FOOTBALL: Australian Head Coach Alen Stajcic has named a 20-player squad for a one off international against Korea Republic in what is set to be the squad’s final official hit out before February’s all-important Olympic qualifying tournament.
With limited opportunities to test themselves against quality international opposition before the qualifiers in Japan, the match against Korea Republic in Incheon on Sunday 29 November 2015 will provide the Matildas with some crucial match practise ahead of an extremely difficult Olympic qualifying campaign.
The squad that will head to Incheon comprises six players with less than ten appearances for their country, while there are six that have played over 50 ‘A’ internationals.
German based duo Emily van Egmond and Elise Kellond-Knight, who has been shortlisted for the 2015 AFC Women’s Player of the Year, will join up with the squad in Incheon.
Perth Glory forward Samantha Kerr is one player who will be missing from the squad after she suffered a foot injury in the W-League last weekend.
Kerr’s absence opens up a spot for 20 year old midfielder Chloe Logarzo, who has been rewarded for her impressive form for the Newcastle Jets in the W-League this season.
“Our recent trip to China for matches against England and China showed we have a lot of work to do before February and we need to make the most of this chance to get the squad together and play against a nation that will also be fighting it out for one of the two Olympic spots,” Stajcic said.
“A number of the girls have been doing well in the W-League this season but it all goes up to another level when you play internationals so this trip will give us an indication of how we are tracking with our preparations and also find out which players really want to push their claims to be part of the Olympic qualifiers.”
“We need to keep building and developing more depth in the squad to make sure we’ve got healthy competition for places which in turn will push players to keep getting better and not rest on their laurels.”
The Australian based players will depart for Incheon on Tuesday 24 November and return home on 1 December. The match against Korea Republic on 29 November 2015 kicks off at 4.15pm AEDT.
Australian squad – Korea Republic Trip
Laura Alleway, Tara Andrews, Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Tameka Butt ,Stephanie Catley, Larissa Crummer, Lisa De Vanna, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry, Amy Harrison, Michelle Heyman, Elise Kellond-Knight, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo, Caitlin Munoz, Clare Polkinghorne, Kyah Simon, Emily van Egmond, Lydia Williams (gk), Georgia Yeoman-Dale
Korea Republic v Westfield Matildas
Sunday 29 November 2015
Incheon Stadium, Incheon
Kick-Off: 2:15pm local time (4:15pm AEDT)
Football Australia
