New Opportunities for fresh faces in CommBank Matildas Squad for Spain and Portugal

Commonwealth Bank Matildas' head coach Tony Gustavsson has called up a host of fresh faces to the 24-player squad to take on Spain and Portugal in the June FIFA International Window.   

Australia will take on the two Women’s EURO-bound nations later this month with the opening match against Spain on Saturday, 25 June (local) at Estadio Nuevo Colombino in Huelva.  Three days later the CommBank Matildas will line up against Portugal on Tuesday, 28 June (local) at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in Estoril.   

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Gustavsson said: “This upcoming camp and international window is a big opportunity for many players in the squad selected. I am excited to see the group in action and witness how we can rise to the challenge as a team and as individuals.”   

“Spain and Portugal are quality nations in the final stages of their preparations for one of the biggest trophies in women’s football and they will be a tough challenge in many aspects of the game.” 

Gustavsson has chosen a combination of regular national team squad members, a cohort of recalled players and some first-time senior national team attendees.   

The roster includes 14 members of the squad that defeated New Zealand in the April series with several players in strong form.  Midfielder Clare Wheeler was recently named the Fortuna Hjørring Player of the Year in a season where the Danish club claimed the Cup title and finished runners-up in the league.   

San Diego Wave’s Emily van Egmond has been instrumental in their winning start to their inaugural NWSL season and Swedish-based duo Teagan Micah and Charli Grant assisted league leaders FC Rosengard in claiming the Swedish Cup title last month.   

Meanwhile, the FIFA window will see goalkeeper Lydia Williams in line to become the first female Australian goalkeeper to reach 100 appearances for Australia.   

When it comes to fresh faces, trio Mackenzie Hawkesby, Matilda McNamara and Taylor Ray will partake in a senior training camp for the first time.  Capped players Angela Beard, Larissa Crummer, Princess Ibini-Isei, Rachel Lowe and Amy Sayer all return after absences.  Uncapped defender Winonah Heatley and Celtic FC’s Jacynta Galabadaarachchi have also received a recall for this window.    

Tameka Yallop, Clare Polkinghorne and Lydia Williams of Australia celebrate victory during the International Women's match between the Australia Matildas and the New Zealand Football Ferns at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on April 08, 2022 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Tameka Yallop, Clare Polkinghorne and Lydia Williams of Australia celebrate victory during the International Women's match between the Australia Matildas and the New Zealand Football Ferns at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on April 08, 2022 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

June will see the absence of a host of regular names including CommBank Matildas captain Sam Kerr, vice-captain Steph Catley, as well as a number of senior players.  Defender Ellie Carpenter will also be on the sidelines for the foreseeable future with the Lyon star sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.   

“As we draw closer to the commencement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™, all our decision-making is centred around the strongest possible preparation for all players vying to be a part of 23 in 23.”   

“Selection for this June squad has been based on a combination of factors but ultimately it has been about individualising player programs with a long-term view.  In preparing the specialised plans, we have evaluated where the players currently are and where they will need to be and determined the best course of action for each player.  

“For some players, this has meant being a part of these invaluable matches with Spain and Portugal providing a chance to demonstrate how they can make our team stronger.  For another cohort, it results in being proactive around reoccurring ailments and re-establishing a fitness baseline without the need to focus on peaking for matches.   

“This is a crucial period in our groundwork for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and there has been a true collaboration between players and staff to ensure we capitalise on the opportunities to position us well for 2023.”    

Australia’s international friendlies against Spain and Portugal will be broadcast live on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+. Coverage for the CommBank Matildas v Spain will commence at 5.00 am AEST.   

UPCOMING COMMBANK MATILDAS FIXTURES:  

Spain v Australia  
Date: Saturday, 25 June (local) / Sunday, 26 June (AUS)  
Time: 9.30pm (local) / 5.30am (AEST)  
Venue: Estadio Nuevo Colombino, Huelva  
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+  
  
Portugal v Australia  
Date: Tuesday, 28 June (local) / Wednesday, 29 June (AUS)  
Time: 9.00pm (local) / 6.00am (AEST)  
Venue: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota, Estoril  
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+ 

 
COMMONWEALTH BANK MATILDAS SQUAD | JUNE 2022 FIFA INTERNATIONAL WINDOW 

Name 

Position 

Club 

Caps (goals) 

Junior Club / Member Fed 

Mackenzie ARNOLD 

Goalkeeper 

West Ham United 

28 (0) 

Burleigh / Football QLD  

Angela BEARD 

Back 

Fortuna Hjørring 

3 (0) 

Bethania Rams / Football QLD 

Alex CHIDIAC 

Midfielder 

Racing Louisville 

18 (1) 

Croydon Kings/ Football South Australia 

Larissa CRUMMER 

Forward 

Capalaba FC 

23 (4) 

Peninsula Power / Football QLD  

Jacynta GALABADAARACHCHI 

Forward 

Celtic FC 

0 (0) 

South-Eastern Piranhas / Football Victoria 

Emily GIELNIK 

Forward 

Aston Villa 

52 (11) 

Redlands United / Football QLD 

Katrina GORRY 

Midfielder 

Vittsjö GIK 

80 (15) 

Mt Gravatt Hawks / Football QLD 

Charlotte GRANT 

Back 

FC Rosengård 

5 (0) 

Cumberland United Women’s FC / Football South Australia 

Mackenzie HAWKESBY 

Midfielder 

Sydney FC 

0 (0) 

Figtree Football Club / Football NSW 

Winonah HEATLEY 

Back 

Sydney Olympic  

0 (0)  

Mossman and Cairns / Football QLD  

Princess IBINI-ISEI 

Forward 

APIA Leichhardt 

6 (0) 

Earlwood Wanderers / Football NSW 

Rachel LOWE 

Forward 

Sydney University  

1 (0) 

West Pymble FC / Football NSW 

Matilda McNAMARA 

Back 

Adelaide City 

0 (0) 

Adelaide City FC / Football South Australia 

Teagan MICAH 

Goalkeeper 

FC Rosengård 

9 (0) 

Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central / Football QLD 

Courtney NEVIN 

Back 

Hammarby 

10 (0) 

Oakville Ravens / Football NSW 

Clare POLKINGHORNE 

Back 

Vittsjö GIK 

143 (12) 

Wynnum Wolves, Capalaba / Football QLD 

Taylor RAY 

Midfielder 

Sydney Olympic 

0 (0) 

Townsville Warriors FC / Football QLD 

Amy SAYER 

Midfielder 

Stanford University 

4 (0) 

Northbridge FC / Football NSW 

Remy SIEMSEN 

Forward 

AIK 

4 (0) 

Manly United / Football NSW 

Emily VAN EGMOND 

Midfielder 

San Diego Wave  

118 (30) 

Dudley-Redhead / Northern NSW Football 

Cortnee VINE 

Forward 

Sydney Olympic 

4 (0) 

Peninsula Power FC / Football QLD 

Clare WHEELER 

Midfielder 

Fortuna Hjørring 

9 (0) 

Adamstown Rosebud / Northern NSW Football 

Lydia WILLIAMS 

Goalkeeper 

Arsenal WFC 

99 (0) 

Tuggeranong, Woden Valley / Capital Football  

Tameka YALLOP 

Midfielder 

West Ham United 

105 (12) 

Mudgeeraba / Football QLD