Ellie Carpenter can be one of Australia's biggest weapons when she makes her World Cup debut, according to Matildas great Heather Garriock.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 19-year-old was one of the eight debutantes named in Ante Milicic's 23-player squad on Tuesday morning, while former Canberra United keeper Lydia Williams has earned her fourth World Cup selection.
Carpenter's inclusion comes after she won the W-League's young footballer of the year award for the second consecutive season earlier this week.
Canberra United coach Garriock believes Carpenter will stamp herself as one of Australia's best when she graces the world stage.
"She's definitely going to be a player to watch at the World Cup," Garriock said. "She's so powerful but in turn she's starting to tactically read the play and technically get up and down the line. I truly believe she will be a great threat, especially in attack from that right-back position."
Carpenter will get her shot against the world's best, but Canberra rising star Karly Roestbakken will have to wait after she was overlooked for a spot in the squad.
Fullback Roestbakken, 18, recently led the Young Matildas through an undefeated campaign in Myanmar to secure their place in this year's under-19 AFC Women's Championship.
"She's one of the rising stars of the future and she has plenty of time to make it," Garriock said. "At the moment she needs to be patient and continue to keep working hard both for Canberra United and the Young Matildas."
The Matildas are among a handful of nations who are marked as genuine contenders to claim the 2019 crown alongside hosts France, reigning champions USA, Germany, England, Japan and the Netherlands.
"The expectation of the Matildas is to make the semi finals at the very least," Garriock said.
"If we do anything less than that then I don't think it will be a successful campaign. I think we've got the squad to do that and we've got the individual brilliance to be able to progress very far."
Garriock will be the head analyst for Optus Sport's coverage of the Women's World Cup. The all-female broadcast team will provide extensive coverage of matches, in-depth analyses and behind the scenes footage from France.
"It's the first time that we've covered all 52 matches in Australia. To be part of that and analyse every country of every nation is exceptional," Garriock said. "To have an all female cast is such an exciting time for women's football."
Garriock will be joined by best friend and former Matilda teammate Amy Duggan on the Optus Sport panel.
"We're just super excited to be able to work together on something like this," Garriock said.
"To work with your best friend every single day in sport that you grew up playing together and played for the Matildas together is something we're both very passionate about."
The Women's World Cup will kick-off in just under one month's time with hosts France taking on Korea Republic at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
The Matildas will start their campaign against Italy at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes on June 9.
WORLD CUP GAMES
Australia v Italy: Sunday, June 9
Australia v Brazil: Thursday, June 13
Australia v Jamaica: Tuesday, June 18
MATILDAS SQUAD
Lydia Williams, Gema Simon, Aivi Luik, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Chloe Logarzo, Steph Catley (VC), Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord, Emily Van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna, Teagan Micah, Tameka Yallop, Alanna Kennedy, Emily Gielnik, Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler, Mackenzie Arnold, Katrina Gorry, Sam Kerr (C), Ellie Carpenter, Amy Harrison, Teigen Allen