Matildas give China a pre-game work out

Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni has named an 18-player squad for the Matildas upcoming two match tour of China in July.

Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni has named an 18-player squad for the Matildas upcoming two match tour of China in July.

Having placed fourth at the recent AFC Women's Asian Cup in Vietnam and with a strong performance at the 2008 Peace Cup in South Korea earlier this month, Sermanni will use this tour to give a number of younger players valuable international experience against the Chinese women's National Team who are preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The tour will involve two matches on the 6 & 9 July at the Olympic Stadium in Tianjin, which is same venue in which the Matildas played Brazil in the Quarter-Finals of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

"Only six players from last year's FIFA Women's World Cup campaign are involved in this squad that will tour China,"said Sermanni

"As a result, we have a large number of younger players who will be able to get much needed experience at an international level on this trip.

"It is also very beneficial for us to play two challenging internationals against one the top teams in the world at a fantastic venue in front of a large crowd, particularly as they are preparing for a very important tournament for them - a home Olympics, " concluded Sermanni.

The Matildas will depart Australia on 3 July and return on 11 July and will face the New Zealand Women's Team at North Sydney Oval on Saturday 12 July (kick-off 12pm AEST) as the first part of a double header which will also see the Qantas Under 23s take on the New Zealand men's Under 23 team.

Matildas Squad for China Tour 3-11 July 2008

Melissa BARBIERI (Melbourne), Victoria BALOMENOS (Adelaide), Joanne BURGESS (Brisbane), Kim CARROLL (Brisbane), Amy CHAPMAN (Canberra), Lauren COLTHORPE (Brisbane), Leena KHAMIS (Sydney), Kate McSHEA (Brisbane), Caitlin MUNOZ (Canberra), Amber NEILSON (Newcastle), Ellyse PERRY (Sydney), Clare POLKINGHORNE (Brisbane), Karla REUTER (Brisbane), Renee ROLLASON (Sydney), Kyah SIMON (Sydney), Brooke SPENCE (Brisbane), Servet UZUNLAR (Sydney), Lydia WILLIAMS (Canberra).

Match Details China PR v Australia Sunday 6 July 2008 (Kick-Off Time TBC) Olympic Stadium, Tianjin, China

China PR v Australia Wednesday 9 July 2008 (Kick-Off Time TBC) Olympic Stadium, Tianjin, China