Seven Sydney FC players have been picked in the 18 woman Westfield Matildas squad for the upcoming match against Japan in Tokyo on July 11.
Seven Sydney FC players have been picked in the 18 woman Westfield Matildas squad for the upcoming match against Japan in Tokyo on July 11.
Thea Slatyer, Danielle Brogan, Teigen Allen, Caitlin Foord, Servet Uzunlar, Sarah Walsh and Kyah Simon are all included by coach Tom Sermanni.
The match, at National Stadium, Tokyo, sees the Matildas take on the World Champions for the first time since going down 1-nil to Japan in September last year.
After polished performances during the Trans-Tasman series last week in Wollongong Danielle Brogan, Steph Catley and Ashley Brown have all been selected and will leave with the Australian based players on July 7 from Sydney International Airport.
Uncapped duo Emily Gielnik and Katrina Gorry have also been brought into the squad following standout seasons in the Westfield W-League and impressing at their domestic based clubs in Liverpool and Otawa respectively.
Sky Blue stars Kyah Simon and Servet Uzunlar will join up with the squad from their clubs in United States.
“We-ve had to pick a team that will be competitive as Japan play this match before heading to the Olympics,” said Tom Sermanni.
“With only an 18 player squad it-s about finding the right combination of players for the match we have ahead of us.
“Japan are an extremely difficult team on home soil and are World Champions so they will be in peak form for this match.
“In saying that we will be bringing some of our internationally based players in for this match which will strengthen key areas for us in what will surely be an exciting match.”
“It-s pretty amazing actually, I was pretty taken back and it-s still a bit surreal at the moment to be going to Japan,” said Stephanie Catley.
“I-m sure it-s going to be really tough but hopefully we can take our game to them and put our stamp on the match.”
“I think it is definitely going to be a difficult match especially when you go from marking players in the NSW Women-s Premier League to play against (Homare) Sawa and (Kozue) Ando – it-s just another level,” said Danielle Brogan.
“It was a nervous wait after the New Zealand games to see if I was going to make the squad; I don-t think I-ve jumped so high before when I heard I was on the plane. I-ve never been to Japan before so it will be nice see a bit of Tokyo and play against the World Champions at the National Stadium.”
The match will be streamed live via ABC and FFA websites with the full match shown on ABC 1 from 11.30pm on Wednesday, 11 July.
Westfield Matildas v Japan
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Local kick off: 5.10pm (6.10pm AEST)
National Stadium, Tokyo
Goalkeepers
Melissa Barbieri (c) (unattached)
Brianna Davey (Melbourne Victory)
Defenders
Laura Alleway (Brisbane Roar / Lincoln Ladies)
Danielle Brogan (Sydney FC)
Stephanie Catley (Melbourne Victory)
Thea Slatyer (Sydney FC)
Brooke Spence (Brisbane Roar / Colorado Rapids)
Servet Uzunlar (Sydney FC / Pali Blues)
Midfielders
Teigen Allen (Sydney FC)
Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar / Boston Breakers)
Katrina Gorry (Melbourne Victory / Ottawa Fury)
Alanna Kennedy (Newcastle Jets)
Attackers
Ashley Brown (Melbourne Victory)
Caitlin Foord (Sydney FC)
Emily Gielnik (Brisbane Roar / Liverpool)
Kathryn Gill (Perth Glory)
Kyah Simon (Sydney FC / Boston Breakers)
Sarah Walsh (Sydney FC)
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