Steph Catley Among Two Matildas Out for Olympic Warm-Up

Steph Catley Among Two Matildas Out for Olympic Warm-Up

Matildas captain Steph Catley is expected to lead her team at the Olympic Games despite a lower leg injury that has sidelined her from the upcoming warm-up match against Canada on Sunday.

Arsenal’s left-back, along with versatile player Kaitlyn Torpey (also dealing with a leg injury), will observe from the sidelines during the Matildas’ final practice session at their training camp in Spain. This session precedes their Paris Games opener against Germany on July 26 (AEST).

Catley sustained her injury before the training camp and is currently undergoing rehabilitation, while Torpey was injured while playing for her American club, San Diego Wave.

Both Catley and Torpey are not expected to miss the Olympics as they follow a rehabilitation plan to ensure they are ready for Australia’s match against Germany.

In response to the injuries, the Matildas have included Denmark-based defender Winonah Heatley in their training group. Heatley recently led FC Nordsjaelland to a double victory in the Danish women’s League and Cup.

After Sunday’s match, the Matildas will move to Marseille, France, to continue their preparations for the Olympics. Their campaign has been marked by injury challenges, including the absence of star player Sam Kerr.