Nine Queenslanders have been named today in Ante Milicic’s 23 player Westfield Matildas squad for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Mackenzie Arnold, Emily Gielnik, Clare Polkinghorne, Elise Kellond-Knight, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso, Tameka Yallop (nee Butt), Teagan Micah and Mary Fowler are among the players selected to represent Australia at the upcoming tournament.
The announcement marks Polkinghorne’s fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup selection, while Kellond-Knight and Yallop will head to their third global tournament.
Gielnik, Raso and 16 year old Fowler could all make their FIFA Women’s World Cup debuts at the upcoming tournament, to be held in France in June and July.
Westfield Matildas Head Coach Ante Milicic said he was pleased with the balance in the team and the wealth of experience that players will bring.
“This is a special group of Australian footballers because, as a unit, they have accumulated a wealth of international experience despite the average age of the team being quite young,” Milicic said.
“Having players that have appeared at multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups in our squad will help to guide the eight players traveling to their first Women’s World Cup, and I believe we will have genuine competition for starting positions across all areas of the pitch.”
The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will kick off in France in just under one month’s time, with the Matildas coming up against Italy for their first game of the group stages.
Westfield Matildas Squad:
Squad Number | Name | Club, Country | A-International Caps (Goals) | Previous FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Selections |
1 | Lydia WILLIAMS (Gk) | Seattle Reign, USA | 77 (0) | 2007, 2011, 2015 |
2 | Gema SIMON | Newcastle Jets FC, Australia | 11 (0) | |
3 | Aivi LUIK | Levante UD, Spain | 21 (0) | |
4 | Clare POLKINGHORNE | Houston Dash, USA | 116 (9) | 2007, 2011, 2015 |
5 | Laura ALLEWAY | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 60 (2) | 2011, 2015 |
6 | Chloe LOGARZO | Washington Spirit, USA | 37 (6) | |
7 | Steph CATLEY (VC) | Seattle Reign, USA | 71 (2) | 2015 |
8 | Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT | Seattle Reign, USA | 106 (1) | 2011, 2015 |
9 | Caitlin FOORD | Portland Thorns, USA | 71 (16) | 2011, 2015 |
10 | Emily VAN EGMOND | Orlando Pride, USA | 85 (18) | 2011, 2015 |
11 | Lisa DE VANNA | Sydney FC, Australia | 147 (47) | 2007, 2011, 2015 |
12 | Teagan MICAH (Gk) | UCLA, USA | 0 (0) | |
13 | Tameka YALLOP | Klepp IL, USA | 78 (10) | 2011, 2015 |
14 | Alanna KENNEDY | Orlando Pride, USA | 77 (7) | 2015 |
15 | Emily GIELNIK | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 28 (7) | |
16 | Hayley RASO | Portland Thorns, USA | 34 (4) | 2015 |
17 | Mary FOWLER | Bankstown City Lions, Australia | 4 (0) | |
18 | Mackenzie ARNOLD (Gk) | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | 23 (0) | 2015 |
19 | Katrina GORRY | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | 73 (14) | 2015 |
20 | Sam KERR (C) | Chicago Red Stars, USA | 76 (31) | 2011, 2015 |
21 | Ellie CARPENTER | Portland Thorns, USA | 31 (1) | |
22 | Amy HARRISON | Washington Spirit, USA | 10 (0) | |
23 | Teigen ALLEN | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 40 (0) | 2011 |
Upcoming Matches | Westfield Matildas
Netherlands vs. Australia (International Friendly)
Date: Saturday, 1 June 2019
Venue: 6.15pm (local) – 2.15am AEST (Sunday, 2 June 2019)
Venue: Philips Stadium, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS and SBS VICELAND
Australia vs. Italy (FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C)
Date: Sunday, 9 June 2019
Venue: Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes, France
Kick-off: 1.00pm (local) – 9.00pm AEST
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS TV and Optus Sport
Australia vs. Brazil (FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C)
Date: Thursday, 13 June 2019
Venue: Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France
Kick-off: 6.00pm (local) – 2.00am AEST (Friday, 14 June 2019)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS TV and Optus Sport
Jamaica vs. Australia (FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C)
Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2019
Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble, France
Kick-off: 9.00pm (local) – 5.00am AEST (Wednesday, 19 June 2019)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS TV and Optus Sport