Kyah Simon has made a miracle comeback from an ACL tear to slip into Australia’s World Cup squad.Credit:Getty
“It’s different from the[Tokyo] Olympics when I was a starter,and I said to him that I’d much prefer to be in the squad and have that role rather than wanting to be a starter and missing out.
“Even when Tony told me I was in the squad I said,‘I’m not expecting a free ticket,and I don’t expect a free ticket for what I’ve done in the past at World Cups and goals I’ve scored,or the type of player that I am. I want to be there because I want to feel like I deserve to be there’.”
The “massive relief” when Simon got the news manifested in tears,and then a renewed motivation to ensure she is fit to remain on the roster by the time the tournament starts on July 20 – Gustavsson has until the day before Australia’s match against the Republic of Ireland to withdraw players through injury or illness.
Before that,though,there were times during the months of lonely and largely unrewarding rehabilitation when she wondered:what was the point?