Australian coach Alen Stajcic has announced his 23 player Australian squad for the upcoming 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada and has chosen a mixed group of players, including some that were part of the 2014 Asian Cup squad and others that will be baptised by their first FIFA World Cup in June.
A catch cry of many of the national coaches heading toward the tournament has been “we can beat anybody on the day” and Stajcic is no different, but what is different, is that his rhetoric is a possibility.
Since Stajcic permanently took over last September there has been an excitement, a determination and enthusiasm that has pulsated through the Matildas squad and this is a credit to the ‘boss’ and the team culture he has developed over the past months.
“Spending a lot of time together, a lot of international games, bit of a luxury we havn’t really had before, Just goes to show you, you get good training, good competition, you get better” said Stajcic.
When defender, and possible future captain, Elise Kellond-Knight was asked about Stajcic and what he has been doing to motivate and keep the players happy in camp, she replied:
“Staj brings in this great leadership quality, everyone wants to buy into his football philosophy and everybody believes in what he is trying to do here.
“Having 100% backing (from the players) is the key to it, he has brought a positivity to it and he encourages us to play positive football, aggressive defence that can turn into attack and he encourages a lot of combination play, which is exciting to watch and exciting to be a part of because it makes football enjoyable.
“He also brings an aspect to a culture of the team too, tries to make sure we all get along and tries to encourage a family feeling in the squad, which is definitely happening and this is going to show on the field.”
Many in the squad have been in and around the Matildas for some time now, but the players that were part of the second youngest squad in Germany 2011 have ‘become of age’, a balance of youthful and experienced on the world stage.
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Australia has appeared in the Quarter-finals of the World Cup twice, in 2007 and 2011 and are hoping for a better showing in June. As Kellond-Knight stipulated “we’ve developed this winning aspect within our culture and our team, we’re approaching every game as if we’re going to win it”.
The Matildas start their positive road to the finals against favourites and second ranked USA on the eighth of June in Winnipeg.
Australia squad: Lydia Williams (gk), Steph Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna, Leena Khamis, Tameka Butt, Alanna Kennedy, Teresa Polias, Hayley Raso, Kyah Simon, Melissa Barbieri (gk), Katrina Gorry, Samantha Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Nicola Bolger, Michelle Heyman, Larissa Crummer, Ashleigh Sykes, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Servet Uzunlar.
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