The Matildas have announced their provisional 29-man squad for next month’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with Sam Kerr leading an outstanding squad brimming with talent.
Crucial veterans Chloe Logarzo, Alanna Kennedy, Tameka Yallop and Kyah Simon have been named, excitingly for Australia, despite fitness issues, although unfortunately for Elise Kellond-Knight there will be no return miraculous after a ruptured Achilles cruelty to his World Cup chances.
Rising stars Amy Sayer, Remy Siemsen and Clare Hunt will relish the opportunity to challenge for the final team spots, while promising keeper Jada Whyman has been included in the competitive goalscoring room.
Australia will kick off their campaign for a historic World Cup trophy at home to Ireland on July 20 in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 80,000 fans at Sydney’s Olympic Park.
Matches against Nigeria in Brisbane (July 27) and challengers Canada in Melbourne (July 31) will follow, with heavy favorites the Matildas to break out of the group.
The Matildas have announced their provisional squad for next month’s Women’s World Cup Down Under, with stars like Charlotte Grant (centre) jostling for a place in the final squad
Superstar Sam Kerr will lead a talented team of Matildas ready to shine on the world stage
After winning the Nations Cup in February (pictured), can the Matildas lift a World Cup trophy in the final on August 20?
Coach Tony Gustavsson said the team are proving they are much more than Sam Kerr’s show for Australia – fighting for a World Cup requires depth, which the team have in spades.
“From day one of our first training session in 2021, we said it would take 23 out of 23 for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and that everyone would have a part to play in that journey,” he said. he said in a statement announcing the team on Monday. Morning.
“What we’ve seen is that it’s actually taken more than 23 players to get us to this point and for that reason I’m delighted to be working with the players named in this provisional squad at the final stage. of our preparation.
“I have been impressed with their total commitment every step of the way, and now we have the chance to refine and solidify our game plan ahead of a phenomenally exciting few weeks.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Federation, the dedicated staff of my national team and the clubs for the support given to provide the players with the platform to be best prepared for the tournament of their lives.”
It sounds like hyperbole, but it really isn’t.
Competing in a World Cup on home soil is the opportunity of a lifetime and competition is fierce for places in the final team.
And the injury clouds surrounding a number of these top veterans means exactly one month after the first game there is plenty to play for.
Veteran midfielder Tameka Yallop has a month to end her fitness struggles after suffering an ankle injury against England in April
![Kyah Simon (right, pictured playing for Tottenham last year alongside compatriot Matilda Hayley Raso [left, Manchester City]) was a shock inclusion in the World Cup squad after tearing his ACL in October](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/19/02/72278451-12209039-image-a-17_1687136745540.jpg)
Kyah Simon (right, pictured playing for Tottenham last year alongside compatriot Matilda Hayley Raso [left, Manchester City]) was a shock inclusion in the World Cup squad after tearing his ACL in October
111-cap veteran Simon still has a chance to be a crucial part of the forward rotation despite tearing his ACL while playing for Tottenham in October. At the time, the worst was to be feared for the talented striker, but Gustavsson gave her a chance.
Gielnik saw his WSL season for Aston Villa end prematurely with an ankle injury in March, while compatriot Logarzo has not played since January. The unlucky striker has had to deal with a number of injuries over the past couple of years.
Kennedy, quite possibly the team’s most influential defender along with superstar winger Ellie Carpenter, has also had an injury-plagued season for Manchester City and faces a big month ahead.
Matildas most capped player Clare Polkinghorne and fellow veteran Tameka Yallop are both set to continue rehabilitating over the next month, the latter suffering an ankle injury in the team’s win over England in April.
But if one door closes, another opens, as they say.
Players like Hunt, Clare Wheeler, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Charlotte Grant and cult hero Alex Chidiac will be ready to step into the fold of a squad of impressive depth.
Nine players ply their trade in Britain’s strong WSL, including Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley (Arsenal), Mary Fowler and Kennedy (Manchester City), Kerr (Chelsea), likely first-choice keeper Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham), Siemsen and Courtney Nevin (Leicester) and Lydia Williams (Brighton).
Arsenal gunman Caitlin Foord (right, pictured after scoring in March) is one of nine Matildas players to ply his trade in the strong WSL league in the UK
This includes Sam Kerr, who won the WSL with Chelsea this season: their fourth in a row
The provisional squad is gathering on Queensland’s Gold Coast to prepare for the tournament until June 30, with Gustavsson saying it will provide a “platform to be the best prepared for the tournament of a lifetime”.
Kerr’s side will then head south to Melbourne to continue their preparations with a friendly against title favorites France on July 14.
Guardians
Mackenzie Arnold, Lydia Williams, Tegan Micah, Jada Whyman
Defenders
Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Aivi Luik, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne
Midfielders
Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Chloe Logarzo, Amy Sayer, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop
Attackers
Larissa Crummer, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Emily Gielnik, Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Remy Siemsen, Kyah Simon, Cortnee Vine