Kerr to miss Paris Olympics

MELBOURNE: Australia have confirmed talismanic captain Sam Kerr will miss the women’s Olympic soccer at the Paris Games while recovering from a serious knee injury.

The Chelsea striker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at a training camp in Morocco in January and her participation in Paris was highly doubtful. Football Australia (FA) ended the speculation on Tuesday in a squad announcement for Australia’s two-match home series against China which starts in Adelaide on May 31.

“Attacker Amy Sayer (ACL) and forward Sam Kerr (ACL) remain on the sidelines with long term injuries,” FA said. “Kerr and Sayer will continue their rehabilitation programmes in their home club environments and subsequently will not be available for selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said the 23-woman squad named on Tuesday was a strong guide to his final Olympic lineup but some omitted players, like injured midfielders Katrina Gorry and Aivi Luik, could come into consideration. “(They) most likely will be physically available to be part of an Olympic roster,” Gustavsson said of Gorry and Luik.