Defender Clare Polkinghorne and forward Lisa De Vanna were named the Matildas co-captains for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015.

FFA CEO David Gallop made the announcement during a farewell function for the squad hosted by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove at Admiralty House.

Both Polkinghorne and De Vanna are experienced members of the squad with a combined 175 caps and heading into their third World Cups.

“Over the last four or five months we’ve done an extreme amount of work in terms of leadership and growing the team off the field, and these two have exemplified that more than others,” said head coach Alen Stajcic.

“The amount that they’ve grown and the leadership they have shown on and off the field has been tremendous and they have just risen above the pack in terms of what they offer the team.

Brisbane Roar captain Polkinghorne assumed the Australian captaincy under former coach Hesterine de Reus with the 26 year old leading Australia, alongside Kate Gill at the 2014 AFC Asian Cup.

While for De Vanna, an 11 year veteran of the Matildas, it is her first captaincy at either club or national level.

“I’m really proud of Clare (Polkinghorne) who has been in the role before, but for Lisa De Vanna, the amount that she’s grown has been unbelievable.

“To see a player of her calibre grow so much and be able to give so much back to the team in such a short space of time is a tremendous effort and I’m really proud of the person she is and the leader she is going to be at the World Cup.”

In what could be her swan song at the World Cup, an emotional De Vanna was humbled to lead the squad in in the footsteps of her idols.

“I was a little bit shocked when I was told I would be a captain," said De Vanna.

"I’ve been in this team for a very long time and a lot of the girls know how passionate I am and how much I go out and play with my heart on my sleeve for this team, so when Staj told me I was going to be a co-captain I cried."

“I think I’ll be the type of captain that people can rely on when things are down, and when things are great that I’m going to keep pushing them. I like to lead by example through my actions on the field so hopefully I can do that for the team at the World Cup.”

“I love what I do and I love playing for my country, and to go out there and lead my country with the talented team we’ve got, I honestly believe this team can go all the way and leave a legacy.”

Polkinghorne is looking forward to the opportunity to continue to lead the country.

“Obviously it’s a massive honour leading the girls into a World Cup. I’ve been lucky enough to share the co captaincy role the last couple of years but this is extra special being on the World Cup stage,” said Polkinghorne.

“I think heading into this World Cup we have set high standards for ourselves as a team, and with the talented group we’ve got there is a lot of potential to go deep in the tournament.”

Gallop also announced reigning Julie Dolan Medallist Emily van Egmond and Kyah Simon as vice captains.

Australia will play a farewell match against Vietnam on Thursday 21 May 2015 at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah (kick-off at 6.30pm AEST) before the squad departs for Canada on Saturday 23 May 2015.