

Abby Erceg is headed to the Rio 2016 Olympics with New Zealand. (Photo Copyright Erica McCaulley for The Equalizer)
Australia, France and New Zealand this week named their respective 18-player rosters for the upcoming women’s soccer tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
France and New Zealand will compete in Group G alongside three-time defending gold medalist USA.
Australia is considered by many to be a dark horse to contend for the gold medal after a quarterfinal appearance at the 2015 World Cup which included a Round-of-16 victory over Brazil, the first knockout-stage victory at either a men’s or women’s World Cup for Australia.
[MORE: Colombia star Yoreli Rincon ruled out of Olympics with fractured fibula]
Lisa De Vanna is the only player on Australia’s 18-woman roster to have previously appeared at the Olympics, but the Matildas bring a wealth of international experience to Brazil with many of their internationals having already taken part in two World Cups after cracking the senior team as teenagers. Ellie Carpenter, 16, is the Matildas’ only teen at this Olympics and by far the team’s youngest player.
New Zealand is similarly positioned, featuring a young core which has guided the Football Ferns through the 2011 and 2015 World Cups as well as the
France will be looking to break the curse of fourth-place finishes at the past three major tournaments as its golden generation looks to make the podium.
Canada previously released its Olympic roster, as did Sweden (both listed below):
The teams’ rosters are as follows:
Australia
Name | Age | Rio 2016 |
Laura Alleway | 26 | 1st Games |
Mackenzie Arnold | 22 | 1st Games |
Tameka Butt | 25 | 1st Games |
Ellie Carpenter | 16 | 1st Games |
Stephanie Catley | 22 | 1st Games |
Larissa Crummer | 20 | 1st Games |
Lisa De Vanna | 31 | 2nd Games |
Caitlin Foord | 21 | 1st Games |
Katrina Gorry | 23 | 1st Games |
Michelle Heyman | 27 | 1st Games |
Elise Kellond-Knight | 25 | 1st Games |
Alanna Kennedy | 21 | 1st Games |
Samantha Kerr | 22 | 1st Games |
Chloe Logarzo | 21 | 1st Games |
Clare Polkinghorne | 27 | 1st Games |
Kyah Simon | 25 | 1st Games |
Emily Van Egmond | 22 | 1st Games |
Lydia Williams | 28 | 1st Games |
Alternates: Caitlin Cooper, Casey Dumont, Aivi Luik, Emily Gielnik
Canada
GOALKEEPERS (2): Stephanie Labbé (Washington Spirit), Sabrina D’Angelo (Western New York Flash)
DEFENDERS (6): Kadeisha Buchanan (West Virginia University), Rebecca Quinn (Duke University), Shelina Zadorsky (Washington Spirit), Josée Bélanger (Orlando Pride), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash), Rhian Wilkinson (Unattached)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Jessie Fleming (London NorWest Optimist SC), Ashley Lawrence (West Virginia University), Diana Matheson (Washington Spirit), Deanna Rose (Scarborough GS United), Sophie Schmidt (FFC Frankfurt), Desiree Scott (FC Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Janine Beckie (Houston Dash), Nichelle Prince (Ohio State University), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns FC), Melissa Tancredi (KIF Örebro)
Alternates (4): Kailen Sheridan (Goalkeeper, Clemson University), Marie-Eve Nault (Defender, KIF Örebro), Kaylyn Kyle (Midfielder, Orlando Pride), and Garielle Carle (Forward, Dynamo Québec)
France
Goalkeepers: Sarah Bouhaddi (Olympique Lyonnais), Meline Gerard (Olympique Lyonnais)
Defenders: Sabrina Delannoy (Paris SG) Jessica Houara-d’Hommeaux (Olympique Lyonnais), Laura Georges (Paris SG), Amel Majri (Olympique Lyonnais), Griedge Mbock Bathy (Olympique Lyonnais), Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyon)
Midfielders: Camille Abily (Olympique Lyonnais), Élise Bussaglia (VFL Wolfsburg) Kadidiatou Diani (FCF Juvisy) Kheira Hamraoui (Olympique Lyonnais), Amandine Henry (Portland Thorns FC), Claire Lavogez (Olympique Lyonnais), Louisa Necib, Elodie Thomis (Olympique Lyonnais)
Forwards: Marie-Laure Delie (Paris SG), Eugénie Le Sommer (Olympique Lyonnais)
Alternates: Kenza Dali (Olympique Lyonnais), Sakina Karchaoui (Montpellier HSC), Clarisse Le Bihan (Monptellier HSC), Laetitia Philippe (Montpellier HSC)
New Zealand
Name (club/country, caps, international goals)
Katie Bowen (FC Kansas City, USA, 37, 1)
Katie Duncan (vc) (FC Zurich, Switzerland, 115, 1)
Abby Erceg (c) (Western New York Flash USA, 126, 6)
Anna Green (Malbackens IF Sweden, 60, 7)
Sarah Gregorius (Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki, Japan, 78, 24)
Betsy Hassett (Werder Bremen, Germany, 91, 8)
Amber Hearn (USV Jena, Germany, 112, 50)
Annalie Longo (Cashmere Technical, 91, 8)
Meikayla Moore (Norwest United, 14, 0)
Erin Nayler (Norwest United, 40, 0)
Ria Percival (FC Basel, Switzerland, 116, 11)
Jasmine Pereira (Three Kings United, 18, 0)
Ali Riley (FC Rosengard, Sweden, 101, 1)
Rebecca Rolls (Three Kings Utd, 22, 0)
Rebekah Stott (SC Sand, Germany, 49, 4)
Rosie White (Liverpool FC, England, 81, 14)
Hannah Wilkinson (University of Tennessee, USA, 74, 23)
Kirsty Yallop (Malbackens IF, Sweden, 99, 12)
Alternates:
Catherine (CJ) Bott (Forrest Hill Milford United AFC, 3, 0)
Daisy Cleverley (Eastern Suburbs AFC, 3, 2)
Victoria Esson (Ferrymead Bays, 0, 0)
Paige Satchell (Three Kings United, 1, 0)
Sweden
Goalkeepers: Hedvig Lindahl (Chelsea), Hilda Carlén (Piteå IF)
Defenders: Jonna Andersson (Linköpings FC), Emma Berglund (FC Rosengård), Magdalena Ericsson (Linköpings FC), Nilla Fischer (VfL Wolfsburg), Jessica Samuelsson (Linköpings FC), Linda Sembrant (Montpellier HSC)
Midfielders: Emilia Appelquist (Djurgården), Lisa Dahlkvist (Paris Saint-Germain), Elin Rubensson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC), Olivia Schough (Eskilstuna United), Caroline Seger (Lyon)
Forwards: Kosovare Asllani (Manchester City), Stina Blackstenius (Linköpings FC), Sofia Jakobsson (Montpellier HSC), Fridolina Rolfö (Linköpings FC), Lotta Schelin
Alternates: Emelie Lundberg, Hanne Grahns, Amanda Ilestedt, Pauline Hammarlund
