The 2024 A-Leagues All Stars Women game is an exhibition soccer match that is set to be played on 24 May 2024, featuring an all-star team of the A-League Women against Women's Super League club Arsenal at Marvel Stadium. It is the first edition of the A-Leagues All Stars Women game and the fourth of the A-Leagues All Stars Game.
 The event will take place at Marvel Stadium | |||||||
| Event | 2023–24 A-League Women | ||||||
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| Date | 24 May 2024 | ||||||
| Venue | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | ||||||
Background edit
In March 2024, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced three fixtures that would include the A-Leagues All Stars Game at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.[1] The inaugural A-Leagues All Stars Women team will play against Women's Super League club Arsenal, and is set to take place on 24 May 2024 after the men's game who will play Premier League club Newcastle United.[2] It will be the first time the Arsenal women side has played in Australia.[3] Newcastle would also play Tottenham Hotspur at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a friendly two days before the All Stars game.[4] The official kit partner was announced to be Kappa.[5]
Squad edit
The A-League All Stars Women squad will consist of 19 players, with a mandatory two goalkeepers included, and is to be selected by the coaching staff.[6] Alex Chidiac and Hannah Wilkinson were announced on 23 April 2024 as the first two players to be selected in the squad as voted by fans.[7][8] On 26 April, Joe Montemurro was announced as head coach,[9] with Kat Smith and Emily Husband as assistant coaches,[10] and Melissa Maizels appointed as goalkeeping coach.[11]
The All Stars Women squad was announced on 9 May.[12] Out of the 19 players that were selected, five were a part of the Australian squad in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup,[13] and four from Sydney FC that won the Grand Final on 4 May.[14] For the 2023–24 Arsenal squad, Australian internationals Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord were speculated to play in their native country for the match.[15]
A-Leagues All Stars Women squad edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Criticism edit
After the announcement of Montemurro, Lisa De Vanna criticised the decision to select a coach not employed in the A-League Women, suggesting that it is an "insult to all the coaches who have put in the effort and remained loyal" in Australia.[16] Former Central Coast Mariners player Daniel McBreen supported this notion, stating that an A-League Women coach should have been "honoured" with the role.[17]
Match edit
Details edit
References edit
- ^ "A-Leagues All stars is BACK in 2024: Everything you need to know". A-League. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Kidane, Benyam (19 March 2024). "Arsenal Women vs A-League All-Stars Women in Melbourne: Marvel Stadium to host friendly in May". Sporting News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Arsenal Women to play in Australia". Arsenal. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Tottenham, Newcastle and Arsenal to send teams to Melbourne for exhibition matches". ABC News. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "First FOUR A-League All Stars named as iconic Kappa playing kit unveiled". A-League. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "A-Leagues All Stars fan voting open NOW: How it works". A-League. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "First FOUR A-League All Stars named as iconic Kappa playing kit unveiled". A-League. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Kidane, Benyam (24 April 2024). "Nestory Irankunda headlines A-League All Stars as special edition Kappa kit unveiled". Sporting News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Guelas, Joanna (26 April 2024). "Montemurro can make Matildas case with All Stars stint". The Women's Game. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Hughes, Nicholas (26 April 2024). "Kat Smith helping create history with A-League All Stars Women". Western United. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Guelas, Joanna (26 April 2024). "Montemurro can make Matildas case with All Stars stint". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "FULL SQUAD: Introducing the first ever A-League All Stars Women team to take on Arsenal". A-Leagues. 9 May 2024.
- ^ Monteverde, Marco (9 May 2024). "A-League women's All-Stars squad to have healthy contingent of Matildas". news.com.au. NCA NewsWire. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Four Sky Blues Named In All Stars Squad". Sydney FC. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Rugari, Vince (16 February 2024). "North London united: Matildas trio could join Ange's homecoming trip". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Valencich, Glenn (26 April 2024). "Matildas at centre of 'insulting' move as feud reignites". Seven News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Monteverde, Marco (26 April 2024). "'Slap across the face': Matildas caught up in A-League All-Stars controversy". Fox Sports. NCA NewsWire. Retrieved 28 April 2024.