Rosemeadow's Alanna Kennedy eyes off World Cup dream

Rosemeadow's Alanna Kennedy hopes to secure soccer's ultimate prize in the coming months.

The 24-year-old was today named in the Australian Matildas squad for the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Alanna was included in a 23-player squad for the tournament, which kicks off on June 7 and runs for a month.

Alanna is currently based in the US, playing for Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League.

She told the Advertiser that she was grateful to get the World Cup call-up.

"I was sitting at home [in Orlando] when I got the news," Alanna said.

"It wasn't a shock, but I am happy to get the opportunity to play in the World Cup."

Alanna - who has played more than 70 games for Australia - said the Matildas squad would meet up in Turkey next week for a pre-tournament training camp.

"We are going to be based where the Socceroos [men's team] prepared for their last World Cup," she said.

"We will then play a final game against the Netherlands before the World Cup begins."

It is the second time that Alanna will take part in a World Cup.

The experienced defender played all five games in Australia's 2015 campaign in Canada. The Matildas finished second in their group before falling to Japan in a quarter-final.

Alanna Kennedy of Australia clears the ball from in front of goal during a match against Brazil in 2017. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP


Alanna said she learned a lot from her 2015 World Cup experience.

"I was a bit younger and inexperienced last time," she said.

"I've grown a lot over the past four years. Playing in the US league has given me a lot of experience.

Alanna said the Matildas felt confident of their chances in the World Cup.

"We've come so far as a collective in those last four years," she said.

"We have worked on our consistency and depth of our squad.

"We are a 90-minute team now and are a real contender. We believe we can beat anyone.

"The World Cup is obviously the pinnacle of our sport. It means so much to me to represent my country.

"We will have all of Australia behind us."

We [Matildas] believe we can beat anyone.

Alanna Kennedy

Alanna said became interested in soccer from a tender age and said she always wanted to play for her country.

"I've been lucky in my career, it's been my only dream [to represent Australia] - I had no real plan B," she said.

"I've rode the wave of being a female footballer, but it's been a pretty smooth journey overall."

Alanna's mum Stephanie Kennedy said it was "very exciting" to see her daughter called up for the World Cup.

"We are very proud," she said.

"Alanna is in the core group of the Matildas and she is a key central defender, so we expect she will get a reasonable amount of game time."

Stephanie said Alanna had played soccer for close to 20 years.

"Alanna started playing for the Campbelltown Cobras when she was about four years old," she said.

"When she was 10, she started playing for the Macarthur Rams. Her brother did the same.

"From the time she was born, Alanna was always going towards football."