Matildas captain named in FIFA Women’s All Stars

ASA: Matildas captain Cheryl Salisbury has been selected in the FIFA Women’s All Star Team to play world champions Germany in Paris next month. FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, announced the 18-player team overnight, a collection of some of the world’s biggest names who will feature in a major part of FIFA’s Centennial celebrations.

Defender Salisbury, from Newcastle, is the only Australian to have played in every women’s senior FIFA event for which Australia has qualified – the FIFA Women’s World Cups of 1995, 1999, and 2003, and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The 30-year-old is also Australia’s all-time female top international goalscorer with 28 goals to her name, and her 93 caps makes her our second-highest capped female.

Salisbury has played professionally, most recently for New York Power in the American WUSA, and for three seasons during the mid-1990s in Japan’s L-League.

“I’m very excited to be one of the players for the FIFA All Star Team, and to play alongside and against some of the best players in the world, all on one field,” said Salisbury. “I was also really excited to see my teammate from New York Power and World Cup player Shannon Boxx is in the side. It will be a fantastic opportunity to be part of such a monumental occasion celebrating FIFA’s Centennial.”

The FIFA Women’s All Star Team versus Germany match will kick off a magnificent showpiece of football on 20 May 2004 at the Stade de France in Paris. Their game will be followed by the men’s match between France and Brazil.

FIFA Women’s All Star Team –

Goalkeepers – Caroline Jonsson (SWE), Memunatu Sulemana (GHA).

Defenders – Cheryl Salisbury (AUS), Corinne Diacre (FRA), Charmaine Hooper (CAN), Daniela (BRA), Wang Liping (CHN), Marwa Ibrahim El Hawat (EGY).

Midfielders – Shannon Boxx (USA), Marta (BRA), Malin Mostrom (SWE), Stephanie Mugneret-Beghe (FRA), Homare Sawa (JPN), Naima El Awady (ALG).

Strikers – Victoria Svensson (SWE), Marinette Pichon (FRA), Mercy Akide (NGA), Abby Wambach (USA).

Coaches – Marika Domanski-Lyfors (SWE), Elisabeth Loisel (FRA).