In Focus: Australia

Football Federation Australia
Current FIFA World Ranking: 10
2015 Women’s World Cup Qualifying: The Australians qualified for Canada by reaching the final of the 2014 Women’s Asian Cup, which they went on to lose 1-0 against Japan. 
Women’s World Cup Finals Appearances: 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
Record vs. USA: 0-22-2
Head Coach: Alen Stajcic
Championship Honors: 2010 Women’s Asian Cup Champions; 1995, 1998 and 2003 OFC Women’s Nations Cup Champions
Leading Women’s World Cup Qualifying Scorers: Katrina Gorry (3), Kate Gill (2), Lisa De Vanna (1), Caitlin Foord (1)
Key Players: Melissa Barbieri (Adelaide United), Lisa De Vanna (Melbourne Victory), Caitlin Foord (Perth Glory), Samantha Kerr (Perth Glory), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar) 

Australia Women’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Lydia Williams (Canberra United), 18-Melissa Barbieri (Adelaide United), 21-Mackenzie Arnold (Perth Glory)
DEFENDERS (8): 4-Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar), 5-Laura Alleway (Brisbane Roar), 6-Servet Uzunlar (Sydney FC), Stephanie Catley (Melbourne Victory), 8-Elise Kellond-Knight (Brisbane Roar), 14-Alanna Kennedy (Perth Glory), 15-Teresa Polias (Sydney FC), 16-Hayley Raso (Brisbane Roar),
MIDFIELDERS (4): 10-Emily van Egmond (Newcastle Jets), 13-Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar), 19-Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar), 22-Nicola Bolger (Sydney FC)
FORWARDS (8): 2-Larissa Crummer (Brisbane Roar), 3-Ashleigh Sykes (Canberra United), 9-Caitlin Foord (Perth Glory), 11-Lisa de Vanna (Melbourne Victory), 12-Leena Khamis (Sydney FC), 17-Kyah Simon (Sydney FC), 20-Samantha Kerr (Perth Glory), 23-Michelle Heyman (Canberra United)

AUSTRALIA ROSTER NOTES

• Australia will be making its sixth appearance at a Women’s World Cup. Its best finish came in the 2007 and 2011 editions when the team reached the quarterfinals.
• Goalkeeper Lydia Williams played club soccer in the USA for both the Western New York Flash and the Washington Spirit of the NWSL. During her time in the clubs, she played alongside U.S. defenders Ali Krieger and Whitney Engen and fellow goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
• Lisa de Vanna and Clare Polkinghorne are co-captains of Australian.
• De Vanna is the most capped player of the 23-player roster with 99 caps, will hit the century mark during the World Cup. Melissa Barbieri is next with 85 games played for Australia.
• DeVanna is also the leading goal scorer on the roster with 35. She is 20 goals ahead of the next player, Michelle Heyman, who has 15.
• The average age for the Australia roster is 23.8 years old, with 19-year old Larissa Crummer being the youngest, and 35-year old Barbieri being the oldest.
• The average number of caps in the Australian roster is 37.

USA VS. AUSTRALIA SERIES

• The USA has an all-time record of 22-0-2 against Australia dating back to 1987.
• The USA has outscored Australia 83-20, and has only allowed more than one goal to be scored against them on four occasions.
• The last time both teams met in a Women’s World Cup game was on June 10, 1995, when the USA defeated the Matildas 4-1 in Helsingborg, Sweden.
• The last matchup between both sides came on Oct. 20, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas. The USA won the game 4-0.
• Out of the 24 meetings between both teams, the USA has played in foreign soil on 11 occasions, winning 10 of those matches and tying one.
• The U.S. Women have only allowed Australia to score a total of five goals while playing away from home in those 11 games.
• The USA’s largest victory against Australia and Australia’s largest defeat to an opponent ever are one and the same: a 9-1 U.S. win on June 5, 1997 in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
• Twelve players that took the field against Australia during the USA’s last meeting with the Matildas are part of this World Cup roster, including all four goal scorers: Lauren Holiday, Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach and Christen Press.