The Westfield Matildas squad that travelled to Korea Republic to compete in the 2010 Peace Queen Cup this week had a distinctive Roar flavour.
A third of the players named by head coach Tom Sermanni currently ply their trade for Brisbane, while coach Jeff Hopkins has been named as Sermanni-s assistant.
Captain Clare Polkinghorne, fresh from her Australian Footballer of the Year award last week, along with Roar teammates Lauren Colthorpe, Elise Kellond-Knight, Kim Carroll, Tameka Butt and Aivi Luik, were all selected in the 18-player squad which will compete in the six-nation tournament.
Australia, currently in 11th on FIFA World Ranking, has been drawn in Group B alongside Mexico and Taiwan, while Group A comprises of host nation Korea Republic, New Zealand and England.
Sermanni-s squad will play Mexico on Sunday before taking on Taiwan two days later, with winners of each group progressing to the final, to be held on Saturday 23 October.
The Westfield Matildas will then travel to Wolfsburg to play FIFA Women-s World Cup 2007 winners Germany, ranked second in the world, in a one-off friendly on 28 October.
While admitting team preparation had been limited, coach Sermanni said he had no doubts over the fitness levels of his players, saying the trip would give the squad their first real test since winning the AFC Women-s Asian Cup in May.
“All of our players are in full training for the Westfield W-League so the team is fit and ready to play,” he said.
“This should be a good test for us as Mexico are in their final preparations for their World Cup qualifiers.
“Germany will be our biggest test since the Asian Cup and will give me a good understanding of where we stand and what we need to focus on before June 2011.”
Westfield Matildas squad: Melissa BARBIERI (Melbourne Victory), Clare POLKINGHORNE (Brisbane Roar), Lauren COLTHORPE (Fortuna Hjørring/Brisbane Roar), Servet UZUNLAR (Fortuna Hjørring/Sydney FC), Caitlin MUNOZ (Canberra United), Kathryn GILL (LdB Malmo/Perth Glory), Thea SLATYER (Newcastle Jets), Collette McCALLUM (Perth Glory), Sally SHIPARD (Canberra United), Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (Brisbane Roar), Kyah SIMON (Sydney FC), Lydia WILLIAMS (Canberra United), Leena KHAMIS (Sydney FC), Samantha KERR (Perth Glory), Kim CARROLL (Brisbane Roar), Tameka BUTT (Brisbane Roar), Aivi LUIK (Brisbane Roar), Teigan ALLEN (Sydney FC).
