Northern NSW Football products Clare Wheeler and Emily van Egmond have been named in Australia’s squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022.
Commonwealth Bank Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson has announced a travelling squad of 25 players to commence the final stage of Australia’s preparation for the 20th edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™.
The travelling squad will assemble in the United Arab Emirates for a pre-tournament training camp from today, with the final 23-player roster arriving in India just days ahead of Australia opening its campaign against Indonesia on 21 January in Mumbai.
Clare Wheeler playing against USA in Newcastle late last year. Picture: NNSWF
Twenty-one players have received final selection for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™, including Wheeler and van Egmond, with Gustavsson naming a further four players who will travel to the UAE. Following the conclusion of the pretournament training camp, a further two players will be added to the final tournament squad of 23.
Led by captain Sam Kerr and vice-captain Steph Catley, the 21 selected AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ squad members features a strong mix of experienced tournament campaigners, as well as new and emerging national team talent. All 21 confirmed players having plied their trade at one time in their professional careers in the Liberty A-League Women.
Gustavsson, who confirmed his squad at a virtual media conference, said he is confident Australia has a squad to make the switch to tournament mode as the Commonwealth Bank Matildas take
on Asia’s best.
“The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is a prestigious tournament in which Australia has a proud history,” Gustavsson said.
“It is a hotly contested competition in one of the toughest confederations in women’s football and we are ready to take on the challenge of some very good nations head on.
“We considered a lot of factors and reflected on the experience of the Tokyo Olympics in assembling this roster. It was important that, with the initial 21 players selected, we found the balance between players that have been the backbone of the national team for the past decade and providing experience to a new group of players with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ next year in mind.”
Defender Charli Grant, forward Remy Siemsen and midfielder Wheeler are in contention to make their international tournament debuts after promising showings late in 2021 following their national team maiden caps.
Meanwhile, the roster announcement sees the return of veteran Aivi Luik. Playing consistently in Italy’s Serie A, the highly regarded Luik will pull the national team jersey back on after a short international absence.
Of the veteran player, Gustavsson explained the need to opt for players who can not only lead the team on the park but also provide invaluable guidance off the pitch to the more inexperienced tournament players.
“It’s no secret that we have a wealth of talent in certain areas of the park and that unfortunately means that there are some disappointed players today that have not been selected despite being in good form,” Gustavsson said.
“Having the right mix of skills to win matches is paired with the right experience on the training park and in the dressing room. Over the past six months we have worked to examine the talent pool extensively and we think we have found that balance with this squad.
“With additional time before we arrive in India, we wanted to ensure players have every single moment available to them to make their case to be a part of the Asian Cup.
“I want to express my thanks to the Liberty A-League Women’s clubs, my fellow women’s national team coaches in Leah [Blayney] and Rae [Dower] and the National Premier Leagues clubs for their support in preparing players to be in a position to fly during this tournament.
“Finally, I congratulate all the players over the past six months who have put in significant effort to make this task at times a difficult one.”
Three venues in three cities (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune) will host matches at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™. The tournament will kick-off in Mumbai on 20 January 2022 and conclude in Navi Mumbai on 6 February 2022.
Drawn in Group B, Australia will take on Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand in their sixth tournament appearance. The Commonwealth Bank Matildas will play their group matches at Mumbai
Football Arena in Mumbai.
All matches will be broadcast live on either 10 or 10 Bold, and streamed via Paramount+ and 10 Play in Australia.
CommBank Matildas Travelling Squad | AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ | January 2022
Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Emily Gielnik, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley*, Alanna Kennedy, Sam Kerr, Aivi Luik, Holly McNamara*, Teagan Micah, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Karly Roestbakken*, Remy Siemsen, Kyah Simon, Emily van Egmond, Cortnee Vine*, Clare Wheeler, Lydia Williams, Tameka Yallop
Commonwealth Bank Matildas Matches | AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ | Group Stage
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v Indonesia
Date: Friday, 21 January 2022
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local), 9pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and Exclusive on 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Philippines v Commonwealth Bank Matildas
Date: Monday, 24 January 2022
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local), 9pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and Exclusive on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v Thailand
Date: Thursday, 27 January 2022 / Friday, 28 January 2022
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local), 01:00am (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and Exclusive on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
For more information on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, please visit https://www.theafc.
com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html
