Gustavsson noted that of the 37 players he has called into camp since the start of the 2023 Women’s World Cup,15 of them are either injured or just coming back from injury.

“This June,the window will be a tough one for me and my staff in terms of evaluating players,where they are in the selection process,” said Gustavsson via an FA media release,in lieu of a press conference due to personal reasons.

“This is the last camp to show the national team coaches that you want to be part of an Olympic roster,and a lot of players want to be that. So it’ll be some very good conversations and some tough conversations to be had ... because obviously the selection has to be made during the June window. There might be players that are not in camp that still[are] available for selection,but they’re not ready now to perform,and I have to make some decisions based on players that I think might become available come the Olympics.”

China,the reigning Asian champions,will be coached by Gustavsson’s immediate predecessor,Ante Milicic,who was unveiled as the country’s new national women’s boss last week. Milicic was most recently coach of Macarthur FC in the A-League Men when he announced his intention to take a break from football in 2022.

“It’s going to be very different because it’s a new coach coming in,and a coach that knows every single detail about us as well,” Gustavsson said.

“So we need to prep for whatever is thrown at us – formation-wise with his high press,a low block,we don’t know. And I actually think that will be a good thing because that means we need to prepare for whatever comes.”

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