Today at the Home of the Matildas in Melbourne, Football Australia proudly announced the Matildas'official 23-player squad to represent Australia at the highly anticipated FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™.
Peppered with history-makers such as Lydia Williams and Clare Polkinghorne, both selected for their fifth World Cup, comeback stories like Kyah Simon who defied all odds after suffering an ALC injury, and, a total of seven World Cup debutants, head coach Tony Gustavsson and Matildas' captain Sam Kerr had much to discuss with awaiting media.
"To announce these 23 players has been very exciting, but also very challenging. Thursday last week was one of the toughest days in my coaching career," Gustavsson said of making his squad selection.
"As we're celebrating the ones who have been selected, I also want to acknowledge those who weren't. It was tough, but they are still with us preparing in the background in case anything happens, and will always be part of the Matildas family," he continued.
Gustavsson went on to recognise all those who had paved the way for the Matildas to be where they are today.
"These 23 players represent the Matildas family in a very unique way and I want to take the opportunity to thank all 224 Matildas who have worn this jersey because they're all part of that," he said.
"When we step out onto the field in our opening match against Ireland, the 23 players on the game roster are represented by that 224, along with the millions of fans who have followed this team for such a long time."
Kerr spoke about her feelings on being selected, summing it up as emotional.
"Whether it's your first, third or fourth World Cup, being selected is an amazing feeling and something you never, ever take for granted. But being able to do it on home soil is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'm very honoured," she said.
"Every time I talk about it, I get emotional because I can't believe that in 20 days' time, we're going to be hosting a women's world cup. When I first started playing for the Matildas, I never could have dreamed of this. I'm very excited and just want to get started."
Gustavsson was asked how pleasing it was to hand seven debutants their first World Cup call-up. He explained that although it had been a difficult process, the challenges have paid off.
"It hasn't always been a pleasant journey," he laughed. "Working with the players has been pleasant but in terms of all the criticism received, I think I did a bad job at explaining the process and what were going through, in blooding these players against really tough opposition.
"We had 18 debutants over the last year and played the toughest schedule in the history of this program. There was a report presented to me, showing that we needed to work on depth and that we had very bad stats against top-ranked opposition. We needed to invest in young and new players," Gustavsson explained.
"We looked at different positions and formations, we played really tough opposition and that's why we can announce seven debutants for a World Cup. It's amazing."
One standout inclusion from the 23-player squad is Kyah Simon, who tore her ACL, MCL and meniscus in October last year, making her return to fitness in time for the World Cup doubtful.
"Over the last two-and-a-half-year investment into the roster, we wanted to make sure we built depth in positions that this team had struggled with in tournaments, where players had been forced to move around into different positions," Gustavsson shared.
"If you look at the roster now, we have eight backs, two in each position, we have eight midfielders and four forwards and that's where Kyah comes into selection of that last spot, as an attacking player, a game changer.
"Kyah and the SSSM team have done a phenomenal job to get her where she's at right now, but she's not selected based on where she's at right now, she is selected based on where we think she can be in a month from now," he continued.
"When we're hopefully in those playoff rounds, we have a game changer who is good in big games, never shies away, is mentally strong and has a phenomenal connection with not just Sam (Kerr) but all attacking players. There's an understanding and a history there," he continued.
"We've seen it multiple times, the last time I saw it was at the Olympics when she was behind a lot of our goal-scoring and I've been very clear with Kyah that I don't expect her to start, I don't think she will be ready for that, but she will be a game changer off the bench, to change the game when needed."
Kerr was also asked about her thoughts on Simon's inclusion.
"Kyah is an exceptional player, she's scored some big goals for us at World Cups so when you have someone like that in the team, it just gives you confidence," she said.
"In training, she's looking really, really good and she has that knack for the goal and knack for doing something special. She's kind of an X factor and she has been her whole career.
"There are 23 players that can come off the bench and do something special, but Kyah is right up there in terms of having a bag of tricks in her back pocket."
Kerr was asked how both she and the team are dealing with the pressure of representing their country on home soil, in the world's biggest football tournament, in less than 3 weeks' time.
"There is always going to be pressure in sport, especially in big games and big moments. If the pressure isn't there, it means it's not that big of a game, to be honest," she said. "I think pressure is a privilege and I love pressure. I love being in a moment where one or two moments can change the path of your career and the World Cup is one of these."
Kerr also explained that despite being constantly marked and isolated due to her own presence on the pitch, she is confident there are multiple players who can step up and change the game, while the opposition focuses on her.
"I think that's the great thing about being a striker, they can isolate me for 90 minutes but I really only need one opportunity," she said.
"Over the past year playing with Chelsea I've really focused on that. I've been really, really isolated but I've been able to just work on being alive for that one moment and feel like I've really succeeded.
"I was the kid 11-12 years ago, going to my first World Cup and knew that the opposition were looking at other players like Lisa De Vanna, Sarah Walsh, so I knew that was my opportunity to do something," she continued.
"If two people are marking me, that means someone else is free. It might be someone else's tournament to shine and that's all part of being in the team. So, whatever it takes to win honestly, and if I take away two players, good for them. We've got electric speed everywhere else, so, good luck to them."
