Full squad to choose from for Matildas
Coach Tom Sermanni will have a full squad of players to select from when the Matildas open their second and final stage of Beijing Olympic qualifying tomorrow against Hong Kong at BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour.
Coach Tom Sermanni will have a full squad of players to select from when the Matildas open their second and final stage of Beijing Olympic qualifying tomorrow against Hong Kong at BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour.
The Matildas have been in camp in Coffs Harbour this week with all 20 squad members available for selection.
“All the players are looking forward to taking the field with our last international matches back in February and also after spending the week in camp,” said Sermanni.
“The players are all mindful that it is vitally important to set the campaign off on the right foot, so we will be hoping to obtain an emphatic win. Having said that, whilst Hong Kong are ranked well below us, they did manage to knock over South Korea in the previous round of qualifying so certainly we will not be complacent by any means.”
Sermanni has yet to announce his starting XI though local fans will be hoping to see Young Matildas striker and Coffs Harbour resident Jenna Tristram make her first appearance for the senior team.
Australia are grouped with seeded team DPR Korea (North Korea) as well as Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei. The other qualifying group consists of seeded-team Japan, plus Korea Republic, Thailand and Vietnam.
The qualifying matches will be held between April and August with only the top team in each group to progress to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
DPR Korea are Asia-s highest ranked team listed at 5 on the FIFA Women-s World Rankings, while Australia are now ranked at an all-time high of 14. Hong Kong are ranked 68 and Chinese Taipei 28.
Australia easily navigated through the first stage of qualifying in February defeating Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei.
Australia have already qualified for the 2007 FIFA Women-s World Cup also to be held in China, September 10-30.
The Australian squad which will be trimmed to 18 players for the match is:
1 Melissa BARBIERI 2 Kate MCSHEA 3 Karla REUTER 4 Dianne ALAGICH 5 Cheryl SALISBURY 6 Rhian DAVIES 7 Heather GARRIOCK 9 Sarah WALSH 10 Joanne PETERS 12 Kate GILL 13 Thea SLATYER 14 Collette MCCALLUM 16 Lauren COLTHORPE 17 Danielle SMALL 18 Lydia WILLIAMS 20 Joanne BURGESS 21 Kim CARROLL 22 Emma WIRKUS 24 Clare POLKINGHORNE 27 Jenna TRISTRAM
Australia v Hong Kong Saturday 7 April - BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour Kick-off 3pm (Gates open 1.30pm)
Coverage SBS will show extended highlights of the Matildas match against Hong Kong in “The World Game” on Sunday 8 April with LIVE coverage of the team-s matches against North Korea on Sunday 10 June and Chinese Taipei on Sunday 12 August. Both LIVE matches will be shown as “The World Game” weekly Football Feature from 3:00pm.
Broadcast
The Football Federation Australia will have regular live updates throughout the match - www.footballaustralia.com.au
Full Fixtures
Australia v Hong Kong Saturday 7 April, 3pm BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour
Chinese Taipei v Australia Sunday 15 April, 4pm Chungshan Stadium, Kaohslung, Chinese Taipei
DPR Korea v Australia Sunday 3 June Venue TBC
Australia v North Korea Sunday 10 June, 3pm BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour
Hong Kong v Australia Saturday 4 August Venue TBC
Australia v Chinese Taipei Sunday 12 August, 3pm BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour
Click on the following link for more information on the Matildas, including player profiles: