The Australian Women’s National Team, commonly known as the Matildas, enter Group B as the team who performed the best in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a fourth-place finish. Defeating Uzbekistan in the final round of Olympic qualifying 13-0 on aggregate. Without captain and star striker Sam Kerr, Steph Catley will lead the Matildas in France. Catley will be supported by an experienced squad with Head Coach Tony Gustavsson selecting seven centurions and an 18 with an average of 77 caps each. The only players to not feature in the World Cup squad are Kaitlyn Torpey and Michelle Heyman. Heyman rejoins the squad for her first major tournament since the 2018 Asian Cup, where she did not make an appearance.
Australia will face the United States, Germany, and Zambia in the Group Stage.
Recent Form…
Since hosting the 2023 World Cup, the Matildas have played 10 official matches with a 7W-2L-1D record. The fixtures included a fairly simple Olympic Qualifying where they outscored opponents 26-0 in 5 matches. In their more competitive friendlies, the Matildas are 2W-2L-1D with victories over China and Mexico. The two losses came against Canada away at the end of 2023. The matches were the first internationals without Sam Kerr, due to a foot injury sustained at the end of the year prior to her ACL injury in January 2024. The Matildas were also missing Mackenzie Arnold, Charlotte Grant and Holly McNamara due to load management and injury.
In the recent July window, Australia faced fellow Olympians Canada in an International B fixture in Spain. An International B Fixture is an unofficial friendly match which does not count towards international caps, goals, or rankings. The Matildas lost to the Canadians 2-1, with Sharn Freier scoring the lone Australian goal. In the match, Gustavsson utilised all available players except alternate goalkeeper Lydia Williams. Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Tameeka Yallop, Kaitlyn Torpey, and Teagan Micah were unavailable for the match, but all are expected to be fully fit for the start of the Olympics campaign.
Previous Olympic Appearances
Australia have appeared at four previous Olympics in 2000, 2004, 2016 and 2020. The absence between 2004 and 2016 was due to Australia moving to the Asian Football Confederation from the Oceania Football Confederation. The Matildas had their best Olympics performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, reaching the Bronze Medal Match but ultimately falling short to the United States 4-3.
Squad
Goalkeepers (2): Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah
Defenders (6): Steph Catley (c), Ellie Carpenter (vc), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, Kaitlyn Torpey
Midfielders (6): Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond (vc), Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop
Forwards (4): Caitlin Foord, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine
Alternates: Lydia Williams (GK), Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin
Coach: Tony Gustavsson
Player to Watch
Michelle Heyman made a triumphant return to the national team in February after EIGHT years away, scoring against Uzbekistan in her first match back during Asia’s Olympic Qualifying final. Her inclusion in the squad provides the Matildas a natural replacement for Sam Kerr. However, Heyman well and truly earned her place in the side after a blistering performance for Canberra United in the A-League. Her accolades included 17 goals and 7 assists in 22 matches, an A-League All-Stars appearance, the Golden Boot, and she became the first player to reach 100 A-League goals. All for a side which finished in 11th place on a 12-team table. For the Matildas, Heyman has featured in 66 matches, scoring 26 goals with 6 goals in 2024 so far. A player potentially less well known internationally or to newer fans, Michelle Heyman is certainly one to watch this Olympics.
Young Player to Watch
Mary Fowler will have more responsibility in the Matildas attack with Kerr out with an ACL injury. Despite being the youngest player on the roster at 21, Fowler will enter the games with 51 caps and 15 international goals. Australia has traditionally been known for their pace on the wings, so her position in the midfield provides the Matildas with more options and dynamic attack.
Fowler has also had an increased role for Manchester City this season after Jill Roord’s ACL injury cut her season short. Not to waste the opportunity, starting 13 matches and appearing in a further 8, she was involved in 10 goals (4 goals and 6 assists), provided 23 successful crosses and created 37 chances.
Touted amongst her teammates as one of the most naturally talented Matildas, Mary Fowler is a star for the future and right now.