Westfield Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic today announced a 20-player squad for his team’s highly anticipated two-match series against Brazil on home soil.
Stajcic’s squad will feature 2017 The Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Nominee, Sam Kerr, who recently equalled Kim Little’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) goal scoring record of 16 strikes in a single season for her club Sky Blue FC.
SQUAD NEWS: World superstar named in Brazil squad for Aussie games
Less than 1,500 tickets remain for the Westfield Matildas’ clash with Brazil at Pepper Stadium in Penrith on Saturday 16 September, while demand is also strong for the Newcastle match three days later, with over 9,000 tickets sold. Tickets for both games can be purchased here.
Stajcic’s squad will enter their two-game campaign against Brazil with confidence having recorded a dominant 6-1 win over the South Americans at the recent 2017 Tournament of Nations (TON) held in the United States.
Nineteen of the players in Stajcic’s squad for the forthcoming matches at Pepper Stadium and McDonald Jones Stadium were part of the Westfield Matildas’ historic TON triumph in July, while Westfield W-League defender Georgia Yeoman-Dale has received a recall to the national set-up.
Youngsters Princess Ibini and Alex Chidiac – who were part of Stajcic’s TON squad – won’t participate in the forthcoming series as they have commitments with the Westfield Young Matildas.
“There is a great buzz within this squad to come home and play and perform in front of large home crowds in Penrith and Newcastle,” Stajcic said. “It will be a privilege to host Brazil and the team can’t wait for the matches.”
“Our (Westfield Matildas) staff are in contact with the players daily and we have access to a lot of footage of the girls playing abroad, and it has been fantastic to see so many of our girls performing consistently at a high level.”
Kerr’s recent exploits for Sky Blue FC in the United States have captured the attention and imagination of football fans in Australia and across the globe.
Coach Stajcic has been delighted with the standout displays of the 23-year-old attacker.
“Sam’s really had a breakout 12 months in the Westfield W-League and the NWSL,” he explained. “She’s matured as a player and a person, and the group couldn’t be prouder of her.”
“Sam is one of many exciting players we have selected that are keen to make the most of this series in New South Wales as we continue to build towards next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan, as well as the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France,” he said.
Three train-on players – Amy Harrison, Michelle Heyman and Kyah Simon – will also be part of the camp.
Brazil announced a strong squad for their tour of Australia earlier this week. Details regarding Brazil’s squad – which features multiple FIFA Women’ Player of the Year, Marta – can be accessed here.
WESTFIELD MATILDAS SQUAD INFORMATION:
|
Shirt Number |
Name |
Club, Country |
A International Caps (Goals) |
|
5 |
ALLEWAY, Laura |
Melbourne Victory, Australia |
49 (2) |
|
18 |
ARNOLD, Mackenzie |
Brisbane Roar, Australia |
14 (0) |
|
13 |
BUTT, Tameka |
Klepp I-L, Norway |
59 (8) |
|
21 |
CARPENTER, Ellie |
Canberra United, Australia |
10 (1) |
|
7 |
CATLEY, Steph |
Orlando Pride, USA |
60 (2) |
|
3 |
COOPER, Caitlin |
Illawarra Stingrays, Australia |
8 (1) |
|
11 |
DE VANNA, Lisa |
South Melbourne FC, Australia |
124 (42) |
|
9 |
FOORD, Caitlin |
Vegalta Sendai, Japan |
56 (10) |
|
15 |
GIELNIK, Emily |
Avaldsnes, Norway |
15 (4) |
|
19 |
GORRY, Katrina |
Vegalta Sendai, Japan |
55 (14) |
|
8 |
KELLOND-KNIGHT, Elise |
FFC Turbine Potsdam, Germany |
83 (1) |
|
14 |
KENNEDY, Alanna |
Orlando Pride, USA |
55 (3) |
|
20 |
KERR, Sam |
Sky Blue FC, USA |
53 (12) |
|
6 |
LOGARZO, Chloe |
Avaldsnes, Norway |
16 (0) |
|
4 |
POLKINHGORNE, Clare |
Brisbane Roar, Australia |
96 (7) |
|
16 |
RASO, Hayley |
Portland Thorns, USA |
19 (1) |
|
2 |
SIMON, Gema |
Avaldsnes, Norway |
6 (0) |
|
10 |
VAN EGMOND, Emily |
VfL Wolfsburg, Germany |
61 (14) |
|
1 |
WILLIAMS, Lydia |
Houston Dash, USA |
60 (0) |
|
22 |
YEOMAN-DALE, Georgia |
Sydney FC, Australia |
4 (0) |
MATCH DETAILS:
Westfield Matildas v Brazil
Pepper Stadium, Penrith
Saturday 16 September 2017
Kick Off Time: 3:00pm (AEST)
Westfield Matildas v Brazil
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Tuesday 19 September 2017
Kick Off Time: 7:30pm (AEST)