Key Decisions and Heartbreaks in Matildas Squad Selection for Asian Cup

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Foreign.

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Welcome to the Aussie Football Passport, your one stop pod for updates

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on your favourite Aussie men and women footballers who are playing their club cruise abroad.

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I'm your host Alex and this week's episode is headlined by the announcement

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of the Matilda squad that will play in the Asian cup on home soil

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over the next three weeks. I'll bring you the key talking points of the squad

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along with the game times as well as how I'll cover the games over the

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coming weeks. All that plus the usual wrap of goals, assists,

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clean sheets and even a red card this week. Also, I must apologize

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for my voice, it is a little bit on the fluey side, but stick with

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me, you'll want to because this episode is a cracker. Let's get on to

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the headlines.

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Now. Let's start with that headline as promised, the Matilda Squad

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for the Asian cup and the key talking points are the omission of Charlie

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Grant, who's been out injured for Tottenham since November last year.

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However, she did return in the 32 win over London City Lionesses

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in the FA Cup. She didn't get any minutes but she was named on the

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bench. This ultimately opened the door for Brighton and Hove Albion's Charlie's Rule,

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I believe. The other is the inclusion of Alex Chidiak,

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who was the Women's Player of the Week last week, if you remember and if

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you were listening to last week's episode. Chidiac is a different player

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to Fowler, but it is certainly a selection that will allow the Matildas

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have multiple different profiles of creative players in their midfield

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for the tournament. This will be key to unlocking the deep line defenses that

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they will face in the group stages and no doubt in the latter. Well,

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hopefully the latter stages of the tournament. Now Mary

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Fowler, she is returning to the squad in some

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fantastic news. It's the first time she's been named since sustaining

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that ACL injury in April last year and whilst it's a

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huge gamble from Joe Montemuro, it is ultimately one he

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had to take because Fowler is the kind of game breaker this side

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will need if they are to go on and win this Asian Cup.

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Goalkeeper Jada Wyman has also been named following an

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injury that ruled her out of the past two international windows and therefore

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for not allowing Joe Montemuro to get a closer look

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at her in more recent times. Anyway, now speaking

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of goalkeepers, Tegan Michael was initially named in the Matilda

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squad, but she has been ruled out of the Asian cup in a massive,

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massive blow to not only her but the team's hopes this

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is due to concussion symptoms unfortunately.

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So Micah has been replaced in the side by Chloe Lincoln who

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will join the squad from Brisbane Raw. So she plays in the A League women's

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and is only one of three players from the domestic league to be

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in this squad. Lincoln made her international debut in December 2024

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against Chinese Taipei. Now getting back to the rest of the

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squad selections now to another one that I guess was,

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well, it was line ball, it was that extra wing spot

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and it's gone to Carly Johnson instead of Courtney Vine. Of course, Courtney vine remembered

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for her penalty heroics in that FIFA World cup in 2023

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here in Australia. Unfortun, Courtney just wasn't getting the minutes.

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It's probably fair to say Carly Johnson has looked a little bit more sprightly and

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no doubt will provide a little bit extra in that wing spot

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if called upon in this tournament, which no doubt she will.

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All right, now let's hear from Joe Montemuro on the principles that

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guided him in selecting this squad. I mean, it's always a tough decision,

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it's always a, an interesting sort of process leading up into it, but we

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had, we had a cutoff time to get the squad announced or the

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squad into, into the, into AFC and FIFA.

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So the biggest thing for me was to make sure that the,

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the nature of the tournament, it being such a short tournament and quick turnaround,

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is that we had players who were consistently playing and ready to play.

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We, we weren't in a position to bring players in that were sort

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of coming back from injury or coming back from, from situations

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where we had to modify them through the camp. We just, we just didn't have

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that opportunity. But the, but the beauty of it and the, and the biggest thing

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for me was to find good, good balance in the squad. Good balance that

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each scenario is adhered to. Meaning that if

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we get a situation where we lose a player early or we go a goal

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down, we've got the opportunity to make those impacts. So we needed players ready,

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we needed players prepared and we needed players who could make the impact in

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those situations. Thanks to Football Australia for that audio

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of Joe Montemuro there talking about his squad selection.

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Now staying on the Matildas theme, the PFA will honour Matilda's

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legend Lydia Williams with the prestigious Alex Tobin medal during

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the 2026 Asian Cup. It'll recognize her extraordinary

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contribution to Australian football and her long standing leadership within the

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player movement that is the PFA. Lydia's international career spanned

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almost two decades and saw her represent the Matildas at five World Cups,

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six Asian Cups, two Olympic Games and the 2006 Under

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20 World Cup. Congratulations to Lydia and can't wait to

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see her get that award. It is very much well deserved.

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Alex Parkus has selected a 25 player squad for

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a domestic training camp to be held in Sydney. This camp will play a key

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role in the team's preparations for the Under 20 Women's Asian cup

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which will be held in Thailand in April. Of the 25 player squad

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there is one player, Jasmine Black who plays overseas and the rest are domestically

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based here in Australia. Fifteen players retain their spots from

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the successful qualification campaign and no doubt the

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girls will be chomping at the bit for that tournament. Stephen hall, who was

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the goalkeeper for the men's under 20 side at the Asian cup last year

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and was of course key to that dramatic penalty shootout victory

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in the final, has been recognised by Football Australia and the PFA

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by being awarded the Dylan Tombidis medal. The medal

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is given to a player who exemplifies the standards, commitment and courage of

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the late Dylan Tombides when representing Australia at youth international

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level. It was revealed later on that Steven's

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granddad passed away just before that final and was a big

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reason why he made that incredible performance and

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why he's getting this award. Now to some

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more Socceroos news and we have the Socceroos finalizing

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their preparations for the World cup campaign by securing a friendly with co

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host Mexico at the Rose bowl in Pasadena, California on 30

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May this year. It will be the final game before the Socceroos squad is selected

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selected for the World Cup. The sides last met back in September

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2023 which ended in a draw. Ante Suto

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has confirmed his eligibility for the Socceroos is via

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his father who hails from Melbourne but migrated back to Croatia.

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He also revealed to the Edinburgh Evening News that he has had contact from Football

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Australia. So watch this space.

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Now speaking of potential Socceroos and their eligibility.

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Well the Christian Volpato debate has reignited

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after four years being dormant. Of course coach Graham Arnold

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or former coach of the Socceroos Graham Arnold tried to convince Christian to

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play in the 2022 World cup for Australia. Now the

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debate has been reignited with Italian media outlet Tutto Mercato

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reporting that Paul Ocon, of course the Soccero's assistant coach and

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Socceros boss Tony Popovic were in Italy at the weekend

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in an attempt to get Christian Volparto to play for the Socceroos at the upcoming

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World Up. They were in the stands at Mapai Stadium on Friday night

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local time to watch Shaw swallow's 30 win over Hellas Verona.

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Volpato was an unused substitute in the match, but the

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two special guests were apparently there to convince him to join the

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Socceroos. Well, it's an interesting debate, of course. I've. I've certainly made

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my opinion clear on it. If he doesn't want to play, why are we wasting

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our time? Of course he is a talented player and one that could certainly

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provide this Socceroos squad a complete X factor

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that we've got a couple of players that can provide something different.

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Volpado can provide something different again and he's playing at

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Serie A level which should not be sneezed at considering that there aren't a

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lot of Australians playing in the top flights in the top European leagues.

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So we'll no doubt watch this one rumble on over the next couple

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of weeks to see if he does get named in those March games.

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Now rounding out the headlines with injury news. It has been

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confirmed by Middlesbrough that Sam Silvera has broken a metal tassel in

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his foot and is not expected to return until April in a bitter

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blow to his World cup hopes considering that injury to Lewis

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Miller last week. All right, that is it for the headlines. Next up, the weekly

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All right, let's start the weekly wrap in Mexico with a

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Matilda that will. She'll be a little bit upset that

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she didn't get into that Asian cup squad, but it's Emily Gilnick

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who came on at halftime with her team 5 nil up of course Monterrey

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against Atletico San Luis. She made it 6 nil in the 61st

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minute which was the final score. Now to Sweden where

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cup action continued and Jada Wyman played the first half as

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she returned from injury for her side AIK as they defeated Linkoping

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1 nil. It was a timely return for her with her call up to Matilda's

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side for the Asian Cup. Amy Sayer was on the score sheet for her

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new side Malmo FF for the first time in their 41 victory

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over Umao. She played the full game whilst fellow Matilda

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and teammate in Sweden Courtney Nevins started and played 72 minutes.

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Now to England where Arsenal played oh

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Leuven and beat them 31 in the second leg of their

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Women's Champions League playoffs and it sends them through to the quarterfinals.

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Caitlin Ford started and played the full game whilst Steph Catley was

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the second half substitute getting 16 minutes. Kyra Cooney Cross was

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not named in the matchday squad for that one Then at the weekend they

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returned to domestic action but in the form of the FA Cup.

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Arsenal beat Bristol City 3 nil. Steph Catley

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and Caitlin Ford both started with Catley being substituted

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in the 89th minute and forward playing out the whole game whilst Kyra Cooney

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Cross was not in the matchday squad due to illness. Brighton and Hove

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Albion beat West Ham 2 1. Charlie's rule started and played the full

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game in defence for Brighton whilst Katrina Gorey came on in the 64th

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minute for West Ham. Sam Kerr was on the score sheet as Chelsea

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overcame Manchester United in extra time. The final score in that one was

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2:1. Kerr scored the first goal of the game six minutes

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after coming on as a second half substitute in the 72nd minute.

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So she scored in the 78th minute there if your maths is no good like

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mine. Ellie Carpenter 120 minutes for Chelsea at right

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back and in a sight for sore eyes. Mary Fowler started her first game for

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Manchester City since her ACL injury in their four nil victory over Sheffield

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United. She played 63 minutes in that one in a nice warm up

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for the Asian Cup. Now rounding out the action in England with Claire

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Wheeler who started and played the full game in midfield for Everton as they were

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knocked out of the FA cup by Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby.

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Rounding out the action in Italy for our ladies. Alex Chidiac

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started and played the full game for Cornwall as they defeated Genoa

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1 nil. She signed off from club football as her side

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sits five points from the European places. Winona Heatley started and

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played the full game helping Roma to their clean sheet and one nil

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victory over Inter Milan. Roma is now six points clear

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in the league but will be without their defensive linchpin for the next

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couple of weeks. Let's hope they can cope without her. Now to a couple of

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ladies who missed out on the Matilda squad. Jacinta Galabataracci

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played 17 minutes of Sussuolo's 32 defeat to Fiorentina.

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Jessica Nash was on the bench but got no minutes in that

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one. Now to our men in action abroad and

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let's start in the championship where Daniel Benny got 11 minutes off the

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bench for QPR and scored an absolute stunner which helped his side to a

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31 victory over Hull. And in another positive note, Jaylen Pearman

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was on the bench for QPR which was time in a very long time.

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Mohamed Ture played 71 minutes and grabbed an assist as Norwich lost

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21 to Birmingham. He was unlucky not to score as he had five shots on

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goal and more importantly couldn't make it three weeks in a row as the men's

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player of the week. I'm sure you will get back there Mohamed in no

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time. Riley McGree came off the bench in the 60th minute as Middlesbrough

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drew nil all with Oxford United. Nestery Irancunda returned for

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Watford after his suspension and played 68 minutes in a two

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nil win over Callum Elders Derby County. Elder played 62

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minutes for county in that one. Cameron Burgess played a full game

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for Swansea helping his side to keep a clean sheet in a one nil win

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over Bristol City. Adrian Sega Chic came on in the 70th minute

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for Portsmouth in a 31 win over third placed Millwall now

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dropping down a division to League One and Alex Robertson played 65

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minutes for Cardiff City in midweek as his side had a 41

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win over AFC Wimbledon at the weekend. He'd then played a full game

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for Cardiff City in their 52 loss to Plymouth Argyll

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Joe Gauchi started and played the full game in goal for Portvale in midweek

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as his side went down in a 21 loss to Stevenage. He then played

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another full game in goal for Portvale at the weekend as they drew one

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all with Reading and in some unfortunate news Rafael Borghes

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Rodriguez was substituted just before halftime for Wigan athletic in a

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10 win over Luton Town in Midway. He picked up an injury and could not

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continue but there no further news from his club Wigan at this stage

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but we will keep you posted as those right back options dwindle by

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the week for the Socceroos. Now to Scotland where Nicholas

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Milanovic started and played the first half of Aberdeen's two nil

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victory over Motherwell in the Scottish cup in midweek. However the game

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was marred by some questionable VAR calls, one of which was to send Aussie

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midfielder Oscar Priestman off. After just two minutes of the game he

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slipped and made a challenge on one of the Aberdeen players and that was

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enough for a VAR review and to send him off. Incredible stuff. In total there

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were three red cards in this one. John Kadumbras was not in the matchday

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squad for Motherwell in that game. At the weekend Motherwell thumped

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St Mirren 50 in Scottish League action. Priestman bounced back from

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his red card playing the whole game for Motherwell whilst Keanu Backus made his return

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from injury coming on at halftime for St Mirren. Katrumus was not in

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the matchday squad for Motherwell and it is a handful of games he has missed.

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Now there's no injury news on him so not quite sure what is happening with

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that. I'll follow it up and find out if there is any more

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news on that in next week's show. Ryan Strain played a

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full game for Dundee United in their 21 win over Spartans

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in the Scottish cup in midweek. Fellow Aussies and teammates Ashley

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Maynard Brewer started and played the full game in goal while Sack Sapsford

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came off the bench in the 56th minute minute. Ryan Strang came on

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in the 37th minute for Dundee United as they returned to Scottish Premier

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League action at the weekend in a one all draw with Kilmarnock Ashley

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Maynard Brewer started and played the full game in goal while Sack Sapsford

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got 19 minutes as a substitute. Martin Boyle played 60 minutes

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whilst Jack Idaho played a full game for Hibernian in

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a 21 win over Celtic. Ante Suto was

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subbed on for Boyle and provided the desired impact,

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providing an assistant for the winning goal for his side in a

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giant killing effort and to the chagrin of Hibbs

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supporters, actually helping out Hearts to stay top of the league there.

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Rounding out the action In Scotland, Ryan McGowan played a full game

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for Livingston in a two all draw with Rangers which helps Hartz

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maintain their spot at the top of the table as well.

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Now to Germany where Jackson Irvine played 80 minutes

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for St. Pauli in a 21 win over Vurder Bremen in a

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six pointer relegation battle. An important win for St.

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Paoli there to keep their survival hopes alive and to

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suck Werder Bremen into that fight. Now to Spain where Matt Ryan started

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and played the full game in goal for lavante in a 1 nil loss to

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Villarreal in midweek. He then backed it up by playing another full

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game in goal for his side, this time in a 30 loss to Barcelona

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at the weekend. Believe it or not, even though it was a 30 loss,

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it could have been a lot worse if it wasn't for our soccero's captain.

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He made an incredible double save to prevent it from going to 4

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0. Now dropping down to the second division in Spain where

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Alamabil played 58 minutes for Castiglion in a 10

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draw with Las Palmas. Now to Croatia where Fran Karasic played

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a full game for NK Osjek in a 31 loss to one

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of his former sides, NK Loka Motiva. Now to the Netherlands

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where Arun Krustic played a full game for Heracles Alamello

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in a heavy 40 loss to the Go Ahead Eagles Reece

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Bozanowski played the first half alongside Krustic

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in midfield. Max Ballard played 84 minutes for NAC

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Breda in a 10 win over FC Voldendam.

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Now to Austria where Jacob Italiano played 89 minutes for

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Glazer AKA in their 1 nil lost to Hartberg.

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Jed Drew came on at halftime for his side Hartberg

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helping them to victory over his fellow Australian. Now to Denmark where Paul

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Itzo played a full game in goal for Randers FC in a 21 loss

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to FC Federicia. Musatur came off the

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bench to get 22 minutes for Randers. Now to check out where

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Garon Qual came on in the 74th minute for Spassa Prague in

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their one all draw with FC Victoria Plesio.

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Now let's head to the USA where the MLS

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kicked off but before we get there so did the CONCACAF Champions

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Cup. Patrick Yazbek played 27 minutes as his side Nashville

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defeated Atletico Ottawa 2 nil at the weekend as

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the MLS started. Nashville also began their season with a

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strong 41 victory over New England Revolution. Gazbek started

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and played 72 minutes in midfield for his side. There there now

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to Lucas Harrington, a new recruit to the mls. He started and

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played the full game for Colorado Rapids in their two nil loss to the Seattle

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Sounders. The defender justified his manager's decision to play him

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ahead of ex Arsenal defender Rob holding with 13 defensive

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contributions and completing 89 of 92 passes. What an

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incredible debut for Lucas there. Ky Truwan and Adrian O' Neill both started

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in midfield for New York City FC in their 1 all draw with LA

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Galaxy. Truan played 87 minutes whilst O' Neill got

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73 minutes in that one. Alex Bonatig started

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and played 84 minutes for Portland Timbers in their 32 win

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over Columbus Crew. Ariaf Piol started and

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played 84 minutes for Real Salt Lake in their 1

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nil loss to Vancouver Whitecaps. Whilst he won all five

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of his duels, he missed a one on one chance against the Whitecaps keeper and

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will no doubt be wanting to make up for that in next week's game.

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Rounding out the action in the MLS with Ky Rolls who

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played a full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet in D.C.

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united's 1 nil win over Philadelphia Union. Now to

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round out the weekly wrap with our men in Japan where Kasuni Yengi came on

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in the 74th minute for Serizo Osaka in a 21 loss to San

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Francis Hiroshima. Jason Guerrier played a full game and

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scored for Albert niigata in a 30 win over Kamatamare

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Sanoki. All right, that is it for the weekly wrap. Next up,

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Players of the Week and I'll wrap up this week's episode.

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It is Players of the Week time and our

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Women's Player of the Week signed off before joining the

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Matildas in style. It's Hayley Rasso. She came on as

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a halftime substitute for Eintracht Frankfurt and scored after six

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minutes of being on the pitch to help her side win 32 in the

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second leg of the Europa cup tie against FC Nordschland.

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Her side progresses to the next stage, but this was the

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last game for Raso before she departed to that Asian cup and

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no doubt they will miss her goal scoring abilities. Now to our Men's

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Player of the Week. It is Jordan Boss who played the first

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half and assisted twice for Feyenoord as they defeated Telstar 2.

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1. He played as a left winger in this one, which is interesting

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to know and it certainly helped with his ability to create for

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his teammates. No doubt Tony Popovich will have had the notebook out and

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potentially will be thinking if Jordan Boss should

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be moved further up the field for the Socceroos. All right,

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well, that is it for another week of the Aussie football passport. I hope you

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enjoyed this episode. If you can share the show with anyone, it would be greatly

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appreciated. Also be bringing you a preview show for the Matilda's

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Asian cup campaign, so stay tuned for that one. I can't wait to

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bring it to you. And I'll also be doing a weekly

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recap of the Matilda's performances and

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results from around the ground of the Asian cup over the

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next three weeks. As the Asian cup is here in

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Australia. Don't Forget that the first game is on Sunday the

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1st of March where Australia are taking on the Philippines in

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Perth. Check your local guides as to what time that kicks off as well.

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Just with the time differences around the country, of course, they're very

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important to note. All right, thanks for listening. I'll catch you in the next episode.

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It's goodbye for now,