Eight Brisbane Roar players have been named in a preliminary Westfield Matildas squad announced today to begin preparations for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They are Laura Alleway, Tameka Butt, Kim Carroll, Larissa Crummer, Katrina Gorry, Elise Kellond-Knight, Clare Polkinghore and Hayley Raso.
Westfield Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic announced a 32-player squad for a January training camp.
The camp is the first step in the Westfield Matildas prepararations for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada from 6 June to 5 July.
The training camp will be the first in a very important year for the Westfield Matildas that will feature the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be held in Canada from 6 June to 5 July.
This will be the first opportunity for the players to impress Stajcic following the completion of the recent Westfield W-League season.
Stajcic is in the process of confirming the details of the Westfield Matildas preparation program for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and is excited to start the new year with an intense training camp.
“I’ve had a good look at all the players throughout the Westfield W-League season and I am happy with the group of players that I have selected for this camp,” Stajcic said.
“There is a balance of youth and experience in the squad and it will be a good starting point for our intense preparation period.”
“This is by no means a final squad as there are number of players returning from injury that are still in contention for selection.
“It’s now up to the players to make the step up and show the coaching staff why they deserve to go to the World Cup.”
The selection of the right Roar’s players in Stajcic’s squad continues the accolades for the club’s W-League players.
Earlier this month Gorry 22, was named Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year 2014.
She was only the second Australian to win the following Westfield Matildas teammate Kate Gill in 2010.
Australia, who are ranked 10th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola women’s world ranking, have been drawn into Group D at the World Cup along with the United States, Nigeria and Sweden.
It is a tough group for the Matildas as Nigeria, Sweden and the US have taken part in every tournament held.
The Matildas were knocked out by the Swedes in the quarter-finals in the 2011 World Cup in Germany. Japan are the reigning world champions, having beaten the US in the 2011 final.
The Westfield Matildas squad is: Teigen Allen (Sydney FC), Laura Alleway (Brisbane Roar FC), Melissa Barberi (gk) (Adelaide United), Nicola Bolger (Sydney FC), Danielle Brogan (Adelaide United), Ellie Brush (Canberra United), Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar FC), Kim Carroll (Brisbane Roar FC), Steph Catley (Melbourne Victory), Emma Checker (Melbourne Victory), Alex Chidiac (Adelaide United), Hayley Crawford (Newcastle Jets), Larissa Crummer (Brisbane Roar FC), Brianna Davey (gk) (Melbourne Victory), Liza De Vanna (Melbourne Victory), Casey Dumont (gk) (Sydney FC), Caitlin Foord (Perth Glory), Kate Gill (Perth Glory), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar FC), Any Harrison (Sydney FC), Michelle Hayman (Canberra United), Elise Kellond-Knight (Brisbane Roar FC), Alanna Kennedy (Perth Glory), Teresa Polias (Sydney FC), Clare Polkinghore (Brisbane Roar FC), Hayley Raso (Brisbane Roar FC), Gema Simon (Melbourne Victory), Kyah Simon (Sydney FC), Ashleigh Sykes (Canberra United), Marianna Tabain (Perth Glory), Emily van-Egmond (Newcastle Jets), Servet Unzunlar (Sydney FC).
