Westfield Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic has named nine Queenslanders in his 21 player squad selected to defend Australia’s Tournament of Nations (ToN) crown in the United States later this month, including uncapped Cairns product Mary Fowler.
15-year-old Fowler, a late inclusion in the squad, recently impressed at the 2018 AFF Women’s Championship in Indonesia, scoring ten goals in six matches for the Westfield Young Matildas, including five goals in Australia’s third fixture against Cambodia.
Also leading the inclusions are Brisbane Roar captain and national team veteran Clare Polkinghorne and Gold Coast local Tameka Butt who plys her trade in Norway with Klepp IL.
The other six players who hail from Queensland are Larissa Crummer, Emily Gielnik, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, Elise Kellond-Kinght and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
The Westfield Matildas are the defending champions of the Tournament of Nations after lifting the inaugural trophy last year in Los Angeles. They won all three of their fixtures in the competition defeating hosts USA, as well as Brazil, and Japan on their way to collecting the trophy.
The Matildas will face the same three nations in the second edition of the ToN, with 17 of the 20 players that featured in last year’s successful campaign returning to defend the title.
Head coach Stajcic said that the fact that he has been able to name a largely settled squad, and one that also includes the bulk of his 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup roster, is positive leading into a crucial 12 months for the Westfield Matildas.
“The forthcoming Tournament of Nations kicks off a massive 12 months for women’s football in Australia,” said Stajcic.
“While we will naturally be aiming to defend our Tournament of Nations title, we will also be focused on continuing to develop as a unit while we are in the USA as we look ahead to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.”
“Brazil, Japan, and the USA will provide tough opposition for us over the comings weeks, however over the past year we have shown on multiple occasions that we can not only match, but beat, the very best.”
“The 2018 Tournament of Nations offers us an opportunity to show that we can continue to perform at the highest level against three of the top ranked nations in world football,” he said.
The Matildas open their campaign against Brazil on Thursday, 26 July (local time) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.
They then travel to East Hartford, Connecticut to tackle the United States at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sunday, 29 July (local time), before rounding out their campaign against Japan at Toyota Park in Illinois on Thursday, 2 August (local time).
All three of the Westfield Matildas’ matches at the 2018 Tournament of Nations will be broadcast LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS in Australia.
Westfield Matildas 21-player squad for the 2018 Tournament of Nations:
Name | Current Club, Country | A-International Caps (Goals) |
Mackenzie ARNOLD (GK) | Arna-Bjørnar Fotball, Norway | 19 (0) |
Tameka BUTT | Klepp IL, Norway | 68 (9) |
Ellie CARPENTER | Portland Thorns, USA | 21 (1) |
Steph CATLEY | Seattle Reign, USA | 67 (2) |
Alex CHIDIAC | Atletico Madrid, Spain | 10 (1) |
Larissa CRUMMER | Unattached | 20 (4) |
Lisa DE VANNA | South Melbourne FC, Australia | 137 (45) |
Caitlin FOORD | Portland Thorns, USA | 60 (11) |
Mary FOWLER | Bankstown City FC, Australia | 0 (0) |
Emily GIELNIK | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | 18 (4) |
Katrina GORRY | Utah Royals, USA | 68 (14) |
Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT | Hammarby IF, Sweden | 95 (1) |
Alanna KENNEDY | Orlando Pride, USA | 69 (5) |
Samantha KERR | Chicago Red Stars, USA | 67 (24) |
Chloe LOGARZO | Blacktown Spartans FC, Australia | 30 (4) |
Clare POLKINGHORNE | Houston Dash, USA | 105 (8) |
Hayley RASO | Portland Thorns, USA | 25 (2) |
Amy SAYER | North Shore Mariners FC, Australia | 0 (0) |
Kyah SIMON | Houston Dash FC, USA | 83 (22) |
Emily VAN EGMOND | Orlando Pride, USA | 75 (15) |
Lydia WILLIAMS (GK) | Seattle Reign FC, USA | 69 (0) |
2018 Tournament of Nations – Westfield Matildas Match Schedule
Brazil v Westfield Matildas
Date: Thursday, 26 July 2018 (local)
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
Kick-off: 3.15pm (local) (6.15am AEST – Friday, 27 July 2018)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS
USA v Westfield Matildas
Date: Sunday, 29 July 2018 (local)
Venue: Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, Connecticut
Kick-off: 7pm (local) (9am AEST – Monday, 30 July 2018)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS
Westfield Matildas v Japan
Date: Thursday, 2 August 2018 (local)
Venue: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
Kick-off: 4.45pm (local) (7.45am AEST – Friday, 3 August 2018)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS