Matildas name Paris Olympic Games squad without injured Sam Kerr

The Matildas have named an 18-strong team for the Paris Olympics, including eight players heading to their third straight Games.

Captain Steph Catley, vice-captains Emily van Egmond and Ellie Carpenter, plus Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop will all take part in their third Olympic campaign, starting next month.

Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler will make their Olympic debuts, while veteran Katrina Gorry has recovered from her ankle injury in time to join the squad.

Retiring goalkeeper Lydia Williams is among four reserves — alongside Charli Grant, Courtney Nevin and Sharn Freier — as possible injury replacements.

The Matildas will be hoping to end a run of heartbreaking Olympic results when the Games kick off in July and August.

Their last outing in Tokyo ended with a 4-3 loss in the bronze-medal match against the United States, following a similarly tight 1-0 defeat to eventual silver medallists Sweden in Australia’s first-ever semifinal.

The Rio 2016 campaign ended one round earlier, with the Matildas going down 7-6 in a penalty shootout against hosts Brazil in the quarterfinals.

This time, Australia’s women’s team will have to do it without all-time leading goalscorer Sam Kerr, who scored six goals in Tokyo and another one in Rio, after she was officially ruled out with a torn ACL.

The Matildas will be Australia’s sole Olympic football representatives after the Olyroos went goalless in their men’s Under-23 Asian Cup campaign, which served as an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Matildas squad: Mackenzie Arnold (GK), Ellie Carpenter (VC), Steph Catley (C), Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Teagan Micah (GK), Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond (VC), Cortnee Vine, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop

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