Preparations for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ will step up for the CommBank Young Matildas when they face fellow qualifiers, China, in a two-match international series later this month.
Australia’s U-20 Women’s National Team will play their AFC U-20 counterparts in Xiamen, China on Sunday, 3 December and Wednesday, 6 December 2023 at the Auxiliary Field of Xiamen Egret Stadium.
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, said: “The tour of China is a significant opportunity for the CommBank Young Matildas to continue to build towards a key tournament in next year’s AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup.”
“It builds upon our concerted approach to provide high-quality match minutes for the next generation of footballers and, as former AFC U-20 champions, China is one such nation that will provide invaluable international experience for the players.
“2023 has seen our youth representative teams play more internationals outside of competition than in previous years with trips to Italy, Korea Republic and now China. We have already begun to see the benefits of that investment the advancing of players through the youth ranks and making history in the A-League Women’s competition.
“This is only possible with strong strategic partnerships, and we would like to thank the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the Chinese Football Association for their collaboration,” Johnson concluded.
National Foundation for Australia-China Relations CEO Peter Cai said, “The Foundation is proud to support the next generation of Matildas heading to China, particularly on the back of the Prime Minister’s recent visit. This tour will help build on longstanding links between Australia and China and showcase Australia’s excellence in women’s sport.”
China qualified for the eight-nation AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup after finishing Group B winners in Round 2 and is a six-time FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup participant.
The fixtures form a crucial part of Head Coach Leah Blayney’s groundwork for the side as they aim to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™ with a top-four finish at the continental championships.
Blayney has selected a 24-player squad for the tour laden with A-League Women’s talent as a reward for strong performances in the opening five rounds of the 2023/2024 season.
“It has been an exciting start to the 2023/24 A-League Women’s season, and we have already witnessed an impressive level of technical skill, tactical awareness, physicality, and commitment to continuous development from youth players all across the league,” Blayney said.
“This squad has been selected to reflect and recognise those showings and ongoing performances within our recent national team environments.
“For a number of the players, it has been a little while since they have been with the national team group, so getting up to speed with the primary goal. For those who were a part of the qualification campaign, it is yet another chance to continue laying the platform for 2024,” Blayney concluded.
Kick-off times and streaming details to be provided in the coming days.
COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS | CHINA INTERNATIONAL SERIES
China v CommBank Young Matildas
Date: Sunday, 3 December 2023
Kick-off: TBC
Venue: Auxiliary Field of Xiamen Egret Stadium, Xiamen
China v CommBank Young Matildas
Date: Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Kick-off: TBC
Venue: Auxiliary Field of Xiamen Egret Stadium, Xiamen
COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS | SQUAD | CHINA INTERNATIONAL SERIESNAME POSITIONJUNIOR CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATIONAlexia APOSTOLAKIS
Defender
Western Sydney Wanderers FC / Football NSWMilly BOUGHTON
Forward
Tottenham Hotspurs FC / Football NSWGeorgia CASSIDY
Midfielder
Perth Glory FC / Football WestClaudia CICCO
Forward
Newcastle Jets FC / Football NSWIndiana DOS SANTOS
Midfielder
Sydney FC / Football NSWJynaya DOS SANTOS
Forward
Sydney FC / Football NSWTahlia FRANCO
Goalkeeper
Sydney FC / Football NSWDaniela GALIC
Midfielder
Melbourne City FC / Football NSWLara GOOCH
Forward
Newcastle Jets FC / Northern NSW FootballSasha GROVE
Forward
Canberra United FC / Capital FootballMilan HAMMOND
Forward
Newcastle Jets FC / Northern NSW FootballShay HOLLMAN
Midfielder
Sydney FC / Football NSWKahli JOHNSON
Forward
Western United FC / Football NSWGrace JOHNSTON
Defender
Perth Glory FC / Football WestZoe KARIPIDIS
Defender
Newcastle Jets FC / Northern NSW FootballZara KRUGER
Midfielder
Sydney FC / Football QueenslandChloe LINCOLN
Goalkeeper
Canberra United FC / Football NSWMaya LOBO
Defender
Central Coast Mariners FC / Football NSWAlana MURPHY
Midfielder
Melbourne Victory FC / Football VictoriaJessika NASH
Defender
Melbourne Victory FC / Football NSWElla O’GRADY
Forward
Melbourne Victory FC / Football QueenslandAvaani PRAKASH
Midfielder
Western United FC / Football NSWNaomi THOMAS-CHINNAMA
Defender
Melbourne City FC / Football VictoriaPeta TRIMIS
Forward
Central Coast Mariners FC / Football NSW
2023-11-21 02:57:54
#CommBank #Young #Matildas #squad #selected #China #international #series