The Matildas have been gagged from addressing FIFA’s choice to affix forces with Saudi Arabia’s vacationer authority for this yr’s Women’s World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Visit Saudi will reportedly be among the many match’s sponsors regardless of the nation’s historical past of oppression of ladies’s rights.
Football Australia officers wouldn’t permit Matildas gamers or coach Tony Gustavsson to be requested questions concerning the Visit Saudi sponsorship on Thursday morning on the announcement of Australia’s 25-strong squad for this month’s Cup of Nations match in NSW.
Chloe Logarzo, who stays on the comeback path from a ruptured ACL, is a shock omission from the squad.
The 28-year-old midfielder was a part of the Matildas squad for the latest November camp however has been struggling for sport time within the ladies’s A-League competitors with Western United, the place she is on mortgage from American membership Kansas City.
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However, uncapped Western Sydney Wanderers defender Clare Hunt has been rewarded for her ladies’s A-League kind with choice in Australia’s Cup of Nations squad.
The squad additionally contains returning trio Emily Gielnik, Tameka Yallop and Mackenzie Arnold, who’ve recovered from accidents.
“The first camp of the year is always an exciting prospect following a lengthy break from the team environment, and in a FIFA Women’s World Cup year, it adds a little more anticipation,” Gustavsson stated.
“Our Cup of Nations squad has been selected in line with our principles built in the back half of 2022 as we continue to create consistency and chemistry among the playing group.
“This is particularly important in a tournament that mirrors the group stage play and presents an opportunity to maximise our time together with less than 200 days until the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off.”
The Matildas will play Cup of Nations matches towards Czechia (February 16, Gosford), Spain (February 19, Sydney) and Jamaica (February 22, Newcastle)
“We were pleased with the way the team progressed towards the end of 2022 and the matches provided many learnings for us to build on during these games later this month,” Gustavsson stated.
“We know there are some areas we need to continue evolving in and that will be the focus of our matches against three opponents that provide real variety of approach.”
Matildas’ Cup of Nations squad: Mackenzie Arnold, Steph Catley, Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Larissa Crummer, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Emily Gielnik, Katrina Gorry, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Elise Kellond-Knight, Alanna Kennedy, Sam Kerr, Aivi Luik., Teagan Micah, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Amy Sayer, Emily van Egmond, Cortnee Vine, Clare Wheeler, Lydia Williams, Tameka Yallop.
Originally revealed as Matildas squad named for Cup of Nations match, however Women’s World Cup Saudi sponsorship questions off limits
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
