Cowra player Ellie Carpenter can be one of Australia's biggest weapons when she makes her World Cup debut, according to Matildas great Heather Garriock.
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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.
"She's one of the rising stars of the future and she has plenty of time to make it," Garriock said of Roestbakken.
"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."
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.
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Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
