Young Matildas squad announced for 2017 AFC U19 Women’s Championships

The Young Matildas 23 player squad has been selected for the 2017 AFC U19 Women’s Championships to be held this month in Nanjing, China.

Head coach Gary van Egmond has selected a squad that consists of a number of players involved previous Young Matildas campaigns including recent 2017 PFA Young Player of the Year Alex Chidiac.

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The squad also has a majority of players with W-League experience including 2017 W-League Young Player of the Year Remy Siemsen and The Women's Game Young Player of the Grace Maher.

“We’ve had a really good preparation,” said van Egmond. “Over the past month we have had numerous four to six day camps in which we have been able to work on all facets of our game.”

“This year we have also played friendly matches against the United States and Canada, and this international competition has been fantastic for the girls because it has given them a good idea about what the level is going to be like.”

One name missing is Young Player of the Year nominee Nicki Flannery with the winger suffering a stress fracture ruling her out of the tournament.

https://twitter.com/nickii_flannery/status/917536071394631680

Doubling as a World Cup Qualifier, the AFC U19 Women’s Championship will see the top 3 teams from the tournament qualify for the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in France.

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It has been over a decade since the Young Matildas qualifier through Asia for a youth World Cup and Van Egmond is aware of the challenge ahead.

“There are no easy games in Asia, and as we have seen historically the teams that have qualified through Asia have gone on to do quite well in the World Cup. Japan and DPR Korea have both had recent success internationally, so we are under no illusions as to how tough the competition will be.”

“But our girls are ready for this challenge and our goal is not only to qualify for the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup this month, but also to become Champions of Asia,” he said.

Australia has been draw in Group B with Korea Republic (Monday 16 October 2017), Japan (Thursday 19 October 2017), and Vietnam (Sunday 22 October 2017).

The top two progress to the semi-finals with the medallists heading to France 2018. The Young Matildas have departed today for China.

Young Matildas Squad - 2017 AFC U19 Women’s Championship

Melina AYRES (Melbourne Victory), Hannah BACON (Trondheims-Ørn, Norway), Georgia BORIC (GK) (Canberra United, Ellie CARPENTER (Canberra United), Alex CHIDIAC (Adelaide United), Emily CONDON (Adelaide United), Bethany GORDON (Sydney University), Ally GREEN (Sydney FC), Annalee GROVE (GK) (Emerging Jets), Princess IBINI (Sydney FC), Rachel LOWE (Western Sydney Wanderers), Grace Maher (Canberra United), Annabel MARTIN (Melbourne Victory), Jada MATHYSSEN-WHYMAN (GK) (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Sophie NENADOVIC (Newcastle Jets), Susan PHONSONGKHAM (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Georgia PLESSAS (Canberra United), Taylor RAY (Sydney FC), Amy SAYER (Canberra United), Remy SIEMSEN (Sydney FC), Kaitlyn TORPEY (Brisbane Roar), Cortnee VINE (Newcastle Jets), Clare WHEELER (Newcastle Jets),