Matildas continue World Cup preparations
The Matildas will continue their preparation for September’s FIFA Women’s World Cup with a six-day camp in Coffs Harbour this week highlighted by two practice matches against New Zealand.
The Matildas will continue their preparation for September-s FIFA Women-s World Cup with a six-day camp in Coffs Harbour this week highlighted by two practice matches against New Zealand.
Coach Tom Sermanni will have an expanded squad of 28 players in the camp which commences today, with World Cup rivals New Zealand to meet the Matildas in the practice matches on Thursday and Sunday at the Novotel Pacific Bay training ground.
Coach Sermanni is hoping to be in a position to have the 21-strong World Cup squad announced in mid-August following the Matildas final Olympic qualification match against Chinese Taipei on August 12.
“This is critical decision making time in regards selection of the World Cup squad and players will have a good understanding of where they currently stand for selection by the conclusion of the camp,” said Sermanni.
“The week together will be a great opportunity to have the players working as a group and the two matches are an extremely important part of the squad-s ongoing preparation for China.”
Australia will meet New Zealand in the practice matches on Thursday 19 July (3pm) and Sunday 22 July (1pm) at the Novotel Pacific Bay training ground, Coffs Harbour. Entry to the matches is free.
The Qantas Matildas squad for the Coffs Harbour camp, July 16-22, is:
Goalkeepers - Melissa Barbieri (Melbourne), Lisa Hartley (Wollongong), Lydia Williams (Canberra), Emma Wirkus (Adelaide)
Defenders - Di Alagich (Sydney), Ellen Beaumont (Brisbane), Louisa Bisbi (Melbourne), Kim Carroll (Brisbane), Rhian Davies (Sydney), Heather Garriock (Sydney), Kate McShea (Brisbane), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane), Karla Reuter (Newcastle), Cheryl Salisbury (Newcastle), Thea Slatyer (Sydney)
Midfielders - Lauren Colthorpe (Newcastle), Lana Harch (Brisbane), Collette McCallum (Perth), Amber Neilson (Newcastle), Joanne Peters (Newcastle), Sally Shipard (Canberra), Danielle Small (Sydney)
Forwards - Joanne Burgess (Sydney), Amy Chapman (Canberra), Lisa DeVanna (Perth), Kate Gill (Newcastle), Caitlin Munoz (Canberra), Sarah Walsh (Sydney) (current home city)
The Matildas wrap up their Olympic qualification match schedule in Hong Kong on Sunday 4 August before their final group match against Chinese Taipei on Sunday 12 August at the BCU International Stadium in Coffs Harbour.
Four uncapped players will feature in the squad, namely Ellen Beaumont (Brisbane), Louisa Bisbi (Melbourne), Amy Chapman (Canberra) and Lisa Hartley (Wollongong), with only experienced midfielder Alicia Ferguson unavailable for the camp.
The 2007 FIFA Women-s World Cup will feature 16 nations and will be held in the cities of Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin and Wuhan, September 10-30.
Australia will open their campaign at the 2007 FIFA Women-s World Cup against Ghana on September 12 in Hangzhou. The Matildas will then meet world number four ranked team Norway on September 15 in the same city, before the final group match against Canada on September 19 in Chengdu.
TV: SBS TV will broadcast a selection of matches from the 2007 FIFA Women-s World Cup including LIVE coverage of the opening ceremony match, semi-finals, final and ALL Matildas matches. SBS will also have LIVE coverage of the Matildas Olympic qualifying match against Chinese Taipei on Sunday 12 August. The match will be shown LIVE as “The World Game” weekly Football Feature from 3:00pm.