Ante Milicic confirms Westfield Matildas squad for France 2019

Westfield Matildas Head Coach Ante Milicic today confirmed the 23 players selected in Australia’s squad for the eighth FIFA Women’s World Cup™.



Australia’s squad for France 2019 possesses close to 1,300 caps of international experience, and features numerous players to have attended multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups™.



Experienced Matildas Lisa De Vanna, Clare Polkinghorne, and Lydia Williams have each earned their fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ selections, while Sam Kerr, Laura Alleway, Caitlin Foord, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, and Tameka Yallop (nee Butt) will venture to their third global tournaments.



Milicic, who was in Sydney for the announcement of the squad, said he’s pleased with the balance of the roster and is buoyed by the experience that his team will take into France.



“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.



”I don’t like to single out individuals, however I would like to congratulate Lisa (De Vanna), Clare (Polkinghorne), and Lydia (Williams) for earning selection in their fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ squads.



“I am really looking forward to joining the squad in Turkey, and believe we can make significant progress before our first match is played in Valenciennes,” he said.



Two additional players – Kyah Simon and Kyra Cooney-Cross – will join the Matildas in Europe prior to the tournament on standby.



The FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ will kick-off in just under one month’s time with hosts France taking on Korea Republic at the Parc des Princes in Paris, while the Matildas will tackle Italy at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes two days later.



Australia will play the Netherlands in a pre-FIFA Women’s World Cup™ friendly in Eindhoven on Saturday, 1 June 2019.



The Westfield Matildas will be captained at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ by Sam Kerr, with Steph Catley serving as vice-captain.



Westfield Matildas Squad | FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™

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

