Steph Catley and Hayley Raso have been ruled out of the Matildas' Asian Cup quarter-final against North Korea in Perth on Friday night, dealing a significant blow to Australia's hopes of glory on home soil.
Both players sustained concussions in recent matches — Raso in the 4-0 win over Iran on March 5, and Catley in Sunday's 3-3 draw with South Korea. Despite no mandated sidelining period under AFC rules, coach Joe Montemurro confirmed on Thursday they would not be included in the squad.
Montemurro joked that Sam Kerr might have to play at left-back, but expressed confidence in the squad's depth to cover the absences. Courtney Nevin, who struggled after replacing Catley against South Korea, has been backed by teammates to bounce back.
The Matildas are under pressure to avoid a repeat of their quarter-final exit at the 2022 Asian Cup. Captain Sam Kerr said the team is focusing on past successes, such as the 4-0 win over Canada at the 2023 World Cup and the Olympic quarter-final victory over Great Britain, rather than past disappointments.
Kerr believes the team has not yet peaked in the tournament and is saving their best performance for the knockout stages. A semi-final berth would also secure qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
