Lisa De Vanna not named in Matildas squad for upcoming friendlies against Chile
Matildas coach Ante Milicic has named his squad for upcoming friendlies against Chile, and five players who were at the World Cup are missing.
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Matildas boss Ante Milicic insists Lisa De Vanna’s international career isn’t necessarily over, but has hinted that he will favour players with the fitness to handle an intense schedule of Olympic qualifiers early next year.
As The Daily Telegraph revealed last week, De Vanna was the most notable omission from Milicic’s squad to face Chile in a doubleheader of friendlies next month, sparking speculation that her decade and half in the Matildas is over ahead of the Olympics qualifying tournament in February.
Milicic confirmed that the country’s record goalscorer is on an extended list of 50 players under consideration for the Olympic qualifiers, but said he needed to run the rule over alternatives in the friendlies with Chile.
The Matildas in play three games in seven days at the Olympic qualifying tournament held in China in February, with a squad of 20 allowed – three less than the World Cup. If they come in the top two in their group, they will face a home and away play-off in March.
Though De Vanna has scored twice in seven games this season for Fiorentina, in Italy’s Serie A, there remain significant doubts over whether she will be able to add to her 150 caps – one behind record appearance holder Cheryl Salisbury.
“Lisa’s on the extended list I’ll continue to monitor,” Milicic said.
“I know fully what she offers the team on and off the pitch.
“I’ll monitor her form moving forward, but for this (international) window I decided to bring in some other players to have a look at.
“Like with the World Cup, there’s a lot of games in a short space of time. I need to see whether players can play with intensity, can train at that level and back up.
“You’ve got to understand we’re also looking with one eye on the qualifying program and the future. We’ve got a few issues in terms of availability of defenders in particular, and the Young Matildas are also playing.
“At the back of my mind is the fact that if we do qualify (for the Olympics), the squad is only 18 players there, five less than the World Cup.”
Established names such as captain Sam Kerr, striker Caitlin Foord and centreback Alanna Kennedy feature in the squad to face Chile, though Kennedy will be suspended for the first game at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta on November 9.
Defender Emma Checker returns more than two and a half years after her last appearance, while dual code athlete Jenna McCormick is included just weeks after quitting AFLW in the hope of getting a spot with the Matildas at the Olympics.
One eye-catching absentee is teen striker Mary Fowler, who Milicic took to the World Cup but who will have to be content for now with playing for the Young Matildas at the AFC U19 Championships in Thailand.
“Mary’s a good player but we just felt that at this stage, with her moving to Adelaide and playing in an important tournament for the Young Matildas, we wanted her to focus on that,’ Milicic said.
Squad: Mackenzie Arnold (Gk), Brisbane Roar, Ellie Carpenter, Melbourne City, Steph Catley, Reign FC, , Emma Checker, Melbourne City FC, Caitlin Foord, Sydney FC, Emily Gielnik, Bayern Munich, Germany, Katrina Gorry, Brisbane Roar FC, Amy Harrison, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Elise Kellond-Knight, Brisbane Roar FC, Alanna Kennedy, Sydney FC, Sam Kerr (C), Chicago Red Stars, Chloe Logarzo, Sydney FC, Aivi Luik, Avaldsnes, Norway, Jenna McCormick, Melbourne Victory, Clare Polkinghorne, Brisbane Roar FC, Hayley Raso, Portland Thorns, , Karly Roestbakken, Canberra United, Emily Van Egmond, Melbourne City FC, Sarah Willacy (Gk), Adelaide United FC, Lydia Williams (Gk), Reign FC, Tameka Yallop, Klepp Il, Norway/Brisbane Roar FC, Australia