Mary Fowler selected in Matildas World Cup squad
In a huge coup for the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition, Bankstown City FC’s promising young gun Mary Fowler was selected in Ante Milicic’s 23 player Matildas squad bound for the FIFA World Cup in France.
The 16-year-old attacker has grabbed the headlines for being one of the youngsters to watch at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
One keen fan of Fowler’s is brother Quivi who will be following her sister’s progress with a close eye. Quivi, a current NPL NSW Men’s player with the Sutherland Sharks, will be hoping his sister earns some game time in what will be a trip of a life time for Mary.
Speaking on the team’s announcement, Australia’s squad for France 2019 possesses close to 1,300 caps of international experience, and features numerous players to have attended multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups™.
Experienced Matildas Lisa De Vanna, Clare Polkinghorne, and Lydia Williams have each earned their fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ selections, while Sam Kerr, Laura Alleway, Caitlin Foord, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, and Tameka Yallop (nee Butt) will venture to their third global tournaments.
Milicic, who was in Sydney for the announcement of the squad, said he’s pleased with the balance of the roster and is buoyed by the experience that his team will take into France.
“This is a special group of Australian footballers because, as a unit, they have accumulated a wealth of international experience despite the average age of the team being quite young,” Milicic said.
“Having players that have appeared at multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups in our squad will help to guide the eight players traveling to their first Women’s World Cup, and I believe we will have genuine competition for starting positions across all areas of the pitch.
”I don’t like to single out individuals, however I would like to congratulate Lisa (De Vanna), Clare (Polkinghorne), and Lydia (Williams) for earning selection in their fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ squads.
“I am really looking forward to joining the squad in Turkey, and believe we can make significant progress before our first match is played in Valenciennes,” he said.
Two additional players – Kyah Simon and Kyra Cooney-Cross – will join the Matildas in Europe prior to the tournament on standby.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ will kick-off in just under one month’s time with hosts France taking on Korea Republic at the Parc des Princes in Paris, while the Matildas will tackle Italy at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes two days later.
Australia will play the Netherlands in a pre-FIFA Women’s World Cup™ friendly in Eindhoven on Saturday, 1 June 2019.
The Westfield Matildas will be captained at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ by Sam Kerr, with Steph Catley serving as vice-captain.
Westfield Matildas Squad | FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™
| Squad Number | Name | Club, Country | A-International Caps (Goals) | Previous FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Selections |
| 1 | Lydia WILLIAMS (Gk) | Seattle Reign, USA | 77 (0) | 2007, 2011, 2015 |
| 2 | Gema SIMON | Newcastle Jets FC, Australia | 11 (0) | |
| 3 | Aivi LUIK | Levante UD, Spain | 21 (0) | |
| 4 | Clare POLKINGHORNE | Houston Dash, USA | 116 (9) | 2007, 2011, 2015 |
| 5 | Laura ALLEWAY | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 60 (2) | 2011, 2015 |
| 6 | Chloe LOGARZO | Washington Spirit, USA | 37 (6) | |
| 7 | Steph CATLEY (VC) | Seattle Reign, USA | 71 (2) | 2015 |
| 8 | Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT | Seattle Reign, USA | 106 (1) | 2011, 2015 |
| 9 | Caitlin FOORD | Portland Thorns, USA | 71 (16) | 2011, 2015 |
| 10 | Emily VAN EGMOND | Orlando Pride, USA | 85 (18) | 2011, 2015 |
| 11 | Lisa DE VANNA | Sydney FC, Australia | 147 (47) | 2007, 2011, 2015 |
| 12 | Teagan MICAH (Gk) | UCLA, USA | 0 (0) | |
| 13 | Tameka YALLOP | Klepp IL, USA | 78 (10) | 2011, 2015 |
| 14 | Alanna KENNEDY | Orlando Pride, USA | 77 (7) | 2015 |
| 15 | Emily GIELNIK | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 28 (7) | |
| 16 | Hayley RASO | Portland Thorns, USA | 34 (4) | 2015 |
| 17 | Mary FOWLER | Bankstown City Lions, Australia | 4 (0) | |
| 18 | Mackenzie ARNOLD (Gk) | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | 23 (0) | 2015 |
| 19 | Katrina GORRY | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | 73 (14) | 2015 |
| 20 | Sam KERR (C) | Chicago Red Stars, USA | 76 (31) | 2011, 2015 |
| 21 | Ellie CARPENTER | Portland Thorns, USA | 31 (1) | |
| 22 | Amy HARRISON | Washington Spirit, USA | 10 (0) | |
| 23 | Teigen ALLEN | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 40 (0) | 2011 |
Upcoming Matches | Westfield Matildas
Netherlands vs. Australia (International Friendly)
Date: Saturday, 1 June 2019
Venue: 6.15pm (local) – 2.15am AEST (Sunday, 2 June 2019)
Venue: Philips Stadium, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS and SBS VICELAND
Australia vs. Italy (FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C)
Date: Sunday, 9 June 2019
Venue: Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes, France
Kick-off: 1.00pm (local) – 9.00pm AEST
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS TV and Optus Sport
Australia vs. Brazil (FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C)
Date: Thursday, 13 June 2019
Venue: Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France
Kick-off: 6.00pm (local) – 2.00am AEST (Friday, 14 June 2019)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS TV and Optus Sport
Jamaica vs. Australia (FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C)
Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2019
Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble, France
Kick-off: 9.00pm (local) – 5.00am AEST (Wednesday, 19 June 2019)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS TV and Optus Sport
