This week, we focus on some recent national team friendlies within CONCACAF—we look at three games for the Americans, two for Canada, and two for Jamaica, including team rosters. We also feature the news this week that Jamaican international forward Khadija Shaw has just signed a three year deal with Manchester City, after two productive seasons at Bordeaux in France. We also look at Canadian international forward Cloe Lacasse, who has signed a new long-term contract at Benfica in Portugal.

We also look at a pair of recent internationals in Europe between Iceland and the Republic of Ireland, who both hope to break through to make their first ever Women's World Cup Finals in 2023. We feature Alfie Colville—a native of Australia and ex-Canberra United and Australian youth international—debuting with the Republic of Ireland after a season at Glasgow City in Scotland. We briefly update the reader on the score from the second game of the Matildas' tour to Scandinavia, which we featured last week.

U.S. sweeps Portugal, Jamaica and Nigeria in a trio of home friendlies

The U.S. prepared for the Olympic Games Finals this summer with the 2021 Women's National Team (WNT) Summer Series, playing matches against Portugal, Jamaica and Nigeria, all in the State of Texas. The U.S. has won Gold Medals in four of the six Olympic Games Finals Tournaments held to date and want to earn a fifth in Japan. They started their three games preparation—set to replicate the schedule and high humidity conditions that they will face in Japan—with a 1-0 defeat of Portugal in Houston, Texas on June 10. Sam Mewis scored the only goal in the 76th minute from a corner kick by Christen Press, who became the 14th player all-time to score 100 combined goals and assists. The U.S. dominated play with 26 shots to 4 for Portugal (10 vs. 1 for shots on goal) and corner kicks (15 vs. 1), while Portugal played a very strong game in defense.

The U.S. now has 10 wins in 10 games all-time against Portugal. The USA's unbeaten streak now stands at 40 matches, the third-longest in USNWT history, trailing only a 43-game unbeaten run from March 2012 to March 2014 and a 51-match unbeaten streak from Dec. 2004 to Sept. 2007. Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski is 18-0-1 in his first 19 games (two at the end of 2019, nine in 2020 and eight so far in 2021), setting a record for the best start for a head coach in USWNT history.

The U.S.-Portugal game attracted a nice crowd of 9,951 which included the first game of the doubleheader, with Jamaica defeating Nigeria 1-0. Houston Dash midfielder Deneisha Blackwood scored her eighth international goal in the 51st minute for the Reggae Girlz; Blackwood had earlier missed a penalty kick in the first half, which was saved by Nigerian goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi. Jamaica outshot Nigeria (12 vs. 8) and in shots on goal (8 vs. 4). The assist on the goal came from Florida State University's Jody Brown, who played in the College Cup Championship Game earlier this spring when FSU fell to Santa Clara on penalty kicks 4-1, after a 1-1 tie over 110 minutes. Brown (19) has been a known phenom for years and was 17 when she appeared in the 2019 Women's World Cup Finals in France. The Jamaica national team coach at the time, Hue Menzies, brought the Portmore, Jamaica-born player to Florida—where he runs an academy—to complete high school and receive better competition—it worked well as she won two state high school football titles. Brown undoubtedly will be highly sought after by professional clubs when she is done with her college career.

European teams were restricted to two matches during this June international window, which is why Portugal only played two games (and thus meant that Jamaica would not have a third opponent, either). The U.S. scheduled a third game in the Texas Capital city of Austin—a stand-alone against Nigeria. In addition U.S. Soccer also announced that, due to FIFA changing the June international match window to a two-match maximum instead of three, the Tournament of Nations will no longer be held. It was staged in 2017 and 2018. Australia won the first edition and the U.S. women the latter.

In the second round of games on June 13, the U.S. defeated fellow CONCACAF member Jamaica 4-0 in Houston in front of 8,737 fans. Carli Lloyd scored the second fastest goal in team history after just 23 seconds and became the side's oldest goal scorer at 38 years and 332 days old. Lindsey Horan scored from the penalty spot in the 7th minute and Marget Purce scored her second international goal in the 22nd minute for a 3-0 halftime advantage; Alex Morgan scored in second half injury time in the game. The U.S. dominated play with 19 shots to 3 for Jamaica (9 to 0 for shots on frame) and finished with a 72% vs. 28% possession gap. The USWNT improved to 4-0-0 all-time vs. Jamaica with a by a combined goals for/goals against margin of 26-0.

In the preliminary match, six goals flew into the net between Nigeria and Portugal, who ended the match deadlocked at 3-3 The Super Falcons fought back from 2-0 deficit after 34 minutes and then 3-1 early in the second half. Super Falcons goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi was again strong in the net as she had been against Jamaica; the Nigerians had their star striker and captain Asisat Oshoala back after recently winning the UEFA Women's Champions League (the first African women's player to do so) with Barcelona as well as the domestic championship and cup; Oshoala did not arrive in Texas until the day before the match due to travel logistics. Oshoala (26) has played in England for Liverpool and Arsenal and in China for Dailan Shide WFC; she has been named the African Women's Footballer of the Year on four occasions and was named the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year in 2015 after helping Arsenal capture the FA Cup.

Portugal first went ahead when defender Chidinma Okeke tried to head off Portugal forward Telma Encarnacao and inadvertently knocked the ball into her own net with Oluehi stranded in the 22nd minute. Carole Costa doubled Portugal's lead in the 33rd minute. Nigeria struck back when former U.S. youth international Toni Payne dribbled into the penalty; her attempt at a cross was blocked but fell to Nigerian midfielder Rita Chikwelu, who sent a cross into the middle of the box where Michelle Alozie—who plays for the Houston Dash Reserves—knocked the ball home. Early in the second half, Nigerian's substitute defender Onyinyechi Zogg's poor clearance attempt went straight to Jacinto, who then played Encarnacao behind the defense, who lobbed the ball over the onrushing Oluehi. Nigeria's fightback was led by their Spain based Primera Iberdrola stars, Oshoala of Barcelona and Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Feminino. Ajibade's cross was inadvertently steered into her own net by Portugal's Diana Gomes. Ajibade scored the final goal just before the game ended with an assist to Payne.

The U.S.'s third game on June 16 against Nigeria's Super Falcons was the first soccer game at the brand new, state-of-the-art Q2 Stadium in Austin, home of Major League Soccer's newest club, Austin FC, which began play in 2021. The match attracted a sellout crowd of 20,500. Austin FC was scheduled to play its first MLS match at home three days later. Christen Press scored in first half stoppage time and also assisted on Lynn Williams goal in second half stoppage time for a 2-0 win in a match with scoring attempts on both sides. The U.S. finished with 15 shots to Nigeria's 7 (6 vs. 1 for shots on goal). The U.S. is now 7-0-0 all-time against Nigeria.

U.S., Portugal, Jamaica and Nigeria Squad Details

For the U.S., forward Tobin Heath attended the camp as a training player as she continues her comeback from a knee injury. Midfielder Julie Ertz was ruled out of the Summer Series due to an MCL injury suffered while playing with the Chicago Red Stars in the first game of the new NWSL season. Two of the side were with French sides as well as two in England's Super League.

USWNT Training Camp Roster—2021 WNT Summer Series

Presented by AT&T 5G
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (8): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Abby Dahlkemper (Manchester City, ENG), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Kelley O'Hara (Washington Spirit), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyonnais, FRA), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
FORWARDS (6): Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Manchester United, ENG), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)

For Portugal, the FIFA ranked 29th women's national team in the world had primarily a home based roster, with 20 playing for clubs at home, one in England, one in France and one in the U.S.—forward Jessica Silva, who recently signed with Kansas City NWSL (see last month's story: The Week in Women's Football: Challenge Cup review; San Diego replaces Sacramento; Ovechkin joins Spirit ownership - Tribal Football). Sixteen of the players on the Portugal roster come from the top three clubs in the Portuguese First Division: seven from 2020-21 champions Benfica, six from Sporting Lisbon (who finished second by five points) and three from Sporting Braga (who finished third by seven points behind Sporting).

PORTUGAL ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Inês Pereira (Sporting Lisbon), 12-Bárbara Santos (Maritimo SC), 22-Rute Costa (Famalicão FC)

DEFENDERS (7): 2-Catarina Amado, (Benfica), 3-Alícia Correia, (Sporting Lisbon), 4-Sílvia Rebelo (Benfica), 5-Joana Marchão (Sporting Lisbon), 15-Carole Costa (Benfica), 17-Mariana Azevedo (Famalicão FC), 19-Diana Gomes (S.C. Braga)

MIDFIELDERS (8): 6-Andreia Jacinto (Sporting Lisbon), 8-Andreia Norton (S.C. Braga), 11-Tatiana Pinto (Sporting Lisbon), 13-Fátima Pinto (Sporting Lisbon), 14-Dolores Silva (S.C. Braga), 18-Beatriz Cameirão (Benfica), 20-Lúcia Alves (Benfica), 21-Andreia Faria (Benfica)

FORWARDS (5): 7-Francisca Nazareth (Benfica), 9-Melissa Gomes (Stade de Reims, FRA), 10-Jéssica Silva (Kansas City NWSL, USA), 16-Diana Silva (Aston Villa, ENG), 23-Telma Encarnação (Maritimo SC)

Khadija Shaw was not with Jamaica with the games but moved from Bordeaux to Manchester City

Jamaica was without their star forward Khadija "Bunny" Shaw (24), who led France's Division I Feminine in scoring this season with Bordeaux, scoring 22 goals in 20 games. Shaw played her college soccer at the University of Tennessee. Out-of-contract at Bordeaux, she just announced on June 17 that she had signed a three year contract with Manchester City of the WSL, who finished second to Chelsea by two points last season in the race for the league title. This is an important signing for City and a powerful message throughout the Caribbean of opportunities in Europe for top island nation players. She said about the move, "I've always watched the English game and it's something that I've always wanted to be a part of. The Barclays FA WSL is growing and developing tremendously, and I feel as though this is the perfect move for me."

Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby Jr. called in 23 players for the two-game set, with players representing six different countries – the USA, Scotland, England, Israel, Hungary, and Italy. Busby was born in Canada, went to college in the States and played internationally as a goalkeeper for Jamaica. He has been a longtime coach on the women's side with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders of the WPSL and is a tremendous resource (this reporter has talked to Busby on multiple occasions in the past) for the women's game in the U.S. and throughout CONCACAF; he has been Jamaica's women's coach since last year. Six players on Jamaica's roster currently play in the NWSL: Havana Solaun (North Carolina Courage), Sydney Schneider (Washington Spirit), Chinyelu Asher (Washington Spirit), Konya Plummer (Orlando Pride), Daneisha Blackwood (Houston Dash) and Cheyna Mathews (Racing Louisville).

Jamaica has five players playing college soccer in the USA, including Jody Brown, who helped Florida State to the NCAA Championship Game earlier in the spring, where she played alongside U.S. international Jaelin Howell, who won the Mac Hermann Trophy this year as college soccer's top player. Brown scored five goals for the Seminoles in the strange, COVID affected 2020-2021 college season, with many southern and eastern schools playing in the traditional fall and the others playing a condensed spring schedule followed by the delayed College Cup playoffs. Forward Mikayla Dayes also plays in the ACC with the University of Maryland, Gabrielle Gayle plays for South Alabama, midfielder McNamara plays at Ohio State and forward Sade Adamolekun plays for USC in Los Angeles.

JAMAICA DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Sydney Schneider (Washington Spirit, USA), 13-Rebecca Spencer (Tottenham Hotspurs FC, ENG), 23-Yazmeen Jamieson (Unattached)
DEFENDERS (6): 2-Chantelle Swaby (Glasgow Rangers FC, SCO), 5-Konya Plummer (Orlando Pride, USA), 11-Satara Murray (Austin Elite, USA), 12-Sashana Campbell (Maccabi Hedera, ISR), 16-Gabrielle Gayle (South Alabama University, USA), 17-Allyson Swaby (AS Roma, ITA)
MIDFIELDERS (8): 4-Vyan Sampson (Charlton Athletic, ENG), 6-Havana Solaun (North Carolina Courage, USA), 7-Chinyelu Asher (Washington Spirit, USA), 14-Deneisha Blackwood (Houston Dash, USA), 15-Tiffany Cameron (Ferencvaros FC, HUN), 18-Tierney Wiltshire (Maccabi Emek Hefer, ISR), 19-Drew Spence (Chelsea FC, ENG), 22-Peyton McNamara (Ohio State University, USA)
FORWARDS (6): 3-Mikayla Dayes (University of Maryland, USA), 8-Shania Hayles (Aston Villa FC, ENG), 9-Kayla McCoy (Glasgow Rangers FC, SCO), 10-Jody Brown (Florida State University, USA), 20-Cheyna Matthews (Racing Louisville FC, USA), 21-Sade Adamolekun (University of Southern California, USA)

Nigeria, ranked 38th in the world and first in the African Confederation rankings, brought in 26 players for Randy Waldrum squad. Waldrum, a native of Texas, coached the Houston Dash for three plus seasons after the side entering the NWSL for the 2014 season. Ten of the players were based with clubs in Nigeria, eight from clubs in Spain, five are based in the U.S.—but only one in the NWSL—and one each from Belarus, Finland and Switzerland

One of Waldrum's assistant coaches is well known to long-time followers of the women's game—Lauren Gregg was one of Tony DiCicco's two assistant coaches during the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup which the U.S. won and was the interim head coach for the USWNT for three games in 2000. She was also an assistant coach for the USA at the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, which the Americans also won in China.

NIGERIA DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3): Yewande Balogun (California Storm, USA), Sunday Etim (Abia Angels), Tochukwu Oluehi (CD Pozoalbense, ESP)
DEFENDERS (8): Blessing Demehin (Sunshine Queens FC), Onome Ebi (FC Minsk, BLR), Onyinechi Ibe (Bayelsa Queens FC), Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF, ESP), Akudo Ogbonna (Sunshine Queens FC), Glory Ogbonna (Edo Queens), Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA), Salome Zogg (FC Zurich Frauen, SUI)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, ESP), Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, ESP), Amanda Mbadi (Bayelsa Queens FC), Celine Ottah (Bayelsa Queens FC)
FORWARDS (11): Charity Adule (SD Edibars FC, ESP), Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, ESP), Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash Reserves, USA), Roosa Ariyo (Tikkyurilian Palloseura, FIN), Ebinemiere Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens FC), Obianujuwan Ikechukwu (River Angels), Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens), Ijeoma Okoronkwo (Houston Dash Reserves, USA), Ifeoma Onumonu (NJ/NY Gotham FC, USA), Francisca Ordega (Levante UD, ESP), Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, ESP)

Canada earns ties in Spain with the Czech Republic and Brazil

Canada Soccer's Women's National Team came away with ties against both the Czech Republic and Brazil in a pair of international friendly matches in Spain during the June 2021 FIFA international window. On June 11, Canada drew 0-0 with the Czech Republic in Cartagena, Spain in their first ever meeting. Canada WNT head coach Bev Priestman said, "We got the clean sheet and in the grand scheme of things this will push us on to the next match. If we want to change the color of the medal [from Bronze at the last two Olympic Games Finals] we've got to look after the ball more and we have to finish the chances. We had some good chances but we've got to convert. We want to turn the table on that Brazil result we had (at the SheBelieves Cup—a 2-0 loss on February 24 earlier this year). I think it will be a very exciting game and should feel like an Olympic Games fixture [with] that level of opposition, so I'm excited."

On June 14, Canada had another scoreless draw, this time against Brazil, and again in Spain, at the Estadio Caragonova in Murcia. Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan posted the clean sheet in her first international match since returning from injury. Priestman was happy with the effort, even though Canada failed to score again, "I thought it was a tremendous effort from those on the pitch. I thought they gave it absolutely everything and that we looked more dangerous, we took a step forward in that we just didn't score but I have to celebrate the clean sheet. The last three games we played Brazil, it's eight goals conceded, so we have taken a step forward; we were a difficult team to beat and I think we rattled them." Her thoughts were echoed by Canada and Tottenham Hotspur defender Shelina Zadorsky, who said, "I think anytime we play Brazil it is a physical battle. Their front line is incredibly powerful and good with the ball so I'm incredibly proud of our defensive performance. Front to back we pressed well, we read the triggers well and all-around I think to get a clean sheet against that Brazil side is really positive going into the Olympics. Bev has come in and reminded us that (defense) is a big part of our identity and we want to keep that because it's what wins tournaments." The concern is for the Olympics is no one has stepped up to take the scoring load off of Christine Sinclair, the all-time international goal scoring leader in international games—in men's or women's football. Canada needs to be potent in attack as well as firm in defense to advance to the semifinals again.

Before the trip, Bev Priestman said, "This camp will provide us with similar conditions to what we will face in an Olympics, with two very different opponents within a three-day window, so it is a great opportunity to see how we cope in those circumstances as well as in the heat. Another two games under our belt before the Tokyo Olympic Games is critical and again will provide another opportunity to assess players, test and develop player partnerships, and build on the work we have done to date. With more players in season now, I'm excited to see how players come in more and more ready for Tokyo and hope we can build on a successful April window."

The squad included goalkeepers Kailen Sheridan and Sabrina D'Angelo, forward Adriana Leon and fullback Bianca St-Georges, who are all coming back from injury.

CANADA Roster for June Friendlies in Spain
GK- Sabrina D'Angelo | SWE / Vittsjö GIK
GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / FC Rosengård
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Orlando Pride
GK- Kailen Sheridan | USA / NJ/NY Gotham FC
CB- Kadeisha Buchanan | FRA / FCF Olympique Lyonnais
CB- Vanessa Gilles | FRA / FC Girondins de Bordeaux
CB- Jade Rose | CAN / Super REX Ontario
CB- Shelina Zadorsky | ENG / Tottenham Hotspur
FB- Gabrielle Carle | USA / Florida State University
FB- Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
FB- Ashley Lawrence | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
FB- Jayde Riviere | USA / University of Michigan
FB- Bianca St-Georges | USA / Chicago Red Stars
M- Jessie Fleming | ENG / Chelsea FC
M- Julia Grosso | CAN / University of Texas at Austin
M- Jordyn Listro | USA / Kansas City NWSL
M- Quinn | USA / OL Reign
M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Houston Dash
M- Desiree Scott | USA / Kansas City NWSL
M- Sarah Stratigakis | USA / University of Michigan
F- Janine Beckie | ENG / Manchester City FC
F- Jordyn Huitema | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
F- Cloé Lacasse | POR / SL Benfica
F- Adriana Leon | ENG / West Ham United FC
F- Nichelle Prince | USA / Houston Dash
F- Deanne Rose | USA / University of Florida
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
F- Evelyne Viens | USA / NJ/NY Gotham FC

Cloe Lacasse Re-signs for Benfica in Portugal for Three More Years

A Canadian player to watch as a possible late addition to the Tokyo Olympic Games squad is Cloe Lacasse, who joined Benfica of Portugal in July 2019 after five successful years in Iceland at IBV. She just signed a new contract with Benfica through the 2023-24 season. She has helped the club to the 1 National Championship title in 2020-21, and has won 2 league cups and a super cup. She said about her new contract, "I am really excited. I was speaking with my family and they are super excited as well. I have been playing at the club for two years now and I am very excited with the future and what is ahead with this project; I happy to be part of it. I want to keep building a history of achievements at the club.…Getting called for Canada is an honor and [Benfica] had a huge part in doing so, because they put me on the global stage. I hope to continue growing, winning trophies, scoring goals and being called to represent the Canadian national team." Bev Priestman told this reporter just before the team left for Europe, that she was pleased with Lecasse's new contract and that Benfica has worked nicely for her development. A native of Ontario, she played collegiately at the University of Iowa. Unfortunately, Lacasse did not appear in either friendly in Spain and is still awaiting her first cap.

Cloe Lacasse in Benfica's stadium after re-signing a contract for three more seasons with the Portugese champions. Photo Courtesy: Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Iceland defeats the Republic of Ireland twice in Reykjavik

On June 11, Iceland defeated the Republic of Ireland 3-2 at home in Reykjavik in the first of two matches between the clubs during the June international window. Both nations have come close in recent years to a first ever Women's World Cup Finals and both should make a good run for a berth in the 2023 tournament in Australia/New Zealand. Iceland has made the last three out of four Women's EURO Finals, while the Republic of Ireland is still trying to achieve a first ever major finals berth, with their next chance for the Women's EURO coming in 2025, with the site expected to be selected in 2022 or 2023 at the latest. Iceland was up 2-0 by the 15 minute mark through goals by Agla María Albertsdóttir and Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir. With a strong wind to their advantage, Iceland scored their third goal when Dagný Brynjarsdóttir scored a before the halftime break. With the wind at Ireland's back in the second half, Heather Payne scored in the 50 minute for her first senior international goal and half-time substitute Amber Barrett scored a late goal.

Afterwards Republic of Ireland head coach Vera Pauw said: "You can never start the way that we did and everyone is aware of that. It's not that we are not aware of that, it's not that it has not been highlighted but because of the circumstances, it cost us a couple of goals and that cannot happen any more. During the first half we rearranged the midfield to stop more goals from going in, which helped, but at half-time we decided to have more pressure on the wings so we brought on Éabha (O'Mahony) so that Katie (McCabe) could go forward and that helped us. We need to be more clinical (in front of goal) but what I liked is that we put a lot of pressure forward, after the first half that we came through. We are capable of jumping up to that level and we will face these difficult circumstances again against Sweden and Finland [in the upcoming Women's World Cup Qualifiers] so it's good that we are experiencing it now and learning how to deal with it."

In the second game on June 15, the Irish fell to Iceland by a 2-0 scoreline. Iceland's goals came from Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir and Karolina Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir. Iceland came away with an excellent pair of results for Iceland ahead of WWC 2023 that begins UEFA qualifying this fall, with Iceland drawn against the 2017 champions Netherlands, improving Czech Republic, as well as Belarus and Cyprus.

For Ireland, they have to pull out of their present funk before they start UEFA Women's World Cup qualifying on the road against Georgia in September. Vera Pauw's team has lost seven games in a row and hasn't won in 15 months—scoring only 3 times and allowing 12 during those 7 losses. Vauw chose Iceland as they have to face fellow Nordic sides Sweden and Finland in their group, as well as Slovakia and Georgia. Vera Pauw definitely has a plan for the development of the game in Ireland, including playing practice games against men's teams. With neighbor Northern Ireland qualifying for next summer's EURO Women's Finals against all odds, Pauw will probably not survive a continued string of losses or a difficult start to the Women's World Cup qualifiers.

23 Player Republic of Ireland Squad

Two players earned international recalls and first call ups since Pauw took charge in September of 2019: midfielders Ciara Grant (15 caps) and Roma McLaughlin (5 caps). Grant has stood out for Shelbourne since resuming her SSE Airtricity Women's National League career last year after spending time to focus on becoming a Doctor. McLaughlin was recently selected to the Division 1 Women's Soccer All-America Third Team for the second successive year after helping Central Connecticut State University retain the NEC Women's Soccer Championship in the States.

One of the eight WNL players included in the squad is Shelbourne's Saoirse Noonan who had previously been named to provisional selections but will be part of the set-up for the first time. Injuries rule out goalkeeper Marie Hourihan (Braga of Portugal, after playing for a multitude of clubs in England where she was born, including Chelsea, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion ,along with the England U-23's), midfielders Ruesha Littlejohn (Birmingham City of the FA Super League) and Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths and 17-years old and a youth international), as well as forwards Leanne Kiernan (West Ham United in England), Kyra Carusa (HB Koge of Denmark, who is American-born and raised and was capped by the U.S. at the U-23 level before making her debut for the Irish last season), and Emily Whelan (Shelbourne). Meanwhile, Harriet Scott (Birmingham City and English born) and Julie-Ann Russell (Western Sydney Wanderers) are both unavailable.

For the Irish, eight were based at home, four with clubs in England, four from the States, two from Scotland, two from Germany, one from Italy while two were not currently with club sides.

Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Reading, ENG), Courtney Brosnan (Unattached), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Keeva Keenan (Celtic, SCO), Claire O'Riordan (MSV Duisburg, GER), Aoife Colvill (Glasgow City, SCO), Louise Quinn (Fiorentina, ITA), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage, U.S.), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool, ENG), Claire Walsh (Peamount United), Éabha O'Mahony (Cork City), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage, U.S.), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion, ENG), Ciara Grant (Shelbourne), Roma McLaughlin (Connecticut Fusion, U.S.), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Katie McCabe (Arsenal, ENG)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University, U.S.), Rianna Jarrett (Unattached), Amber Barrett (FC Koln, GER), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne).

Former Australian youth international Aoife Colvill debuts for the Republic of Ireland

For Ireland, Aoife Colvill (20) of Glasgow City made her international debut for the Republic of Ireland as a starter in the first Iceland match. Colville should be familiar to followers of the Australian Westfield W-League as she made nine appearances in three seasons for Canberra United from 2017/18 through the 2019/20 season. Born in Cairns, Queensland, Colvill grew up fully aware of her Irish roots, with a grandmother from Donegal, but her first introduction to international football was with Australia and she played in the 2019 AFC Under-19 Women's Championship qualifiers. She joined Glasgow City last season, leaving behind her International Relations studies at Sydney University, and scored 9 goals for the club to finish tied for fifth in the league in the race for the Golden Boot. City won the league title by three points over Celtic for their 14th consecutive Scottish Women's Premier League title and another spot in the Women's Champions League this fall. She said about being called into camp with the Irish, "It has been really good to get some international experience with the World Cup qualifiers coming up. It was good to come in and meet all of the girls and get a few games under our belt before those big games."

Iceland's 23 member squad included 10 players based with clubs at home—six with Breidablik, three with Valur and one with IBV—six from Sweden, two each from France and Germany, and one each from England, Norway and the U.S.:

Iceland Roster for Republic of Ireland June Friendlies

Player Club Caps/Goals

Sandra Sigurðardóttir | Valur | 35/0

Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir | KIF Örebro DFF (SWE) | 2/0

Auður Sveinbjörnsdóttir Scheving | ÍBV | 0/0

Hafrún Rakel Halldórsdóttir | Breiðablik | | 2/0

Elísa Viðarsdóttir | Valur | 39/0

Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir | FC Rosengard (SWE) | 91/6

Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir | Valerenga (NOR) | 35/0

Guðrún Arnardóttir | Djurgarden IF DFF (SWE) | 9/0

Kristín Dís Árnadóttir | Breiðablik | 0/0

Hallbera Guðný Gísladóttir | AIK (SWE) | 118/3

Áslaug Munda Gunnlaugsdóttir | Breiðablik | 4/0

Andrea Rán Hauksdóttir | Breiðablik | 11/2

Dagný Brynjarsdóttir | West Ham (ENG) | 90/29

Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir | Orlando Pride (U.S.) | 78/10

Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 12/2

Karitas Tómsdóttir | Breiðablik | 2/0

Berglind Rós Ágústsdóttir | KIF Örebro DFF (SWE) | 2/0

Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir | Bayern Munich (GER) | 6/2

Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir | Le Havre (FRA) | 50/6

Elín Metta Jensen | Valur | 56/16

Agla María Albertsdóttir | Breiðablik | 35/2

Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir | Kristianstads DFF (SWE) | 7/2

Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir | Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA) | 24/1

Quick Notes:

Matildas Come Away from Sweden with a 0-0 deadlock in their second European Friendly this month

Australia was able to stem the bleeding a bit from their three game losing skid in Europe since Tony Gustavsson (a native of Sweden) took charge of Australia's national team, with a 0-0 tie in Kalmar against difficult Sweden, as the home side is now unbeaten in their last 12 matches. Teagan Micah made her full Matilda debut in goal and looked strong in the shutout.

Last week we featured the Australian roster and their first match against Denmark for their Scandinavian series this month (see: The Week in Women's Football: Northern Ireland and Scotland clash; San Diego granted franchise; Matildas squad for Europe trip - Tribal Football).

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 yours copy today.

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey