Eighteen stars of the Westfield W-League have been selected in Ante Milicic’s 20-played squad for the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification matches in China.
The Westfield Matildas will look to take a giant step towards this year’s Olympics when they face China PR, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand next month.
Skipper Sam Kerr (Chelsea, England) and Bayern Munich-based (Germany) attacker Emily Gielnik are the only two players in the squad that don’t play in the Westfield W-League.
Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar are the best represented clubs, each with six players selected in the squad, including attacker Kyah Simon (City) who returns after missing FIFA Women’s World Cup selection last year.
Sydney FC have three players called up for the tournament, while Melbourne Victory have two and Karly Roestbakken is the sole player picked from Canberra United.
HOW TO WATCH: Every single match in Round 9
MORE: Indiah-Paige Riley named December Nominee for the Young Footballer of the Year
The 18 local-based players will assemble in Sydney for a training camp prior to departing to China, with foreign-based pair Kerr and Gielnik to meet their teammates in Hubei Province prior to the start of the tournament.
Australia will need to finish either first or second in Group B of Asian qualifying to advance to the final phase of matches for a place at Tokyo 2020, which would consist of a home and away play-off against Korea Republic, Vietnam, or Myanmar in early March 2020.
“We have a great amount of experience in our squad, as well as some emerging talents, and I expect us to perform strongly in Wuhan,” Milicic said.
“Together with my staff I have been keeping a very close eye on the Westfield W-League, and it is pleasing that many of our players have produced strong performances in the competition over the past two months.
“The great amount of consistency within our squad from November’s series against Chile in Sydney and Adelaide means that we will be able to continue to make progress with many areas of our play from the moment we convene in Sydney as we build up to these crucial qualifiers.
“With only twenty (20) places in this squad and eighteen (18) for Tokyo should we qualify, every player will need to show her best in this upcoming camp and help the nation take another step towards the Olympic Games,” he said.
The Westfield Matildas’ training camp in Sydney will be held between January 20 and 27, with the team to depart for China on January 28.
Westfield Matildas’ 20-Player Squad | Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 Asian Qualifiers | Wuhan, China
|
Name |
Club, Country |
‘A’ International Caps (Goals) |
|
Mackenzie ARNOLD (Gk) |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
23 (0) |
|
Ellie CARPENTER |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
38 (1) |
|
Steph CATLEY |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
78 (2) |
|
Caitlin FOORD |
Sydney FC, Australia |
78 (17) |
|
Emily GIELNIK |
Bayern Munich, Germany |
34 (8) |
|
Katrina GORRY |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
76 (14) |
|
Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
109 (2) |
|
Alanna KENNEDY |
Sydney FC, Australia |
83 (7) |
|
Sam KERR (C) |
Chelsea FC, England |
83 (38) |
|
Chloe LOGARZO |
Sydney FC, Australia |
44 (7) |
|
Aivi LUIK |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
24 (0) |
|
Jenna MCCORMICK |
Melbourne Victory, Australia |
2 (0) |
|
Teagan MICAH (Gk) |
Melbourne Victory, Australia |
0 (0) |
|
Clare POLKINGHORNE |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
121 (9) |
|
Hayley RASO |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
41 (3) |
|
Karly ROESTBAKKEN |
Canberra United, Australia |
3 (0) |
|
Kyah SIMON |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
87 (24) |
|
Emily VAN EGMOND |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
92 (18) |
|
Lydia WILLIAMS (Gk) |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
84 (0) |
|
Tameka YALLOP |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
83 (10) |
Upcoming Matches – Westfield Matildas
Westfield Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Monday, 3 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)
Thailand v Westfield Matildas
Date: Thursday, 6 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)
Westfield Matildas v China PR
Date: Sunday, 9 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local); 10.30pm (AEDT)
READ: Denise O’Sullivan named Player of the Month for December
READ: Dean Heffernan voted Coach of the Month for December
