Liberty A-League talents dominate the CommBank Young Matildas’ squad for the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
Some of the Liberty A-League’s finest youngsters will be on show at the World Cup, which kicks off on September 1 (AEST), after Leah Blayney named her 21-player roster for the blockbuster tournament where Australia will face hosts Colombia, Mexico and Cameroon in Group A.
Melbourne Victory’s Jessika Nash will captain the CommBank Young Matildas, who boast 17 players currently contracted to A-Leagues teams, as well as Canberra United’s Tegan Bertolissio – she has been selected as a train-on player.
‘IS THAT A MAVIC PRO?!’ How A-Leagues star triggered the biggest story of this Olympics
WONDERKID WATCH: 33 minutes show why A-Leagues champs made teen star’s dream come true
Melbourne City recruit Alexia Apostolakis is one of the vice-captains while Sydney FC signing and NPLW NSW Golden Boot leader Amber Luchtmeijer has earned her maiden call-up.
ROAR TALENT: Brisbane Roar sign history-making teen who’s blazing a trail for her nation
PHOENIX RECRUIT: Wellington sign ‘top-level striker’ who’s nicknamed after an all-time legend
“This cycle has taken the team to the Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, China, Uzbekistan, New Zealand and now we will complete this two-year journey in Colombia where the players have a golden chance to display their abilities and represent Australia with pride on the world stage,” Blayney said.
“Over this cycle we have seen over 60 players across all Member Federations participate in the process, and every single one of them has contributed to the quality of this team as they showed up to test and challenge each other to keep evolving. I would like to thank all the players, Member Federations, NPL clubs and Liberty A-League Women clubs for their contribution to the final squad.
“We’ve selected a roster that has exhibited strong current form, combined with an important balance across the lines of defence, midfield and attack. The collective of players across those three lines provides us with plenty of variety as they all have different types of playing profiles and attributes.
“Ultimately our team will strive to maintain our attacking playing style with a focus exciting and entertaining football which we hope will capture the Australian public and gain their support. The test that this group craves, is now to pull it all together under tournament conditions.”
Match details
Colombia v Australia
Date: Saturday, 31 August 2024 / Thursday, 1 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 6:00pm (local) / 9:00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campin, Bogota, Colombia
Mexico v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 3 September 2024 / Wednesday, 4 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 5:00pm (local) / 8:00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campin, Bogota, Colombia
Australia v Cameroon
Date: Friday, 6 September 2024 / Saturday, 7 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 8:00pm (local) / 11:00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campin, Bogota, Colombia
Young Matildas squad
| NAME | POSITION | U-20 WWC APPEARANCES | CLUB(S) | MEMBER FEDERATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexia APOSTOLAKIS | Defender | 2022, 2024 | Melbourne City | Football NSW |
| Tegan BERTOLISSIO* | Defender | Train On Player | Macarthur Rams Women | Football NSW |
| Ella BUCHANAN | Defender | Debut | NWS Spirit /Western Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW |
| Madeleine CASPERS | Midfielder | Debut | Bulls FC Academy/Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Indiana DOS SANTOS | Midfielder | Debut | Blacktown Spartans /Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Jynaya DOS SANTOS | Midfielder | 2022, 2024 | Blacktown Spartans | Football NSW |
| Tahlia FRANCO | Goalkeeper | Debut | Sydney University /Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Lara GOOCH | Forward | Debut | Newcastle Jets Academy | NNSW Football |
| Sasha GROVE | Defender | Debut | Illawarra Stingrays FC/Western United | Capital Football |
| Shay HOLLMAN | Midfielder | Debut | Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Kahli JOHNSON | Forward | 2022, 2024 | Manly United /Western United | Football NSW |
| Zara KRUGER | Midfielder | Debut | Future Matildas NSW | Football QLD |
| Chloe LINCOLN | Goalkeeper | 2022, 2024 | Western United | Football NSW |
| Amber LUCHTMEIJER | Forward | Debut | Bulls FC Academy / Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Tanaye MORRIS | Forward | Debut | Adelaide University WNPL | Football SA |
| Emilia MURRAY | Forward | Debut | Melbourne City | Football SA |
| Jessika NASH | Defender | 2022, 2024 | Blacktown Spartans | Football NSW |
| Ella O’GRADY | Forward | Debut | Future Matildas NSW | Football QLD |
| Naomi THOMAS-CHINNAMA | Defender | 2022, 2024 | Future Matildas NSW | Football VIC |
| Peta TRIMIS | Forward | Debut | Bulls FC Academy | Football NSW |
| Grace WILSON | Goalkeeper | Debut | University of Maine | Football SA |
| Alicia WOODS | Midfielder/ Defender | Debut | Peninsula Power | Football QLD |
