Gustavsson names 23-player CommBank Matildas squad to close out 2023 international season | Football Australia

Head Coach Tony Gustavsson has named a 23-player CommBank Matildas squad to face Canada in a two-match series later this month.

In their final internationals for 2023, Australia will take on the world number 10 at Starlight Stadium in Victoria on Friday, 1 December with kick off at 7.30pm PST (2 December at 2.30pm AEDT) before closing out the year at BC Place in Vancouver on Tuesday, 5 December with kick off at 7.00pm PST (6 December at 2.00pm AEDT).

The 23-player squad carries over significant experience from the recent Paris 2024™ Asian Qualifiers with 20 members of that squad retained.

After featuring as a train-on-player last camp, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Charlize Rule has earned a full call-up, while defender Aivi Luik has recovered from injury to assist BK Häcken to second in the Swedish League. Fresh off a hat trick last weekend, A-League Women’s Golden Boot leader Holly McNamara rounds out the new faces as the 20-year-old returns to the national team for her first call-up since April 2023.

Gustavsson noted that the upcoming internationals will see Australia balancing preparations for February 2024’s Olympic Qualifiers against Uzbekistan with a deepening progression of playing style.

“We know plenty about Canada with some fierce battles over the past 18 months,” Gustavsson said. “These final 180 minutes of the year against a nation that has already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are the type of preparation matches that are invaluable for the players.”

“Our selected squad continues to meld established performers with some new players that have impressed in their league form recently.

“The two matches will allow us to continue evolving our play heading into the final phase of Olympic Qualification and