Matildas coach Ante Milicic is sweating on the fitness of key players as he prepares to lift his side for the crucial game against Brazil in the early hours of Friday morning, AEST.
Veteran striker Lisa de Vanna, defender Clare Polkinghorne and attacking midfielder Caitlin Foord are all being monitored ahead of the match, which could rescue or shatter Australia's World Cup dreams.
Lisa de Vanna is under an injury cloud heading into the Matildas' second group game.Credit:AP
But there is better news about influential midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight, who looks likely to return to the starting XI having been used off the bench in the shock 2-1 loss to Italy on Sunday in Valenciennes.
Milicic is not happy about the new FIFA ruling on the offside law, which requires assistant referees to wait until an action is completely finished before raising their flag, even if a player involved has been in a visible offside position.
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The Australian coach believes it forces players, particularly defenders, to make extra high-intensity sprints and run unnecessary distances in games, both factors which could contribute to injury.
De Vanna has a corked thigh and Milicic is waiting ''to see how she pulls up'' before making any decision.
''Clare has a little bit of tightness, hamstring tightness from the match.
''It doesnt help with this new law from FIFA when the players offside and our defence has to run back 40 metres seven or eight times a game, which gives you an extra 300 high-speed metres that are not necessary. Its really crazy.
''Id understand now if coaches just leave their strikers one metre offside, kick the ball over the top and make the whole defence run back.
''That one is interesting. Its understandable that Clare is a little bit tight with all that unnecessary running.
''Were confident theyll be OK. Caitlin Foord just copped a little bit of an impact knock. Shell be fine.''
Milicic is confident that Kellond-Knight, a crucial part of the midfield mix, will be able to take her place in the starting line-up.
''Were hoping so. Definitely more minutes than she got the other day.
''That was always the plan. We knew she wasnt at the [fitness] level. She came into camp injured. She didnt have the match minutes under her belt through her club situation at Seattle.
Matildas coach Ante Milicic is sweating on the fitness of key players as he prepares to lift his side for the crucial game against Brazil in the early hours of Friday morning, AEST.
Veteran striker Lisa de Vanna, defender Clare Polkinghorne and attacking midfielder Caitlin Foord are all being monitored ahead of the match, which could rescue or shatter Australia's World Cup dreams.
Lisa de Vanna is under an injury cloud heading into the Matildas' second group game.Credit:AP
But there is better news about influential midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight, who looks likely to return to the starting XI having been used off the bench in the shock 2-1 loss to Italy on Sunday in Valenciennes.
Milicic is not happy about the new FIFA ruling on the offside law, which requires assistant referees to wait until an action is completely finished before raising their flag, even if a player involved has been in a visible offside position.
Advertisement
The Australian coach believes it forces players, particularly defenders, to make extra high-intensity sprints and run unnecessary distances in games, both factors which could contribute to injury.
De Vanna has a corked thigh and Milicic is waiting ''to see how she pulls up'' before making any decision.
''Clare has a little bit of tightness, hamstring tightness from the match.
''It doesnt help with this new law from FIFA when the players offside and our defence has to run back 40 metres seven or eight times a game, which gives you an extra 300 high-speed metres that are not necessary. Its really crazy.
''Id understand now if coaches just leave their strikers one metre offside, kick the ball over the top and make the whole defence run back.
''That one is interesting. Its understandable that Clare is a little bit tight with all that unnecessary running.
''Were confident theyll be OK. Caitlin Foord just copped a little bit of an impact knock. Shell be fine.''
Milicic is confident that Kellond-Knight, a crucial part of the midfield mix, will be able to take her place in the starting line-up.
''Were hoping so. Definitely more minutes than she got the other day.
''That was always the plan. We knew she wasnt at the [fitness] level. She came into camp injured. She didnt have the match minutes under her belt through her club situation at Seattle.
