Matildas squad announced for their defence of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Vietnam later this month.
Following a six day training camp on the Gold Coast, Stajcic finalised his 23-player squad for the tournament, which doubles as the qualifiers for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Headlined by PFA Women’s Player of the Year Samantha Kerr, 2014 Julie Dolan Medallist (W-League Player of the Year) Tameka Butt and W-League Young Player of the Year Stephanie Catley, the squad also includes US-based quartet Lisa De Vanna, Caitlin Foord, and Lydia Williams, who are currently at clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League.
In all, 11 of the players selected (Teigen Allen, Tameka Butt, Kim Carroll, Casey Dumont, Lisa De Vanna, Kate Gill, Elise Kellond-Knight, Samantha Kerr, LeenaKhamis, Clare Polkinghorne and Lydia Williams) were part of the Westfield Matildas’ Women’s Asian Cup winning squad four years ago in China.
Midfielder Emily van Egmond said expectations were high ahead of the tournament.
“We have all been working extremely hard to ensure we give ourselves the best possible chance of defending our title. Doing so will be far from easy as we will have to get the better of some outstanding teams including Japan. With the squad that we have we are quietly confident but we are taking nothing for granted.”
The Matildas have been grouped alongside world champions Japan, Jordan and host nation Vietnam for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The Matildas squad flies out for Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday 8 May ahead of their opening game of the tournament against Japan at Thong Nhat Stadium on Wednesday 14 May 2014.
The top five teams at the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Westfield Matildas Squad for AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014
Teigen ALLEN – Defender (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Laura ALLEWAY – Defender (Brisbane Roar)
Nicola BOLGER – Midfielder (Sydney FC)
Tameka BUTT – Midfielder (Brisbane Roar)
Kim CARROLL – Defender (Brisbane Roar)
Stephanie CATLEY – Defender (Melbourne Victory)
Brianna DAVEY – Goalkeeper (Melbourne Victory)
Lisa DE VANNA – Forward (Boston Breakers)
Casey DUMONT – Goalkeeper (Sydney FC)
Caitlin FOORD – Forward (Sky Blue FC, USA)
Kate GILL – Forward (Perth Glory)
Katrina GORRY – Midfielder (Brisbane Roar)
Michelle HEYMAN – Forward (Canberra United)
Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT – Midfielder (Brisbane Roar)
Alanna KENNEDY – Defender (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Samantha KERR – Midfielder (Western New York Flash, USA)
Leena KHAMIS – Forward (Sydney FC)
Teresa POLIAS – Midfielder (Sydney FC)
Clare POLKINGHORNE – Defender (Brisbane Roar)
Hayley RASO – Forward (Brisbane Roar)
Ashleigh SYKES – Midfielder (Canberra United)
Emily VAN EGMOND – Midfielder (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Lydia WILLIAMS – Goalkeeper (Western New York Flash, USA)
