Milicic names his first Matildas squad

Milicic takes the helm after Alen Stajcic's shock sacking last month left the Matildas in turmoil just four months out from the Women's World Cup.

In the wake of Stajcic's exit, his assistant coach (Nahuel Arrate) and goalkeeping coach (Paul Jones) also quit the national team set up too, leaving assistant Gary van Egmond as the only remaining key member of the coaching staff. 

Milicic has relied on van Egmond's help to draw up his squad, with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane Roar stars dominating the line-up, as well as Spanish-based midfielders Alex Chidiac and Aivi Luik.

Milicic named his squad alongside besieged FFA CEO David Gallop in Brisbane today, ostensibly because the Matildas will be using the Queensland capital as their training base for the tournament.

But it also meant the FFA boss dodged the Sydney press which has been leading the reporting on Stajcic's controversial axing.

The Socceroos also had their training base in Brisbane for their game against Kuwait in November, but coach Graham Arnold announced his squad for that match at the FFA HQ in Sydney.

Today Milicic said he was excited to start working with the group this weekend.

“I am looking forward to all the players and staff arriving in camp and getting to work,” Milicic said. “We will have four great days of training in Brisbane before traveling to Sydney to play New Zealand in the first match of the tournament.

“It is important that we make the most of the next two weeks that we have together both on and off the pitch.

"With matches and travel in quick succession throughout the Cup of Nations, this tournament will replicate some of the demands that we will experience at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, which will be a good test for everyone involved.”

While injuries have limited some of Milicic’s options for his first squad, he has used the absence of players like Katrina Gorry to give chances to some players who have been missing from the Matildas recently.

Melbourne Victory defender Teigen Allen has been rewarded for her strong form in the W-League this season after a three year absence from the Matildas, and Sydney’s Grand Final-winning captain Teresa Polias could make her first appearance for the national team since 2015.

Hayley Raso also returns to the squad after a remarkable comeback from a broken back while playing for Portland Thorns  in the USA last year.

The six-match 2019 Cup of Nations will kick-off at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah on Thursday, 28 February with Argentina playing Korea Republic followed by the Matildas against New Zealand.

Three days later the Cup of Nations will shift to Brisbane as Argentina and New Zealand go head to head at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, before the Matildas take on Korea.

Melbourne’s AAMI Park will host the final Cup of Nations match day the following Wednesday when Korea Republic take on New Zealand, and Australia meet Argentina.
 

Westfield Matildas 23-Player Squad | 2019 Cup of Nations