Milicic faces Matildas selection puzzle
WORLD CUP — MATCH 3
ANTE Milicic will let fitness rather than form or rotation dictate his side for Australia’s final Women’s World Cup group game with Jamaica.
However, when the coach lines up the Matildas to face the Reggae Girlz tomorrow (5am AEST), he will ensure every player knows the stakes.
“As we stand here today we haven’t qualified for the next round. Let’s not forget that,” he said. “We need to win a game of football against Jamaica … we have to earn the right to be in the round of 16.”
Milicic is seeking a professional response after the emotional rollercoaster of the past week; the disheartening last-minute loss to Italy followed by their record-breaking 3-2 comeback win over Brazil.
A clash with twice-beaten Jamaica appears to be a kinder fixture. Changes to the Matildas team are certain but there’s plenty of moving parts to assess.
Stalwarts Chloe Logarzo, Emily van Egmond and Ellie Carpenter were onlookers for the main training session yesterday, 48 hours before the clash at Grenoble’s Stade des Alpes.
Then there’s the challenge of playing three games in 10 days, given the chance to finish top of the group and enjoy a seven-day break has most likely passed the team by.
“Look at where we have come from … Lydia (Williams) wasn’t playing regularly, Steph (Catley) had an injury, Elise (Kellond-Knight) didn’t play for a while and you look at Logarzo who missed a lot of football,” Milicic said.
“Look at what the game took out of us, and what we have moving forward.
“I wouldn’t use the word rotate … we will look to see how well the girls pull up. We have got to try, as much as possible, to adjust loads to give us the best chance of performing.”
Milicic intends to keep Steph Catley at centre back, with Clare Polkinghorne unlikely to return to play the world No.53s.
Mary Fowler, kept out of the tournament to date with a hamstring issue, was “slightly ahead” of Polkinghorne, but it’s uncertain whether the 16year-old will make her World Cup debut.
There’s no sentimentality sneaking into Milicic’s plans either. Lisa De Vanna is on 149 caps and will hit an almighty milestone in her next match.
“If the game warrants her appearance, she’ll play. If it doesn’t, she won’t,” Milicic said. “We respect and admire what Lisa has done in the game … but she understands the environment we have.”