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Milicic to keep Brazil guessing on team

3 minute read

Getting the Matildas' forward line working once more is a key concern of Ante Milicic in their World Cup battle with Brazil on Friday morning (AEST).

ANTE MILICIC, assistant coach of Australia looks on during the Australian Socceroos training session at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia.
ANTE MILICIC, assistant coach of Australia looks on during the Australian Socceroos training session at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

The Matildas could be much-changed for their World Cup date with Brazil, with one forced switch-up and others strategic.

Veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne looks set to miss the match due to hamstring tightness suffered in Australia's loss to Italy on Sunday, causing a defensive reshuffling.

And while Elise Kellond-Knight is ready to return in the heart of midfield, coach Ante Milicic could yet swing a change-up or two further to keep his Brazilian rivals guessing.

"We're going to look to change a couple of little things going into the game tomorrow and, hopefully, it pays off for us," Milicic said.

Polkinghorne could only break into a mild jog at training in Montpellier on Thursday (AEST), leaving Milicic with a tough decision to make.

Without another centre back in his arsenal, he is loath to take a risk on the 30-year-old if she's not ready.

"With those injuries, unless she has done sprinting work it makes it difficult to participate in a game that will be played at a high tempo," he said.

Milicic will shift Steph Catley to centre back if Polkinghorne falls short, meaning Gema Simon is likely to start in the back four.

His other option is uncapped teenager Karly Roestbakken, or part-time fullbacks Caitlin Foord or Amy Harrison.

Foord and Lisa De Vanna, who both skipped the main session on Wednesday, both resumed their work one day out from the match and are in the mix again.

Mary Fowler also joined in full training for the first time since feeling a tight hamstring in Valenciennes.

While the defence was most heavily criticised in Australia's 2-1 loss to Italy, there's plainly room for the Matildas forward line to improve their synchronicity.

Foord is likely to stay in a number 10 role but Emily Gielnik will also contend for minutes on the wings.

"We've got a few options with our wide strikers. There's a good chance that we'll be looking to change a couple of things out there," Milicic said.

Within that mix, Milicic is eager to see his superstar captain Sam Kerr on the ball more often.

"I think she worked quite well (against Italy). She got in behind them a couple of times and put in a few crosses. She got involved a little bit more in the game," he said.

"We've got a little bit of quality in that front third. We'll look to come up with the best combinations."

Brazil aren't without their own selection concerns.

Six-time world player of the year Marta missed their win over Jamaica and Steph Catley said stopping her, as well as in-form striker Cristiane, would be a handful.

"I've played against Marta a lot, I've played with her too," she said.

"Both are players individually full of flair and skill, they can turn it on at any point."

Brazil coach Vadao revealed he was still hopeful over Marta and said: "She has been responding quite well to treatment.

"In the last two days we've trained a little bit harder with her. We'll see."

POSSIBLE MATILDAS LINEUP: Lydia Williams; Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley, Gema Simon; Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Caitlin Foord; Hayley Raso, Sam Kerr, Chloe Logarzo.

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