This week we look at some more of the recently announced 2019 France Women's World Cup rosters, including Australia, Brazil, Chile, Scotland and Sweden. We also have news about a young Canadian international heading to France for the World Cup and for staying for her domestic football, look at the results of two recent Canadian internationals—one against fellow Women's World Cup Finalist Spain—and present their final squad for next month's Women's World Cup Finals.

Australia women's national team names 23 for France—Kyah Simon is an alternate

Matilda's head coach Ante Milicic named his 23 player squad for France on May 13. The squad combined has 1,276 caps and 175 goals, with three heading for their fourth Women's World Cup: Lisa De Vanna, Clare Polkinghorne, and Lydia Williams. Six will be participating in their third FIFA senior finals: Sam Kerr, Laura Alleway, Caitlin Foord, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, and Tameka Yallop (Butt). Milicic said: "This is a special group of Australian footballers because, as a unit, they have accumulated a wealth of international experience despite the average age of the team being quite young. Having players that have appeared at multiple FIFA Women's World Cups in our squad will help to guide the eight players traveling to their first Women's World Cup, and I believe we will have genuine competition for starting positions across all areas of the pitch."The team will train in Turkey and has one last friendly against the Netherlands on June 1 in Eindhoven's Philips Stadium—where the electronics giant is based. The Westfield Matildas will be captained by Sam Kerr, with Steph Catley serving as vice-captain.

Two additional players – Kyah Simon (Houston Dash), who scored against Brazil in the 2015 WWC Round of 16 1-0 victory over Brazil, and 17-year-old Kyra Cooney-Cross (Melbourne Victory) – will join the Matildas in Europe prior to the tournament on standby.

Of the 23 players selected, 13 are based in the States, one in college at UCLA and 12 with NWSL sides, with three each coming from Seattle and Portland, two each from Orlando and Washington, one from Houston and Chicago. One squad member is from Spain, one from Norway and eight are with domestic clubs.

Westfield Matildas Squad | FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™

Mary Fowler is a 16 year old rising star who has selected her native Australia over her ancestral home of the Republic of Ireland; Milicic's decision to take her to France essentially shoved Simon—struggling with injuries the past 18 months—into the reserve pool. Another player missing out was Alex Chidiac (20), who played largely as a reserve for Spanish champions Atletico Madrid this year with 3 goals in 19 league appearances, after moving from Adelaide United after the 2017/18 season.

A word about the selection of Aivi Luik, who is on her first world tournament finals team. This reporter first met Luik—who played in 26 matches in her first season in Spain with Levante, which finished third in the 2018-19 Primera Division Femenina—over 10 years ago when she was going to college in the U.S. and playing as a midfielder/defender for FC Indiana of the WPSL-W-League. Luik was in so many ways symbolic of what FC Indiana represented, a club which tried to keep professional women's soccer standards alive, in particular during the years between WUSA and WPS. She played centrally in defense when FC Indiana defeated New Zealand's national team 1-0 just before the Football Ferns traveled to China for the 2007 Women's World Cup, though she was struggling with full fitness, because the team only had 12 players for the high profile end of season friendly match. Luik narrowly missed out on a 2011 WWC and 2015 WWC spot as well as for an Olympic Games spot. She told the Sydney Morning Herald recently: "I hadn't lost all hope, because otherwise I would not still be playing. But after the first two World Cup disappointments I just let things come. I still worked hard, I still wanted it, but I just took every day as it came ... so for me the Asian Cup [last season] was a blessing, and every other thing since then has been a blessing, and then to get the call-up was absolutely incredible." Luik has played in the Ukraine, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England, Iceland, Canada, the U.S., at home in the W-League—winning 4 titles—and now in Spain this past season with Levante. She told this reporter over a year ago that Spain was a dream destination for her, in part because as she got older, it was harder on her legs to play on the artificial fields which are so common in Scandinavia. Luik is a genuine and sincere individual, dedicated to her sport and deserving of this trip; having taken a risk to go to Spain as a 34 year old; it shows that good things can happen later in one's career.

Brazil coach Vadao takes seven home-based players to France

Brazil coach Vadao has selected his 23 player squad for France, including four in Spain, and four in the U.S. with NWSL sides, two in France, two in Portugal, one in each of Denmark, Germany, Italy and Korea Republic while seven are based with clubs in Brazil. Australia and Brazil are drawn into the same group along with Jamaica and Italy.

Brazil Squad for 2019 Women's World Cup:

Golkeepers:

Aline – UD Granadilla Tenerife (Spain)
Bárbara – Avaí/Kindermann (Brasil)
Letícia – Corinthians (Brasil)

Defenders:

Camila – Orlando Pride (U.S.A.)
Érika – Corinthians (Brasil)
Fabiana – Internacional (Brasil)
Kathellen – FC Bordeaux (Françe)
Letícia – Sportclub Sand (Germany)
Mônica – Corinthians (Brasil)
Tamires – Fortuna Hjorring (Denmark)
Tayla – Benfica (Portugal)

Midfielders:

Adriana – Corinthians (Brasil)
Andressinha – Portland Thorns (U.S.A.)
Formiga – Paris St Germain (Françe)
Thaisa – Milan (Itály)

Forwards:

Andressa Alves – Barcelona (Spain)
Bia Zaneratto – Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels (Korea Republic)
Cristiane – São Paulo (Brasil)
Debinha – North Carolina Courage (U.S.A.)
Geyse – Benfica (Portugal)
Ludmila – Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
Marta – Orlando Pride (U.S.A.)
Raquel – Sporting Club Huelva (Spain)

Chile Names 23 for France

Head Coach Jose Letelier has named his 23 players for Chile's debut at a Women's World Cup Finals next month, with nine in Spain, two in Brazil, one in France, one in the Czech Republic and the other 10 based with clubs at home.

Goalkeepers
Christiane Endler - PSG Féminines (Francia)
Natalia Campos - Universidad Católica
Ryan Torrero - FFCh

Defenders
Rocío Soto - Zaragoza CFF (España)
Su Helen Galaz -Zaragoza CFF (España)
Camila Sáez - Rayo Vallecano (España)
Carla Guerrero - Rayo Vallecano (España)
Javiera Toro - Santiago Morning
Valentina Díaz - Colo Colo

Midfielders
Karen Araya - Sevilla FC (España)
Claudia Soto - Santos (Brasil)
Francisca Lara - Sevilla FC (España)
Ana Gutiérrez - CFF Cáceres (España)
Yessenia López - Colo Colo
Elisa Durán - Colo Colo
Daniela Pardo - Santiago Morning

Forwards
Yanara Aedo - Valencia CF (España)
Yessenia Huenteo - CFF Cáceres (España)
María Jose Rojas - Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)
María José Urrutia - Associaçião Esportiva 3B Amazónia (Brasil)
Rosario Balmaceda - Colo Colo
Daniela Zamora - Universidad de Chile
Javiera Grez - Curico Unido

Shelley Kerr selects Scotland's side with France—which includes Kim Little

Head Coach Shelley Kerr named her final Scotland WWC side for their debut appearance at the world tournament with twelve based in England, two in Sweden, one in the U.S. with NWSL, one in Italy and seven at home in Scotland. Kerr explained that no player was selected on 'emotion or sentiment.' She added however that: "Jo Love's selection is a nice story as she receivedher first cap in 2002 and 17 years later she's going to a World Cup. That's what dreams are made of." Kerr herself is a former Scottish international player and leads the team to its first ever Women's World Cup Finals, which will play England in a much awaited first round match. All 23 players were part of the squad that drew with Chile and beat Brazil in Spain last month, with the exception of Fiorentina striker Lana Clelland. Utah Royals defender Rachel Corsie will be captain, with Arsenal midfielder Kim Little—returning from injury that threatened her World Cup dream—as her deputy.

Kerr used 35 players during the qualification campaign and personally called those who did not make the cut as well as those who did. One surprise omission was defender Emma Mitchell, who scored for English champions Arsenal the previous weekend and will miss out on second major tournament after the 2017 UEFA Championships.

Scotland Squad for 2019 France Women's World Cup

Goalkeepers

Lee Alexander (Glasgow City)
Jenna Fife (Hibernian)
Shannon Lynn (Vittsjö GIK—Sweden)

Defenders

Chloe Arthur (Birmingham City—England)
Jennifer Beattie (Manchester City—England)
Rachel Corsie (Utah Royals—U.S.)
Nicola Docherty (Glasgow City)
Sophie Howard (Reading—England)
Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City)
Joelle Murray (Hibernian)
Kirsty Smith (Manchester Utd—England)

Midfielders

Lizzie Arnot (Manchester Utd—England)
Leanne Crichton (Glasgow City)
Kim Little (Arsenal—England)
Jo Love (Glasgow City)
Christie Murray (Liverpool—England)
Caroline Weir (Manchester City—England)

Forwards

Fiona Brown (FC Rosengård—Sweden)
Lana Clelland (Fiorentina—Italy)
Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea—England)
Claire Emslie (Manchester City—England)
Lisa Evans (Arsenal—England)
Jane Ross (West Ham United—England)

Sweden includes 14 Damallsvenskan-based players in Women's World Cup side

For Sweden, of the 23 bound for the Women's World Cup in France next month, three are based in England (all with Chelsea), three play in Germany and two in France, with the other 14 based in Sweden—four in Linkopings, four in Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC, three with Rosengard, and one each with Vaxjo DFF, 2018 Champions Pitea IF DFF and Djurgardens IF FF.

Sweden's 2019 Women's World Cup Side

Jennifer Falk—Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC

Hedvig Lindahl—Chelsea FC (England)

Zecira Musovic—FC Rosengard

Jonna Andersson—Chelsea FC (England)

Nathalie Bjorn—FC Rosengard

Magdalena Eriksson—Chelsea FC (England)

Nilla Fischer—VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)

Hanna Glas—Paris Saint-Germain FC (France)

Amanda Hestedt—1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (Germany)

Linda Sembrant—Montpellier Herault SC (France)

Anna Anvegard—Vaxjo DFF

Kosovare Asllani—Linkopings FC

Stina Blackstenius—Linkopings FC

Lina Hurtig—Linkopings FC

Sofia Jakobsson—Montpellier Herault SC (France)

Madelen Janogy—Pitea IF DFF

Mimmi Larsson—Linkopings FC

Julia Roddar—Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC

Fridolina Rolfo—FC Bayern Munich (Germany)

Elin Rubensson—Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC

Olivia Schough—Djurgardens IF FF

Caroline Seger—FC Rosengard

Julia Zigiotti Olme—Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC

Canada Update: Huitema joins PSG, Canada Defeats Mexico and Ties Spain in Friendlies and Final Roster is Announced

Jordyn Huitema, the young Canadian forward who played so well for the U-17's late last year at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay—scoring three times as captain to place tied for second among tournament goal scorers, as her team finished fourth after a 2-1 loss to surprising New Zealand in the Third Place Match—will be headed to France for the senior team and has signed a professional contract for next season with Paris Saint-Germain. In 2017, Huitema became the first Canadian to play for her country's U-17, U-20 and full national team within the same calendar year. Huitema, from Chilliwack, B.C. spent four years with Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX program in partnership with BC Soccer. Huitema said: "For me, Whitecaps FC opened up so many opportunities. They brought me in at a young age and put in so much time and effort with my development and my teammates development. It was just a great environment for any young kid. Even now, the club still shows a lot of support even though I have moved into a different environment. I always know that when I'm back they'll always welcome me with open arms." Huitema is the first women's graduate of the Whitecaps BMO Academy System to sign a professional contract directly out of secondary school.

Huitema played with PSG as a guest player during last summer's 2018 Women's International Champions Cup this past July. Last year Huitema was awarded Canada Soccer's 2018 Youth International Player of the Year award, after being named U-17 Player of the Year in 2017.

This is a big move for Huitema and mirrors what U.S. international Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns) did after high school to the same club. Huitema will have Canadian national teammate Ashley Lawrence (ex-West Virginia University) at PSG to assist in her transition.

In other Canadian national team news, Canada defeated Mexico 3-0 on May 18 in front of a crowd of 19,610 at BMO Field in central Toronto—the country's first purpose-built stadium for football that is now used by the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts (gridiron football) with goals by Jessie Fleming (UCLA), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns) and Adriana Leon (West Ham United). Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller said after the game: "A big thank you to the fans because they gave us exactly what we needed. That was a good performance. I think we showed the fans some great football. Hopefully that was something we gave to the crowd because they gave us a big roar back. It was exactly what we needed and wanted."

Captain Sinclair, with a goal and an assist, is now just four goals behind the all-time international goal-scoring record. She has four goals in seven international matches this year. While Sinclair scored her 181st career goal, Fleming scored her eighth career goal and Leon scored her 15th career goal. Stephanie Labbé, who has four clean sheets in four matches this year, posted her 28th career clean sheet. It was Canada's third win in a row and seventh match undefeated ahead of what will be Canada's seventh consecutive appearance at a Women's World Cup (out of eight editions). They then extended the streak on May 24 in Logrono in Spain with a 0-0 deadlock against Spain, who themselves are going to their second consecutive WWC, with Steph Labbe again getting the clean sheet.

After the Spain game, the full squad for France was announced to the media with 13 based in the States—9 in the NWSL and 4 with colleges—four in France, three in Sweden and 2 in England, with only one now playing at home, after Huitema's departure to PSG Quinn (ex-Duke University), who played one season in NWSL with Washington Spirit in 2018 and then departed for Paris F.C.

CANADA 2019 WWC SQUAD
1- GK- Stephanie Labbé | USA / NC Courage
2- FB- Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
3- CB- Kadeisha Buchanan | FRA / FCF Olympique Lyonnais
4- CB- Shelina Zadorsky | USA / Orlando Pride
5- CB- Rebecca Quinn | FRA / Paris FC
6- W- Deanne Rose | USA / University of Florida
7- M- Julia Grosso | USA / University of Texas at Austin
8- FB- Jayde Riviere | CAN / Ontario Super REX & Markham SC
9- F- Jordyn Huitema | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
10- FB- Ashley Lawrence | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
11- M- Desiree Scott | USA / Utah Royals FC
12- F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
13- M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Houston Dash
14- M- Gabrielle Carle | USA / Florida State University
15- W- Nichelle Prince | USA / Houston Dash
16- F- Janine Beckie | ENG / Manchester City FC
17- M- Jessie Fleming | USA / UCLA
18- GK- Kailen Sheridan | USA / Sky Blue FC
19- F- Adriana Leon | ENG / West Ham United FC
20- CB- Shannon Woeller | SWE / Eskilstuna United
21- GK- Sabrina D'Angelo | SWE / Vittsjö GIK
22- FB- Lindsay Agnew | USA / Houston Dash
23- F/FB- Jenna Hellstrom | SWE / KIF Örebro

Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey