Westfield Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has declared his excitement at the opportunity that lies ahead for his squad as they head into the 2018 Tournament of Nations.
Fresh off the confirmation of his 20-player squad, which includes the return of attacker Caitlin Foord, Stajcic is hotly anticipating the chance for the Westfield Matildas to defend their Tournament of Nations crown and again play up against some of world football’s best national teams.
FULL SQUAD: 20-player squad named for Tournament of Nations defence
The Westfield Matildas will face off against Brazil, USA and Japan — with the trio of nations all ranked inside the top 10 in the world in preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in 2019.
WATCH THE WESTFIELD MATILDAS TAKE ON BRAZIL, USA AND JAPAN AT THE TOURNAMENT OF NATIONS, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS FROM JULY 26
“These matches are invaluable,” Stajcic told matildas.footballaustralia.com.au.
“We get to play so few matches at this level so to play against three teams inside the top 10 is another great experience for our team and helps us develop more experiences heading into the Women’s World Cup.
“The Tournament of Nations is very important and we go into any tournament with the ambition to win it, but the main focus is preparation for Women’s World Cup.
“We’re now just 11 months out and it’s essential we do everything we can to focus on that moment and make sure we’re ready for when it comes around.”
Continuing to develop the core of the squad is one of the primary focuses of Stajcic for this tournament, with his 20-player squad containing few changes from the 23-players who travelled to Jordan for April’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
One of the notable inclusions is the return of Foord, who missed out on selection for the 2018 Algarve Cup and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after sustaining a foot injury during the back end of the Westfield W-League season.
While Foord is yet to return to action as she continues her rehabilitation from injury, the Portland Thorns flyer will join back up with her Westfield Matildas teammates in Kansas, Hartford and Chicago.
“Caitlin is a key player in our team and has been a key player for a while but she’s still returning and hasn't played any match time,” confirmed Stajcic.
“We’re wary of how much she’ll be able to play and train with us for Tournament of Nations but it’s great to have her back in the squad so she can be reintegrated.
“But she’s still very limited in what she can do.
“Hayley Raso is another player returning [Raso suffered a knee injury at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup].
“She returned to action two or three weeks ago and she’s back playing for Portland so it’s great to have her back.”
The other notable in the 20-player squad is 16-year-old Amy Sayer, called up for the first time having impressed for the Westfield Young Matildas during the recent AFF Women’s Championship in Indonesia, where the Under-20 team finished runners up in a senior international tournament.
Sayer, fresh off making 10 appearances for Canberra United in last season’s Westfield W-League, has been given the chance to come into the Westfield Matildas set up having also impressed during her time training in the Future Matildas program.
“At the end of the day the bulk of the squad is the some as the Asian Cup,” added Stajcic.
“That’s the core that’s been involved for a long time and the only new the addition is Amy Sayer.
“Amy has shown her qualities over the last 12 to 18 months playing in the W-League and with the Future Matildas program.
“She has the physical and technical tools to play senior international football.
"It’s a chance for her to put her best foot forward. She’s one of the first graduates of the Future Matildas program and this is an opportunity to give her a taste and a feel for senior international football.”
Westfield Matildas 20-player squad for the 2018 Tournament of Nations
|
Name |
Current Club, Country |
A-International Caps (Goals) |
|
Mackenzie ARNOLD (GK) |
Arna-Bjørnar Fotball, Norway |
19 (0) |
|
Tameka BUTT |
Klepp IL, Norway |
68 (9) |
|
Ellie CARPENTER |
Portland Thorns, USA |
21 (1) |
|
Steph CATLEY |
Seattle Reign, USA |
67 (2) |
|
Alex CHIDIAC |
Atletico Madrid, Spain |
10 (1) |
|
Larissa CRUMMER |
Unattached |
20 (4) |
|
Lisa DE VANNA |
South Melbourne FC, Australia |
137 (45) |
|
Caitlin FOORD |
Portland Thorns, USA |
60 (11) |
|
Emily GIELNIK |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
18 (4) |
|
Katrina GORRY |
Utah Royals, USA |
68 (14) |
|
Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT |
Hammarby IF, Sweden |
95 (1) |
|
Alanna KENNEDY |
Orlando Pride, USA |
69 (5) |
|
Samantha KERR |
Chicago Red Stars, USA |
67 (24) |
|
Chloe LOGARZO |
Blacktown Spartans FC, Australia |
30 (4) |
|
Clare POLKINGHORNE |
Houston Dash, USA |
105 (8) |
|
Hayley RASO |
Portland Thorns, USA |
25 (2) |
|
Amy SAYER |
North Shore Mariners FC, Australia |
0 (0) |
|
Kyah SIMON |
Houston Dash FC, USA |
83 (22) |
|
Emily VAN EGMOND |
Orlando Pride, USA |
75 (15) |
|
Lydia WILLIAMS (GK) |
Seattle Reign FC, USA |
69 (0) |
2018 Tournament of Nations – Westfield Matildas Match Schedule
Brazil v Westfield Matildas
Date: Thursday, 26 July 2018 (local)
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
Kick-off: 3.15pm (local) (6.15am AEST – Friday, 27 July 2018)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS
USA v Westfield Matildas
Date: Sunday, 29 July 2018 (local)
Venue: Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, Connecticut
Kick-off: 7pm (local) (9am AEST – Monday, 30 July 2018)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS
Westfield Matildas v Japan
Date: Thursday, 2 August 2018 (local)
Venue: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
Kick-off: 4.45pm (local) (7.45am AEST – Friday, 3 August 2018)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS