The FIFA Women’s World Cup is just over two months away and two of WAIS and Perth Glory’s W-league players are looking to lift Australia to a second piece of international silverware.
Despite the Matildas squad not yet being announced, vice-captain Collette McCallum and young star Samantha Kerr have been training in a preliminary squad to head to Germany in June.
McCallum is confident that the young side can continue their strong form since winning the Asian Cup final against DPR Korea following a super-substitute goal from Kerr.
“After doing so well at the Asian cup last year and qualifying for the world cup it has given the girls a bit of belief of how good we can be,” McCallum said.
“Were starting to think that we can really do well and looking at the squad now, it’s so mobile.”
Currently ranked at 11th in the world, the Matildas face off against some tough competition in a group that includes Brazil (no.3), Norway (no.9) and World Cup debutants Equatorial Guinea (no.61).
“Brazil is going to be a tough game, we remember the quarter finals when we lost 3-2 last time, it’s definitely a game we want to get a result out of in Germany,” McCallum said.
“The likes of Norway, we drew with them 1-1 last year. Our squad’s capable of beating them this time around.”
Considered a veteran of the side, the 25-year-old is looking forward to passing on her experience of playing in and starting in each of the Matilda’s games at the 2007 World Cup in China.
“It will be important for not just the vice-captain and captain in the side to lead, the senior girls have leadership qualities as well and can lead the young ones,” she said.
“I know when I was younger I was very hard on myself and my head was down all the time, the girls need someone who can support them through those times.”
She said the squad has developed since 2007 and the girls are confident within the consistency throughout the side.
“The belief is that we have great depth in the squad and we don’t have to worry about playing in the starting 11 for every match,” McCallum said.
“Because of the squad and the depth we have now, certain players are able to have rests for important games, we couldn’t do that before.”
John Gibson, coach of the Perth Glory W-League side, is monitoring the progress of the Matilda’s WAIS representatives and had nothing but praise for McCallum and Kerr.
“We forget that she (Kerr) is 18 this year but still involved in Young Matildas and a very young member of the national team,” he said.
“She is just fierce and fearless, it will be very interesting for her if selected to manage the international arena.
“I’ve coached them both in the last two years for Glory, it’s been a wonderful opportunity to get to know them an they are progressing quite nicely.”
Since women’s football rankings have been introduced in 2003, Germany and the United States have held the top two positions but Gibson is confident that other teams will have more of an impact in Germany 2011.
“The gap is getting closer and closer to the big sides, particularly the Asian teams who are progressing very well on an international level,” he said.
The Matildas kick off their World Cup campaign on June 29th against Brazil in Moenchengladbach, Germany.
– Beau Pearson
