Westfield Matildas squad named for Tournament of Nations defence

Westfield Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic today revealed the 20-player squad selected to defend Australia’s Tournament of Nations (ToN) crown in the United States of America which starts later this month.

Last year the Westfield Matildas gained international recognition by lifting the inaugural ToN trophy in Los Angeles, winning all three of their fixtures against hosts USA, Brazil, and Japan.

The Westfield Matildas will face the same three nations in the second edition of the ToN, and can be buoyed by the fact that 17 of the 20 players that featured in last year’s successful campaign will return to defend the title.

The only uncapped player in the Westfield Matildas squad for the 2018 ToN is 16-year-old Amy Sayer. Sayer, who has already played a season with Canberra United in the Westfield W-League, has represented Australia regularly at youth level and recently impressed for the Westfield Young Matildas at the 2018 AFF Women’s Championship held in Palembang, Indonesia.

Emily van Egmond and Sam Kerr celebrate at the 2017 Tournament of Nations
Emily van Egmond and Sam Kerr celebrate at the 2017 Tournament of Nations

Stajcic said that the fact that he has been able to name a largely settled squad, and one that also includes the bulk of his 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup roster, is positive leading into a crucial 12 months for the Westfield Matildas.

“The forthcoming Tournament of Nations kicks off a massive 12 months for women’s football in Australia,” said Stajcic.

“While we will naturally be aiming to defend our Tournament of Nations title, we will also be focussed on continuing to develop as a unit while we are in the USA as we look ahead to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

“Brazil, Japan, and the USA will provide tough opposition for us over the comings weeks, however over the past year we have shown on multiple occasions that we can not only match, but beat, the very best.

“The 2018 Tournament of Nations offers us an opportunity to show that we can continue to perform at the highest level against three of the top ranked nations in world football,” he said.

Caitlin Foord
Caitlin Foord returns to the squad having missed the 2018 AFC Asian Cup through injury.

The Westfield Matildas will assemble in Kansas on Monday, 23 July 2018 and will open their campaign against Brazil on Thursday, 26 July (local time) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.

The team will then travel to East Hartford, Connecticut to tackle the United States at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sunday, 29 July (local time), before rounding out their campaign against Japan at Toyota Park in Illinois on Thursday, 2 August (local time).

All three of the Westfield Matildas’ matches at the 2018 Tournament of Nations will be broadcast LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS in Australia.

U.S. Soccer plans to host the Tournament of Nations every summer during years that do not feature a FIFA Women’s World Cup or Olympic Games, meaning the next edition would be staged in 2021.

The draw for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held on Saturday, 8 December 2018 (local time) at Boulogne-Billancourt in France.

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

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This article was originally published on the CommBank Matildas website.
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