McNamara named 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.   

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.    

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