After introducing the three Matildas goalkeepers, today The Women's Game move up the field and look at the defenders.
Here are the seven defenders headed to France.
Gema Simon
Junior club: Argenton
Club: Newcastle Jets (W-League)
Birthday: 19/07/1990
Hometown: Armidale
Caps: 11
Previous World Cups: None
Did you know: As a kid, she wanted to play rugby league but her parents wouldn’t let her.
Simon has been a constant presence in the Jets backline during the 2018/19 W-League season and only missed one match.
The 28-year-old has been in and around the squad since 2014 but it wasn't until 2017 that she became a regular player within the squad. She is a versatile player that can also play as a wide midfielder or winger.
Follow on: @gema.simon (Instagram)
Clare Polkinghorne
Junior club: Wynnum Wolves and Capalaba Bulldogs
Club: Brisbane Roar (W-League) and Houston Dash (NWSL)
Birthday: 1/02/1989
Hometown: Brisbane
Caps: 116
Previous World Cups: 2007, 2011, 2015
Did you know: Polkinghorne was the first player to reach both 100 Matildas caps and 100 W-League appearances.
After being an unused substitute during the 2015 World Cup after being injured ahead of her third World Cup, Polkinghorne comes into this side as one of the most experienced players.
She's been a valuable member for the Brisbane Roar and her performance over the last two seasons show that you never stop improving as a player.
The recent W-League season saw her lead Roar to second on the ladder, the teams second consecutive season finishing in the top two.
The 30-year-old also likes to score a cheeky goal with her most recent Matildas strike coming in a 1-1 draw with England in a friendly last year.
Follow on: @clarepolks89 (Twitter) and @polks89 (Instagram)
Laura Alleway
Club: Melbourne Victory (W-League)
Birthday: 28/11/1989
Hometown: Templestowe
Caps: 60
Previous World Cups: 2011 and 2015
Did you know: She recently got engaged to her American-born boyfriend, who will be supporting the Matildas at the World Cup.
Alleway is one of three specialist central defenders in this Matildas squad. The 29-year-old is actually one of the veterans in the squad headed to France having played in two previous World Cups.
During the W-League season, the Victory player had a great season and was alongside fellow Matilda Teigen Allen in defence.
Follow on: @LauraAlleway (Twitter) and @laura_alleway (Instagram)
Steph Catley
Junior club: South East Cougars
Club: Melbourne City (W-League) and Reign FC (NWSL)
Birthday: 26/01/1994
Hometown: Melbourne
Caps: 71
Previous World Cups: 2015
Did you know: She has a corgi called Bentley who has his own Instagram.
Unfortunately, it's been a bit of an up and down year and a bit for Catley with injury planning a large role. The 25-year-old spent a chunk of 2018 on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.
Currently, she hasn't played in the NWSL this season being sidelined with a calf strain.
Catley made a successful return to playing after her Achilles injury in the recent W-League season and racked up 585 minutes of action across the campaign.
She will be a valuable member in the starting XI backline in France if she is able to overcome that calf strain.
Follow on: @stephcatley (Twitter) and @stephcatley (Instagram)
Alanna Kenndy
Junior club: Macarthur Rams
Club: Sydney FC (W-League) and Orlando Pride (NWSL)
Birthday: 21/01/1995
Hometown: Campbelltown
Caps: 77
Previous World Cups: 2015
Did you know: Away from football she has an interest in photography
At just 24, this centre back is off to her second World Cup. While she generally plays in the centre of defence alongside Polkinghorne, Kennedy is a versatile player so could play any position on the pitch if need be.
She's set to be one of the top picks for the central defensive role when Ante Milicic selects his starting XI for the games at the World Cup.
Kennedy had a blistering season with Sydney FC in the W-League which saw her win the Championship but her NWSL side hasn't had the best start to the season despite her consistent performance.
Follow on: @alannakennedy (Instagram) and @AlannaKennedy (Twitter)
Ellie Carpenter
Club: Canberra United (W-League) and Portland Thorns (NWSL)
Birthday: 28/04/2000
Hometown: Cowra
Caps: 31
Previous World Cups: None
Did you know: She became the first player born in the 21st century to play for the national team
She came onto the W-League scene as a 15-year-old in 2015 and it's been one big ride since then.
Carpenter's 2018/19 season was a standout for the teenager as she tore up the right side of the pitch with her speed and also saw her receive the W-League's NAB Young Footballer of the Year for the second successive season.
With the Matildas, Carpenter has only improved with the more games she has under her belt and has started to make the right-back role her own.
Follow on: @elliecarpenterr (Instagram) and @CarpenterEllie (Twitter)
Teigen Allen
Junior club: Penrith Nepean United and NSWIS
Club: Melbourne Victory (W-League)
Birthday: 12/02/1994
Hometown: Sydney
Caps: 40
Previous World Cups: 2011
Did you know:
Allen earned her second W-League Premiership and was one of the standout performers in Melbourne Victory's run to the top of the ladder.
The 25-year-olds performance throughout the season saw Milicic give her a call up to the Matildas for the Cup of Nations earlier this year.
It had been a long time between national team call ups for Allen who made her Matildas debut as a 15-year-old in 2010. She played 90 minutes in a 3-0 win against Argentina.
Follow on: @teigenallen (Instagram)
Related Articles
.jpeg&h=172&w=306&c=1&s=1)
Heyman, Fowler steer Matildas to win over Uzbekistan
.jpeg&h=172&w=306&c=1&s=1)
Arsenal, Matildas trio out of Women's FA Cup
