship.

'And I think you could see that as well. It wasn't as synced 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-strong Olympic squad.

Australia's campaign in Paris begins on July 26 (AEST) with a clash against Germany in Marseille ahead of other group games against Zambia and the United States, who have snared Olympic gold on four occasions.

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