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Australian football great Mark Schwarzer still finds it “difficult” to understand how two players could sustain concussions in separate incidents as the Matildas face a big selection call against Nigeria.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson sent shockwaves through the football community when he confirmed Mary Fowler and Aivi Luik would both miss the Nigeria clash due to concussion.
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Although Luik is a squad member and is unlikely to play a large on-field role at the tournament, Fowler’s concussion was a bitter blow considering she started against Ireland.
Given the incidents happened so close to matchday, Schwarzer was baffled as to how Gustavsson could allow such incidents to occur during training.
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“I still try to find it difficult to wrap my head around the incident or supposed incidents, how that’s even possible that players would sustain two separate concussions at training,” Schwarzer told Optus Sport.
“I don’t really know how that’s possible. But supposedly, that’s the word.
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“I think going forward for the Matildas, get this game over with, get the three points, get top of the group and be into the knockout stages and then look at the Canada game and try to put a team together as best you possibly can with the thought of the knockout stages already there.”
Typically, the session two days before a match-day is an intense one, with coach Tony Gustavsson revealing the head knocks occured during a high-tempo eight vs eight training game.
Given Australia’s forward stocks are already depleted with the loss of Sam Kerr for the Nigeria clash and now Fowler as well as Kyah Simon who remains on her own fitness plan, there’s plenty of intrigue as to who will get the nod.
Caitlin Foord will retain her place as Australia’s leading presence up front, but who she will be paired with remains a mystery.
Gustavsson could opt to move one of the wingers in Hayley Raso or Cortnee Vine next to Foord, but it would likely require a tactical reshuffle to compensate for the positional change.
There have also been calls for many on social media for Alex Chidiac to be handed a starting berth.
However, Schwarzer believes the inclusion of a veteran is the most sensible replacement for Fowler.
“I think they should make as limited changes as possible,” Schwarzer said.
“I think the most obvious selection change would be Emily van Egmond coming in to replace Mary Fowler. I think that works pretty well.
“You’ve got a very experienced player coming into the side and with very limited disruption amongst the rest of the players.
“There’s been talk of those different formation changes but I’d like to see them keep it as it is at the moment.
“I think (Kyra) Cooney-Cross and (Katrina) Gorry in the midfield has been really good. There’s been talk of Cooney-Cross potentially moving forward, I wouldn’t want to do that.
“I’d want to keep that stability, keep that spine of the team as it is.”
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