Coach Tony Gustavsson has introduced two alterations to the team that captivated Australia and the Women’s World Cup a couple of months ago as the Matildas gear up for the Olympic qualification competition, scheduled to commence later this month.
The familiar squad, led by captain Sam Kerr, will reunite to confront Iran, the Philippines, and Chinese Taipei in Group A of the Asian qualification section over the course of one week in Perth.
Chelsea striker Sam Kerr will make her return to her hometown to captain the 23-woman team, alongside vice-captain and Arsenal defender Steph Catley. However, seasoned players Aivi Luik and Kyah Simon will not be participating in the tournament as they recover from injuries. Kyah Simon was chosen for the World Cup squad in July despite sustaining a severe ACL injury in October 2022 while playing for her former club, Tottenham.
In their place, Coach Gustavsson has summoned the Australian Under-23s captain, Amy Sayer, who was initially part of the Matildas’ extended World Cup squad but was later omitted from the final selection. The midfielder from Kristianstads DFF, who has earned six caps for the senior national team, has impressed with her recent performances in Sweden’s top women’s league, Damallsvenskan.
Twenty-year-old Charlize Rule will join the squad as a train-on player in a developmental role and is not eligible to participate in the matches. The young forward from Brighton is also part of the Under-23 program led by Matildas assistant coach Melissa Andreatta.
Penalty shootout heroes Mackenzie Arnold and Cortnee Vine will make their return to action, as will rising stars Mary Fowler and Kyra Cooney-Cross, who have been rewarded with game time at their clubs Manchester City and Arsenal for their World Cup performances.
Gustavsson reflected on the return to play in Australia, two months after the “exhilarating and unifying month of football in the country.” He emphasized the team’s commitment to the next challenge, which is qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Under Gustavsson’s leadership, the Matildas narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2022 Tokyo Olympics, losing to the USA 4-3 in the bronze-medal match. Following another fourth-place finish at the World Cup, Gustavsson stated that the team is now focused on building on their legacy.
The matches against World Cup debutants the Philippines on October 29 had to be relocated from the smaller HBF Park to Perth’s Optus Stadium due to high ticket demand.
Matildas Squad: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah, Lydia Williams; Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne, Charlize Rule; Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Amy Sayer, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop; Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine.
Fixtures:
- October 26: Australia vs. Iran (HBF Park)
- October 29: Australia vs. the Philippines (Optus Stadium)
- November 1: Australia vs. Taiwan (HBF Park)