The announcement of Australia’s Women’s World Cup squad didn’t come without controversy.
Head coach Alen Stajcic named his 23-player squad on Monday, choosing 10 players who will make their World Cup debuts in Canada but omitting all-time leading goal-scorer Kate Gill and 20-year-old goalkeeper Brianna Davey, who has often earned starts in net.
“We had to make a decision on who is going to be more effective for us at the World Cup,” Stajcic told media, via The Women’s Game. “We can’t really look at people’s history and say they were good 2-3 years ago or they have these records….but the form over the past four months was the most important for us.”
“Katie missed out by a small inch but they are the cuts that need to be made at this level.”
Instead of going with youth in net with Davey, Stajcic chose 35-year-old goalkeeper Melissa Hudson (nee Barbieri), who will appear in her fourth World Cup.
“Melissa Barbieri has probably been the most consistent of all the goalkeepers,” Stajcic said. “Her consistency and her organisational and communication is probably the best in the team.”
Australia opens the World Cup against the United States on June 8 and rounds out Group D play with matches against Sweden and Nigeria.
AUSTRALIA ROSTER
|
Number |
Name Advertisement
|
Date of Birth |
Position |
Club Advertisement
|
A International Caps (Goals) |
|
1 |
Lydia Williams (gk) | 13/05/1988 | Goalkeeper | Washington Spirit |
40 (0) Advertisement
|
|
2 |
Larissa Crummer | 10/01/1996 | Forward | Brisbane Roar |
4 (1) |
|
3 Advertisement
|
Ashleigh Sykes | 15/12/1991 | Midfielder | Canberra United |
12 (4) |
|
4 |
Clare Polkinghorne | 1/02/1989 | Defender | Brisbane Roar |
78 (5) Advertisement
|
|
5 |
Laura Alleway | 28/11/1989 | Defender | Brisbane Roar |
30 (1) |
|
6 Advertisement
|
Servet Uzunlar | 8/03/1989 | Defender | Sydney FC |
45 (2) |
|
7 |
Steph Catley | 26/01/1994 | Defender | Melbourne Victory |
32 (1) Advertisement
|
|
8 |
Elise Kellond-Knight | 10/08/1990 | Defender | Brisbane Roar |
55 (1) |
|
9 Advertisement
|
Caitlin Foord | 11/11/1994 | Forward | Perth Glory |
28 (3) |
|
10 |
Emily van Egmond | 12/07/1993 | Midfielder | Newcastle Jets |
39 (10) Advertisement
|
|
11 |
Lisa De Vanna | 14/11/1984 | Forward | Melbourne Victory |
97 (33) |
|
12 Advertisement
|
Leena Khamis | 19/06/1986 | Midfielder | Sydney FC |
23 (5) |
|
13 |
Tameka Butt | 16/06/1991 | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar |
45 (6) Advertisement
|
|
14 |
Alanna Kennedy | 21/01/1995 | Midfielder | Perth Glory |
27 (0) |
|
15 Advertisement
|
Teresa Polias | 16/05/1990 | Midfielder | Sydney FC |
8 (0) |
|
16 |
Hayley Raso | 5/09/1994 | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar |
12 (1) Advertisement
|
|
17 |
Kyah Simon | 25/06/1991 | Forward | Sydney FC |
49 (10) |
|
18 Advertisement
|
Melissa Barbieri (gk) | 20/01/1980 | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United |
84 (0) |
|
19 |
Katrina Gorry | 13/08/1992 | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar |
29 (10) Advertisement
|
|
20 |
Samantha Kerr | 10/09/1993 | Forward | Perth Glory |
36 (5) |
|
21 Advertisement
|
Mackenzie Arnold (gk) | 25/02/1994 | Goalkeeper | Perth Glory |
6 (0) |
|
22 |
Nicola Bolger | 3/03/1993 | Midfielder | Sydney FC |
5 (0) Advertisement
|
|
23 |
Michelle Heyman | 4/07/1988 | Forward | Canberra United |
33 (11) |
