'We don't fear anyone': Matildas' Paris Olympics squad revealed

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson revealed the players he believes will bring home Australia's first Olympics soccer medal, with 35-year-old veteran Michelle Heyman named to feature in her second Games since Rio 2016.

The Canberra United star will be the main No.9 goal-scoring threat in the absence of injured Matildas skipper Sam Kerr, with defender Steph Catley to wear the captain's armband for Australia.

Catley, vice-captains Emily Van Egmond and Ellie Carpenter, starting goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, midfielders Caitlin Foord and Tameka Yallop, and defenders Alanna Kennedy and Clare Polkinghorne will all become three-time Olympians in Paris.

Along with Heyman, it will be the second Olympics appearance for Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Teagan Micah, and Hayley Raso, while Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler will make Games debuts.

Another Canberran Lydia Williams was not included in the main Olympic team, but will feature as one of four travelling reserves that can be activated to the top squad in case of injury or withdrawal.

It could mean the Matildas' 2-0 friendly win over China on Monday night was the goalkeeper's last international cap, after last month announcing her retirement plans following the Games.

Gustavsson notably greenlit banged up stars Caitlin Foord (hamstring) and midfield weapon Katrina Gorry (ankle) in the Paris squad, confident they will be able to recover and contribute to the gold medal quest.

"I'm very excited for them, but I also feel for the ones that didn't make it," Gustavsson said at the squad announcement.

"You need to have coverage in each position... but the other thing is you need players that can play in multiple positions.

"We need some flexibility with such a short turnaround between games at the Olympics."

Kerr is a big loss for the Matildas, but Gustavsson also had to deal with major injuries to fellow attackers Amy Sawyer, Holly McNamara, Kyah Simon and Chloe Logarzo.

For Heyman though, her selection completes a remarkable four-month journey after her shock recall at 35, back in February, five years after retiring from international soccer.

Gustavsson will be under pressure to deliver for 12th-ranked Australia in what is expected to be his last hurrah with the Matildas as his contract expires at the conclusion of the Olympic tournament.

"From day one I knew there's something special about this group," the coach said.

"Every Olympics has its own uniqueness. For some athletes it might be their last tournament with the team and it might be my last.. there's a feeling you want to bring back something tangible.

"There's a hunger to perform and a hunger to medal.

"We don't fear anyone. We respect them, but we don't fear them.

"Right now the only focus is the opening game against Germany and then we'll take it from there."

The Matildas' first Olympics match kicks off on July 26 at 3am (AEST) against Germany in Marseille.

At the Matildas' last Olympics appearance in Tokyo 2021, they came the closest they'd ever been to winning a medal, losing 4-3 in the bronze match against the USA.

"This team is already full of trailblazers and record breakers, with eight players set to become the first three-time football Olympians for Australia," Australian Olympic team Chef de Mission Anna Meares said.

Any doubt that Matildas fever was a World Cup-only experience last year was proven wrong on Monday night in Sydney, with a 14th consecutive home sell-out for the Australian women's team.

The record-breaking Matildas home game crowd of 76,798 were vocal all night, but especially every time retiring icon Lydia Williams touched the ball.

In emotional scenes pre-game the goalkeeper was presented with a special Booka (cloak) by fellow Indigenous Australian athlete and legend, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley.

Made from the skins of red desert kangaroos - Williams' totem - it pointed to her heritage and life experience, born in Western Australia, with the hills of Canberra where she first played professionally, also featured.

The match against China in Sydney was Williams' last home match for the Matildas in an extraordinary 19-year international career.

Williams boasts an impressive Matildas CV that includes five Women's World Cups, six AFC Women's Asian Cups - winning gold and two silvers - and two Olympic Games appearances (three if she plays in Paris).

MATILDAS SQUAD: Steph Catley (captain), Emily van Egmond (vice-captain), Ellie Carpenter (vice-captain), Mackenzie Arnold (GK), Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Teagan Micah (GK), Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop. Travelling Reserves: Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin, Lydia Williams (GK).

Germany v Australia at Stade de Marseille, 26 July, 3.00am AEST

Australia v Zambia at Stade de Nice, 29 July, 3.00am AEST

Australia v USA at Stade de Marseille, 1 August, 3.00am AEST

Michelle Heyman was snubbed in Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson's selection for the Women's World Cup last year, but he couldn't afford to make the same mistake again.

That was the opinion of Heyman's coach at Canberra United, Njegosh Popovich.

Scoring six goals in the last five matches in green and gold, Heyman has made a compelling case to be in the Olympics squad and Popovich believes Gustavsson has no choice but to pick her this time around.

"Michelle will be at the Olympics, and if she's not I'd be very surprised given her form," Popovich said.

"It's an easy decision for the coach compared to the World Cup and I don't think he wants to be held to account twice for not picking her.

"She really should have been in the World Cup squad, and that does hurt that she wasn't."

Gustavsson controversially selected veteran forward Kyah Simon over Heyman at the World Cup despite Simon coming off an ACL injury at the time, where she hadn't played since October 2022.

Despite Matildas dangerwoman Sam Kerr missing the opening four games of the tournament due to a calf issue, Simon didn't take the field once either, as Australia were beaten in the semi-final by England.

It's a similar situation 12 months on with Kerr again hitting an injury hurdle - ruled out from the Games all together with a torn ACL - and Heyman has emerged as the goal-scoring saviour up front for the Matildas.

"She's a true no.9 and we don't have anyone close her expertise level with Sam Kerr out," Popovich said.

"She'll be impactful for the Matildas. She's more mature and understands the game a lot more than she may have when she was younger."

Heyman has impressed in her short time back with the national team, but Popovich said she hasn't yet played with a full-strength Matildas team.

That suggests Heyman's best soccer could still be ahead of her at the Olympics where Gustavsson won't hold anyone back, especially in a tough group against the USA, Germany and Zambia.

"Michelle hasn't really had the opportunity to play with all of the strongest starting 11 at this stage," Popovich said. "I definitely see some connectivity there with Mary Fowler.

"Her ability to find a player with a run is amazing and Michelle makes these unbelievable movements, and it takes a special player to see that."

Even more remarkable is that Heyman has remained so sharp by training with a local Canberra men's NPL team since Canberra United's season ended in March.

In a tournament setting, where pressure mounts and the turnaround between games is shorter, Heyman is set to further hone her attacking instincts in Paris, and Popovich hopes to see the entire team lift to another level in that environment, in search of a medal.

"Where they may be a little bit lacking is maybe that how Michelle is used to a ball being put in between the centre backs and the goalkeeper," Popovich said.

"That's where she plays her best, when defences are retreating, and most of the goals she's scored are from crosses, so I'd love to see more of that.

"But every time anyone puts on an Australian jersey, particularly in the Matildas, we know we have the opportunity to play for silverware."