Australia confirm Chelsea star Sam Kerr won’t be available for Olympic Games in Paris after ACL injury

Australia has confirmed that Chelsea forward Sam Kerr will not be available for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris due to an ACL injury. Kerr, one of the country’s most celebrated players, suffered the injury during a warm-weather training camp in Morocco earlier this year.

Although there had been some hope that she might recover in time for the Olympics, the team’s recent squad announcement confirmed that Kerr will miss the tournament as she continues her rehabilitation. The same announcement also noted that Kristianstads DFF forward Amy Sayer would be absent for the same reason, while midfielder Katrina Gorry remains unavailable due to an ankle injury.

Australia’s head coach, Tony Gustavsson, emphasized the difficulty of selecting the Olympic squad given these injuries but expressed confidence in the players chosen for the upcoming series of farewell matches against China. He also highlighted the opportunity to refine the team’s playing style and evaluate individual performances ahead of the Paris games.

The squad will feature key players like Arsenal’s Steph Catley, who has been named captain, and vice-captains Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond. The matches will also serve as a chance for fans to bid farewell to legendary goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who has announced her retirement from international football after the Olympics.