A maiden call-up for teen sensation Daniela Galic headlines Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni’s first squad since taking the reins.
As anticipated, Sermanni has largely turned to skilled gamers based mostly in Europe for friendlies in opposition to Switzerland in Zurich on October 25 and Germany in Duisburg on October 28, with few shocks.
Australia’s whole Olympics squad and reserve gamers, bar explosive winger Cortnee Vine (private causes) and retired goalkeeper Lydia Williams, have been chosen.
Skipper Steph Catley has been named regardless of an injury-interrupted begin to her season with Arsenal, alongside fellow mainstays corresponding to Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter and Mackenzie Arnold.
Clare Polkinghorne, who will retire this yr, is within the 23-player squad.
There may be solely room for 4 A-League Girls gamers: veteran pair Michelle Heyman and Tameka Yallop, attacker Sharn Freier and untested goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.
Different native gamers usually tend to be concerned in video games in opposition to Brazil and Taiwan throughout November and December.
Famous person captain Sam Kerr and younger attacker Amy Sayer each stay sidelined with ACL tears.
Daniela Galic (left)’s profession retains rising, from Melbourne Metropolis to FC Twente within the Netherlands and now a Matildas call-up below interim coach Tom Sermanni. (Getty Pictures: Jason McCawley)
Thrilling playmaker Galic, 18, has beforehand been a train-on, however earns her first full squad berth off the again of kind with Melbourne Metropolis, then new membership FC Twente.
Liverpool shot-stopper Teagan Micah (ankle) is unavailable, with uncapped Lincoln and Jada Whyman jostling to be the second-choice goalkeeper behind Arnold.
“The final couple of weeks has been a whirlwind of cellphone calls, textual content messages and digital conferences, however nothing beats the chance to come back collectively nose to nose,” Sermanni mentioned in an announcement.
“As we start the highway to the house Asian Cup in 2026, our subsequent two camps are an opportunity to set the foundations, with this October squad that includes a core of skilled members at the moment enjoying and coaching constantly of their membership environments.
“The younger, uncapped gamers in Daniela and Chloe come extremely regarded due to their performances over the past 12 months, together with serving to the Younger Matildas to their greatest Asian Cup efficiency in nearly twenty years.
“We now have six invaluable matches from October to December to domesticate alternatives for gamers, whether or not they’re Australian- or overseas-based, and I’m wanting ahead to commencing the rewarding work.”
Soccer Australia additionally named former Western Sydney Wanderers males’s coach Jean-Paul de Marigny and Younger Matildas coach Leah Blayney to work as Sermanni’s assistants, with Mel Andreatta on maternity depart.
Matildas squad:
- Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Chloe Lincoln*, Jada Whyman*
- Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charli Grant, Winonah Heatley*, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne
- Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Daniela Galic*, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop
- Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Sharn Freier, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey
* denotes uncapped gamers
AAP
