Sam Kerr still sidelined, Claire Polkinghorne set for farewell tour as Matildas squad named
Claire Polkinghorne has been named in a 36-player Matildas squad set to face Brazil and Chinese Taipei in the long-time Australian defender's final international window.
Superstar striker Sam Kerr will miss the four Matildas matches set to be held across this month and next as she continues to recover from her ACL rupture, which interim coach Tom Sermanni indicated late last month was taking longer to heal than expected.
The Matildas will take on Brazil in Brisbane on November 28 and on the Gold Coast on December 1, before clashing with Chinese Taipei in Melbourne on December 4 and in Geelong on December 7.
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The Australian squad will honour Polkinghorne with a "celebration match" in Brisbane, the 167-match Matildas great's home city.
"Traditionally the first camps at the beginning of a new cycle is [an] exciting time as it presents an opening to evaluate players that have previously had limited or no opportunities to showcase their capabilities," Sermanni said.
Clare Polkinghorne of the Matildas. Getty
"With their stylistic differences, Brazil and Chinese Taipei are opponents that allow us to continue the work of identifying new talent and building depth in the senior roster that will strengthen the foundations for the Asian Cup, World Cup and Olympic major tournaments set for the next four years.
"Players have earned their selection in this window through their performances and application in the last October camp and, with the Ninja A-League Women competition now under way, their club performances in Australia and abroad."
Sermanni said he was pleased to "reward players for their club form" and urged them to show they are of "international calibre".
Matildas megastar Sam Kerr. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
In the Matildas' most recent matches, played in Europe, they drew with Switzerland 1-1 and defeated Germany 2-1.
Australia's most beloved national sports team is trying to get back to its phenomenal best after an underwhelming Paris 2024 campaign, in which the Matildas failed to advance beyond the group stage of an Olympic Games for the first time since Sydney 2000.
Matildas squad
Morgan Aquino, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter (vc), Steph Catley (c), Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Leah Davidson, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Sharn Freier, Daniela Galic, Emily Gielnik, Isabel Gomez, Katrina Gorry, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Bryleeh Henry, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Lincoln, Chloe Logarzo, Hana Lowry, Matilda McNamara, Teagan Micah, Jessika Nash, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne, Natasha Prior, Hayley Raso, Jamilla Rankin, Karly Roestbakken, Remy Siemsen, Emily van Egmond (vc), Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop
