AUSTRALIA’S WOMEN’S FOOTBALL team continued their World Cup preparations on Monday when the co-hosts named a provisional squad, including 10 players currently with English clubs.
The Matildas squad boasts Chelsea star striker Sam Kerr who has scored 63 goals in 120 appearances for Australia.
Kerr, 29, recently won the English Women’s Super League title for the fourth straight season with Chelsea, who she joined in 2019.
She also scored the winning goal in last month’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Experienced Arsenal pair, defender Steph Catley and forward Caitlin Foord, were also named in the squad, having each chalked up more than 100 appearances for the Matildas.
Veteran forward Kyah Simon, 31, has been included despite having been out with a knee injury since October.
Provisional squad ✅
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 19, 2023
2️⃣9️⃣ players will participate in our final preparations for the upcoming #FIFAWWC
📰 Read More: https://t.co/M3wZYEinFW#WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/aPbGL5OA7M
The 29-player provisional squad will be whittled down to 23 before the tournament, also hosted by New Zealand, starts next month.
The Matildas face France in a final warm-up game on 14 July.
Coach Tony Gustavsson said the team, which faces Ireland in Sydney to kick off the tournament on 20 July, was entering its final stages of preparation with a camp planned on the Gold Coast.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United/ENG), Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyon/FRA), Steph Catley (Arsenal/ENG), Alex Chidiac (Racing Louisville/USA), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Hammarby/SWE), Larissa Crummer (SK Brann/NOR), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal/ENG), Mary Fowler (Manchester City/ENG), Emily Gielnik (Unattached), Katrina Gorry, Charlotte Grant (both Vittsjo GIK/SWE), Clare Hunt (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City/ENG), Sam Kerr (Chelsea/ENG), Chloe Logarzo (Western United FC), Aivi Luik (BK Hacken/SWE), Teagan Micah (FC Rosengard/SWE), Courtney Nevin (Leicester City/ENG), Clare Polkinghorne (Vittsjo GIK/SWE), Hayley Raso (unattached), Amy Sayer (Stanford University/USA), Remy Siemsen (Leicester City/ENG), Kyah Simon (unattached), Emily van Egmond (San Diego Wave/USA), Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC), Clare Wheeler (Everton/ENG), Jada Whyman (Sydney FC), Lydia Williams (Brighton & Hove Albion/ENG), Tameka Yallop (SK Brann/NOR).
Group B counterparts Canada and Nigeria have also shown their respective hands.
Nigeria, who Ireland round out the group against in Brisbane, named their final 23 late last week with Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala their star name:
AUNZ Bound 🔥 #soarsuperfalcons pic.twitter.com/CgYLuF3kC5
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) June 16, 2023
And Canada, who Vera Pauw’s side take on in Perth on 26 July, announced their provisional squad earlier this month:
The Climb Begins 💪🧗
— CAN Soccer’s WNT (@CANWNT) June 8, 2023
Your @CANWNT Preparation Camp Roster for @FIFAWWC!@CANWNT x @CIBC pic.twitter.com/Yrj0kE6O1U
Ireland’s extended squad is here, with the final 23 (plus three training players) to be named on 29 June.
Zambia are the opposition for the first of two sold-out send-off friendlies at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday. France come to town on 6 July, before departure for Australia.
