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With the FIFA Women’s World Cup just around the corner, there is plenty for London City supporters to be excited about over the international break.
The Club has enjoyed a successful start to the season and finished its latest fixture block with an away win over Birmingham City on Sunday [12 February].
London City has an impressive international presence, with six first-team players selected for international duty this month.
We have complied all of the information you need to know to stay up-to-date for the week ahead, with insight from The Pride’s growing club of senior internationals below.
** All times listed in GMT **
Republic of Ireland: Hayley Nolan, Lily Agg, Kyra Carusa
The Girls in Green are in for a historic year, as they are set to participate in their first-ever World Cup.
Republic of Ireland head coach Vera Pauw has included three London City in her latest squad, with defender Hayley Nolan, midfielder Lily Agg, and forward Kyra Carusa available to their national team this month.
“It’s the first preparation camp of the year before the World Cup, so it’s imperative that we continue to learn about each other and develop how we play against World Cup-level opposition,” said Carusa of the Republic of Ireland’s warm weather camp in Spain.
“I’m excited – it feels like we’ve waited for this for a long time and now it’s finally happening. It settles your nerves a little bit because there’s plenty of time to invest and believe in the preparation. That’s the most important factor for these next six months [with the national team].”
Nolan added: “I’m always excited to play with the national team. I’m proud to represent my country and I can’t wait to be back around the team.”
With the Girls in Green set to make their World Cup debut later this year, the months ahead carry extra importance for their internationals.
“It’s no secret that this is probably the biggest year of my career,” Agg said in a recent press conference. “I hope that the next few months will be the most incredible of my life and I’m going to do everything I can to be the fittest I can be for Ireland and London City.”
Schedule:
China .vs. Republic of Ireland – Wednesday 22 February (13:00), Algeciras (ESP)
Scotland: Jamie-Lee Napier
Jamie-Lee Napier is back in the mix with Scotland – and the hype is real.
The 22-year-old forward has been in impressive form this season, with five assists in the Barclays Women’s Championship placing her tied for first in the competition, and was thrilled when Pedro Martínez Losa announced his squad.
“I’ve just been going about my business quietly and letting my football do the talking, as my last call-up was a few years ago,” the 22-year-old explained.
“I feel like I’ve been doing really well since I joined London City and I’m delighted that it’s been recognised and I’ve earned another selection. I can’t wait to get started again.”
With Scotland set to face Wales, Iceland, and the Philippines in the Pinatar Cup, Napier has three chances to earn her senior in this international window.
“I think now is the perfect time to get back into the squad, it feels like a fresh start,” added the Glasgow-born forward. “It feels like the ideal time for me to settle in, make my mark, and hopefully turn this into the first of many call-ups.
“I feel like I’ve started the season with London City really well, which is all credit to my teammates and the staff because they’ve encouraged me to play with real confidence and I feel like I’m thriving. It’s really good that I have the opportunity to do that with the national team too.”
Schedule:
Iceland .vs. Scotland – Wednesday 15 February (14:00), Pinatar Arena (ESP), BBC Sport
Scotland .vs. Philippines – Saturday 18 February (14:00), Pinatar Arena (ESP), BBC Sport
Scotland .vs. Wales – Tuesday 21 February (14:00), Pinatar Arena (ESP), BBC Sport
Jamaica: Atlanta Primus
The Reggae Girls also have the World Cup to think about.
Jamaica will face Brazil, France, and one of Chinese Taipei, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, or Panama in Group F, with plenty of work to do in the meantime.
Atlanta Primus is a mainstay in Lorne Donaldson’s squad and will likely play a prominent role in the Cup of Nations versus Spain, Australia, and the Czech Republic.
"We've decided the best way we can prepare our young players for future tournaments, to include the World Cup, is to give them significant minutes and let them experience everything about a game — and this is a good opportunity for them to do that," assistant coach Xavier Gilbert recently told the Jamaica Observer.
Schedule:
Spain .vs. Jamaica – Thursday 16 February (05:10), Central Coast Stadium (AUS)
Jamaica .vs. Czech Republic – Sunday 19 February (03:50), Central Coast Stadium (AUS)
Australia .vs. Jamaica – Wednesday 22 February (08:10), Central Coast Stadium (AUS)
New Zealand: Grace Neville
Grace Neville debuted for New Zealand last month and remains determined to win a place on Jitka Klimková’s World Cup roster.
When asked about her decision to represent the Football Ferns, the 22-year-old said: “My mum was actually born in New Zealand, so it was always an opportunity that I had in the back of my mind. Then, about a year ago, I decided to take the chance to play with the senior team as a training player… it’s a really exciting period of my career and hopefully a positive one.”
New Zealand’s preparations for a home-soil World Cup will intensify this week, with fixtures against Portugal and Argentina on the docket.
Schedule:
New Zealand .vs. Portugal – Friday 17 February (06:00), FMG Stadium (NZ)
New Zealand .vs. Argentina – Monday 20 February (06:00), FMG Stadium (NZ)
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