Arnold has always been touted throughout her junior years as the goalkeeper with the largest raw talent, with this Asian Cup possibly being the opportunity for her to stamp an authority on Australia's number one jersey. Our first matches of against Germany and The Netherlands saw a host of backline injuries and absentees, highlighting a need for coach Gustavsson to help blood through the nation's best young defensive talent before a period of consecutive major tournaments. The Asian Cup in India may well prove to be a defining tournament for several youngsters in defence.
Centre-backs Courtney Nevin and Charlotte Grant both made their national team debuts after impressive club moves. Nevin moved from her home In Western Sydney, to a leadership role at the current Australian champions Melbourne Victory.
Grant also departed for higher quality competition, choosing instead to make the leap abroad to Swedish giants FC Rosengard. Joining the two promising young defenders is a plethora of established stars and national team icons. Highest appearance maker in Australian football history, along with the title of expert goal poacher, Clare Polkinghorne will play in her fifth Asian Cup. The year-old continues to be an integral member of both Australia's backline, along with current side Vittsjo GIK.
The last six months have seen transfers to two of the WSL's strongest sides, with the extreme pressure of a title challenge, behind enormous supporter bases, readying the three for a tournament as important as the Asian Cup. Olympique Lyonnais star Ellie Carpenter heads to India, very much now an experienced cog of Australia's backline.
Gone are the days of the teenage prospect, who would enter an Asian Cup camp as the squad's youngest member, in India she will undoubtedly be the one to spearhead the green and gold.
The surprise inclusion was year-old Aivi Luik. The selection was not a surprise in terms of her footballing quality, as the time capped defender has already proven her worth in several major tournaments. The shock came from the fact that Tokyo and was supposed to be Luik's final campaign before retirement. Gustavsson's selections in the midfield further represent the next generation of Commonwealth Bank Matildas, accompanied by the steadying presence of veteran and times capped Emily Van Egmond.
The Tokyo Olympics in July saw a trial of fire for a host of talented teenage midfield debutants. For Montpellier star Mary Fowler , the tournament saw a long-awaited return to international football, facing some of the world's best sides.
In the case of her teenage teammate Kyra Cooney-Cross , the challenge was multiplied by a change of position, with the year-old tasked to play a more defensive role. Many feared, that a teenage spine would struggle to handle the expectations of record audiences back home and a golden group of teammates.
Yet both Fowler and Cooney-Cross were pivotal in Australia reaching the semi-finals for the first time, starting every match of the tournament.
The Asian Cup will see the star teenage duo called upon again, along with recent debutant Clare Wheeler , whose immense work rate in just five appearances has impressed many within the game. The Commonwealth Bank Matildas frontline is one of the hardest in the world to break into.
Despite this, Tony Gustavsson has squeezed every ounce of established Australian attacking talent, managing to fit a domestic club duo that just might shock the world with their goal-scoring abilities. The Chelsea star has won almost all before her domestically, over the last twelve months. Yet, just like her national side since , international success still proceeds the year-old. If her side are to lift the Asian Cup in just over a month's time, Kerr will need to be on the shortlist for the tournament's top scorers.
The dilemma comes in deciding Kerr's strike partners for the tournament. Gustavsson has stated his wish to rotate his squad to keep every player healthy and fit, with every forward option at his disposal offering something very different. The usual suspects up front are Arsenal's Caitlin Foord and Tottenham Hotspur's Kyah Simon who between them account for over international appearances. The duo represents a cohesion within Australia's attack, having played together in several major tournaments.
The last five meetings between these sides include that maiden victory, two draws, and two USA wins. However, the two victories were and results, meaning the chance of a goal-fest is strong. Both sides are in the process of bringing in new players and preparing for the future. These games in Australia against the co-hosts will provide invaluable experience.
And the same can be said for the Commonwealth Bank Matildas who will aim to use these friendlies — particularly the one at Stadium Australia — as a dress rehearsal for a potential World Cup final in a few years' time. As with many of his squads this year, there is a mix of youth and experience. Charlize Rule and Jessika Nash come in to the squad as the only uncapped members and could become the 13 th and 14 th Australian women to make their debuts this year.
All in all, 12 players have fewer than 20 caps. Down the opposite end of the scale, Tameka Yallop is in line to make her th appearance in green and gold.
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