The Matildas squad was selected following a number of training camps held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra over the past three months which have given de Reus a good chance to get to know the players ahead of their first internationals of the year.
“I am very much looking forward to the upcoming matches,” de Reus says.
“We have restructured some parts of our game and this will be a good test to see how we have adjusted. I have also included three players, who are currently based overseas, that I haven’t worked with yet so we will see how they fit in.”
The Matildas, ranked ninth in the world, will take on the 20th-ranked Football Ferns on June 13 in Bruce, ACT – this is a closed door match open only to authorised media – before the wider public gets a chance to take in the action a few days later in another clash on June 16 at McKellar Park in Belconnen, ACT.
“New Zealand, from what I have heard, are good rivals for Australia so I am looking forward to experiencing those matches in particular,” de Reus says.
“Later, the Netherlands and France matches in Europe will be especially challenging as both teams are preparing for the UEFA women’s tournament. Our overall goals at the moment are to qualify for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup and also the next Olympic Games so this is the first step on that road.”
Australia squad for New Zealand matches
Teigen ALLEN (Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia)
Laura ALLEWAY (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
Mackenzie ARNOLD (Canberra United, Australia)
Tameka BUTT (Frankfurt FC, Germany)
Kim CARROLL (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
Stephanie CATLEY (Melbourne Victory, Australia)
Amy CHAPMAN (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
Brianna DAVEY (Melbourne Victory, Australia)
Emily GIELNIK (Ottawa Fury, Canada)
Kathryn GILL (Perth Glory, Australia)
Katrina GORRY (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
Michelle HEYMEN (Canberra United, Australia)
Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
Alanna KENNEDY (Sydney FC, Australia)
Samantha KERR (Western New York Flash, USA)
Shamiran KHAMIS (Sydney FC, Australia)
Teresa POLIAS (Sydney FC, Australia)
Clare POLKINGHORNE (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
Vedrana POPOVIC (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
Servet UZUNLAR (Chungbuk Sports Toto WFC, Korea Republic)
Emily VAN EGMOND (Newcastle Jets, Australia)

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