Foord sits out Matildas' pre-Games loss to Canada

But coach Tony Gustavsson was quick to add important perspective after Australia lost to Canada 2-1 in their final hitout before the Paris Games.

Foord was a late withdrawal for Saturday's (AEST) friendly in Marbella, Spain after feeling quad tightness during the warm-up.

Her replacement Sharn Freier scored an early goal, before the reigning Olympic champions equalised and a late Evelyne Viens strike proved the winner.

Foord was one of several squad members deemed unavailable for the fixture as the Matildas focus on their Olympic campaign starting on July 25.

Kaitlyn Torpey and Steph Catley were ruled out earlier in the week with lower leg injuries, but are on track to rejoin the squad at training prior to that opening match against Germany.

Goalkeeper Teagan Micah and midfielder Tameka Yallop were also ruled out as precautionary measures.

Gustavsson rotated his roster widely through the match and said afterwards it was important to understand they had purposely trained hard beforehand, entering the match with fatigue to prepare for the rigours of Olympic tournament play.

"We also wanted to test a lot of players today...because we are going to need them all come Olympics," he said.

Gustavsson singled out two players for special mention.

"I though that (left-back) Clare Wheeler was outstanding. She has been phenomenal at training all camp," he said.

"I think Sharn Freier maybe had a bit of a breakthrough game for the Matildas, not just the goal but the way she plays as well and how brave and confident she was..."

Gustavsson also mixed up the team's style and tactics.

"We used three to four different shapes tonight, both attacking and defending," he said.

"So we looked at that flexibility and when can we use those different tactics against different opposition, so tactics change and personnel change."

Gustavsson had warned of Canada's high press and that was soon evident with goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold forced into a sharp save off Adriana Leon.

However, the Matildas struck first after Mary Fowler found space in Canada's half and played through a pinpoint ball to Freier, who beat a defender and slotted it past goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

Canada hit back late in the half after Cloe Lacasse's cross proved difficult for Arnold, opening the door for an onrushing Nichelle Prince to score.

Left-back Clare Wheeler gave Australia hope of regaining the lead just before half time but her pass across the face of goal could not meet Ellie Carpenter's back-post run.

Gustavsson made five substitutions at halftime with Charli Grant, Clare Polkinghorne, Emily van Egmond, Michelle Heyman and Courtney Nevin replacing Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine.

Polkinghorne's experience was on show as she made a vital block from a Jordyn Huitema shot just over 10 minutes into the half.

Viens eventually made the difference after a ball from Huitema found her in the box and she was able to rifle in a decisive finish, giving Canada the lead for the first time in the 85th minute.

Australian Associated Press