Qantas Matildas Squad to Tour China Announced
Qantas Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has announced a 20-strong squad to China later this month. The squad will depart on Monday for an 8-day tour that will incorporate two international matches against China.
Qantas Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has announced a 20-strong squad to China later this month. The squad will depart on Monday for an 8-day tour that will incorporate two international matches against China.
The squad features Qantas Young Matilda, Clare Polkinghorne, who is yet to make her senior international debut and Lauren Colthorpe was was not selected for the recent international friendly series against Mexico in Melbourne. Polkinghorne and Colthorpe replace Thea Slatyer who is currently playing in the USA for Washington Freedom and Collette McCallum who is recovering from recent knee surgery.
Other notable selections include Qantas Young Matildas captain Sally Shipard and fellow Qantas Young Matildas Lydia Williams and Kylie Ledbrook who will represent Australia at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Russia in August.
The tour will provide important preparation as the team commences it's build-up towards the AFC Women's Asian Cup which will take place in Adelaide from the 16th -30 July 2006 which will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup which will held in China.
”Following last month's successful series against Mexico in Melbourne, It's important that we remain match fit and internationally competitive in the lead-up up to the AFC Women's Asian Cup,” said Sermanni.
”Although China is not in our pool at the qualifiers, they are ranked at a similar level to our main opposition, DPR Korea, and will provide a good indicator for how we are progressing.”
Qantas Matildas Squad to Tour to China 13-21 June 2006
Goalkeepers - Melissa Barbieri (Current Home City - Melbourne), Lydia Williams (Canberra)
Defenders - Dianne Alagich (Sydney), Rhian Davies (Sydney), Heather Garriock (Sydney), Kate McShea (Brisbane), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane), Karla Reuter (Newcastle), Cheryl Salisbury (Newcastle)
Midfielders - Lauren Colthorpe (Newcastle), Lana Harch (Brisbane), Alicia Ferguson (Brisbane), Kylie Ledbrook (Sydney), Joanne Peters (Newcastle), Sally Shipard (Canberra)
Forwards - Joanne Burgess (Sydney), Lisa De Vanna (Canberra), Kate Gill (Newcastle), Caitlin Munoz (Canberra), Sarah Walsh (Sydney)
Coach: Tom Sermanni
The squad will depart from Sydney on Tuesday 13th June and will be returning to Australia on Wednesday 21st June.
The following tour dates incorporate two internationals: Friday 16 June - v China, Shanghai Kick-Off 1900 (china local time) Monday 19 June - v China, Shanghai Kick-Off 1900 (china local time)