Add Category
Two years older, two years wiser.
Since their last Under-20 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign in Costa Rica in 2022, where they didn't make it past the group stage, a lot has happened to Australia's Young Matildas.
Most secured senior professional contracts across the A-League Women, with many become key players in their clubs over the past two seasons.
They watched from the stands in 2023 as their senior counterparts finished fourth in their home World Cup, beaming as they saw their own futures unfold before them.
And in March of this year, they became just the second Australian side ever to win a medal at the U20 Women's Asian Cup, securing third place for the first time since 2006.
The Young Matildas qualified for their fifth U-20 World Cup in March of this year. (Football Australia.)
Coached by Leah Blayney, herself a former Young Matilda and the first Australian woman to lead a national team to two World Cups, this is a team now trembling with possibility and potential.
As the senior Matildas begin their own generational transition, several of the players who will be taking part in this month's U-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia will be the ones who will inherit the jerseys and numbers that their idols will leave behind.
With another two years of games and growth under their belt, the group is poised to take the Matildas and Australian women's football forward into its next era.
So who are the players to keep an eye on as Australia contest the 2024 Under-20 FIFA Women's World Cup?
Naomi Thomas-Chinnama (Perth Glory)
Naomi Thomas-Chinnama will be a key defender for the Young Matildas in Colombia. (Getty Images: FIFA/Tim Nwachukwu)
Coming into her second Under-20 World Cup, the 20-year-old centre-back is one of the most experienced and mature players in the squad.
She was Australia's rock during their Asian Cup campaign earlier this year, and a stand-out as they came up against heavyweights Spain and Brazil at the 2022 World Cup in Costa Rica, playing every minute of these competitive matches.
Despite her age, Thomas-Chinnama already has over 40 senior club appearances with Melbourne City, with whom she won the most recent A-League Women Premiership. Now joining Perth Glory for a new adventure, the defender has a game style reminiscent of French legend Wendie Renard: calm, composed, and commanding in both boxes.
A terrific decision-maker, key distributor, and strong physical presence at the back, Thomas-Chinnama is a natural leader and will play a crucial role in the Young Matildas' progress in Colombia.
Alexia Apostolakis (Melbourne City)
Alexia Apostolakis burst onto the scene with the Western Sydney Wanderers. (Supplied)
Having debuted in the A-League Women when she was just 15 years old, the Young Matildas vice-captain has become one of the most vibrant and versatile defenders in the league.
Capable of playing at centre-back, full-back, and across the midfield, Apostolakis makes up for her unassuming frame with a ferocious ball-winning ability, which she complements with a surprising creative flair, ambitious distribution, and forward-thinking attacking instincts.
Like Thomas-Chinnama, Apostolakis comes into her second U-20 World Cup this month, right off the back of securing a big move to reigning Premiers Melbourne City following several seasons with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
With high-intensity games spread just three days apart in Colombia, the 18-year-old's shapeshifting qualities could be a particular asset as injury or fatigue begin to take their toll on a young squad that's played little football, either for club or country, in the past six months.
Lara Gooch (Newcastle Jets)
Lara Gooch (right) is one of the fastest players in the Young Matildas. (Getty Images: Scott Gardiner)
A lightning-quick winger who can play on either side, Lara Gooch burst onto the scene with the Newcastle Jets, scoring eight goals in 28 appearances over the past two seasons.
She was crucial in the Young Matildas' Asian Cup campaign, starting regularly and scoring the match-winner against South Korea in the semi-final to secure third place.
The attacker is deadly against a high defensive line, eating up open space in just a few strides, but she's also incredibly physical in one-on-one challenges, unafraid to use her body to burn or barrel past opponents brave enough to try and stop her.
With a counter-attacking, transitional style likely needed against some of the more ball-playing opposition in Colombia, Gooch's speed and deliveries from wide areas will be important in serving up goal-scoring opportunities for her more central team-mates, or even taking a crack herself.
Indiana Dos Santos (Sydney FC)
Indiana Dos Santos became the A-League Women's fifth-youngest goal-scorer this season at 15 years and 170 days. (Getty Images: Matt King)
It's been a massive twelve months for Indiana Dos Santos. After becoming the youngest ever Sydney FC player when she debuted at 15 years and 146 days, the midfielder added to those records by becoming their youngest ever goal-scorer and youngest player to appear in a grand final, all in the space of a single season.
But one season was enough to cement Dos Santos as one of Australia's most promising attackers. Now 16, she comes into her first U-20 World Cup as one of the squad's youngest members, following in the footsteps of her older sister Jynaya (18), who comes to Colombia for her second consecutive tournament.
Nicknamed "Indy," the younger Dos Santos' technical qualities with the ball at her feet, her balletic movement to dance around opponents one-on-one, and her impressive passing vision makes her one of the Young Matildas' most deadly central attacking weapons, capable of unlocking compact defences and causing havoc in front of any back-line.
Sasha Grove (Western United)
Sasha Grove is one of the country's most exciting young full-backs. (ABC News: Anthea Moodie)
Already with three seasons under her belt, having graduated from the Canberra United Academy to represent her hometown club's senior side and quickly becoming a fan favourite, full-back Sasha Grove will finally make her World Cup debut this month after becoming one of the most eye-catching young defenders in the A-League Women.
Her game awareness, tenacity, and bravery in individual duels have shades of Ellie Carpenter to them, while her quick-thinking reactions after winning the ball back often trigger her whole team's transition into a counter-attack with a single pacey dribble away from pressure.
Having secured a move to Western United for the upcoming season, the diminutive defender makes up for her short stature with her persistence, maturity, and "never say die" attitude: exactly the qualities that could put her in frame for a captain's armband one day.
Shay Hollman (Sydney FC)
Shay Hollman captained Australia's U-17s team to an historic AFF Championship win. (tty ImaeG)
After shadowing the likes of Teresa Polias, Clare Wheeler, Taylor Ray, and Sarah Hunter at Sydney FC, young midfielder Shay Hollman had a breakout season with the Sky Blues in their Championship-winning campaign last year, becoming a mainstay in the team's midfield and a crucial cog in their history-making machine.
Hollman, whose older brother also plays in the A-League Men, is a classic holding midfielder: calm, balanced, composed on the ball, and able to control the tempo of games almost single-handedly.
The 18-year-old rarely makes the wrong decision when passing out of pressure or breaking through lines, and has developed a defensive game awareness that gives her team an extra bit of security as she patrols the area in front of her centre-backs.
While this will be her major tournament debut with the U-20s, she comes into it having captained Australia's U-18s side when they won the ASEAN Football Federation's youth tournament back in 2022, and has the makings of another leader-by-example on the pitch.
Peta Trimis (Central Coast Mariners)
Peta Trimis can cause all sorts of havoc against any back-line in Colombia. (ytteG)
Teenage striker Peta Trimis didn't take long to make her mark in the A-League Women: earning her first professional contract last year with the returning Central Coast Mariners, after carving it up at National Premier League level, she became a regular game-changer as the Mariners stormed to the semi-finals.
Able to play across the front three, and with pace to burn, Trimis's finishing abilities have been on show for the U-20s over the past year. She scored the opening goal in icy conditions against South Korea in the group stage of last year's Asian Cup before adding to her tally against Uzbekistan, and was Australia's only goal-scorer in a loss to eventual silver medallists Japan.
Her performances throughout that tournament earned her a Future Star Player of the Tournament award nomination, where she was the youngest by two years compared to the three other players who made the short-list.
In a sign of her club's faith in her future, the Mariners have recently re-signed Trimis for a further two years, recognising her potential and knowing that clubs from elsewhere in the world will likely begin circling the 18-year-old with another impressive season under her belt.
Avaani Prakash (Western United)
Avaani Prakash could be the difference for the Young Matildas. (Getty Images: Jonathan DiMaggio)
Midfielder Avaani Prakash almost didn't make the Young Matildas squad for Colombia at all, but a last-minute injury to Emilia Murray saw the young Western United star called up to the side less than two weeks out from the tournament's start.
Having represented Australia at all age levels, Prakash was part of the team that won the AFF Championship in 2022. A quick-footed, delicate, tricky central attacker, she is most dangerous with the ball at her feet and time to thread a perfect pass.
Despite just ten appearances for Western United in the ALW last year, Prakash made enough of an impact to finish third in the club's fan group Player of the Season award, coming in behind Matildas veteran Chloe Logarzo and star USA striker Hannah Keane.
The 17-year-old's individual skills, passing vision, one-on-one trickery, and bravery when dribbling make her another attacking option for Leah Blayney's side, and potentially the impact player that could crack a must-win game right open.
Chloe Lincoln (Western United)
Chloe Lincoln is poised to be a future senior Matildas goalkeeper. (Supplied: Football Australia)
Widely regarded as Australia's best up-and-coming goalkeepers, 19-year-old Chloe Lincoln emerged onto the scene with Canberra United, making 39 appearances across three seasons.
Lincoln was crucial in the Young Matildas' Asian Cup campaign last year, with her distribution, aerial prowess, comfortable hands, and precise timing making her Australia's likely starting goalkeeper, inheriting the gloves from the impressive Sally James who steered the Young Matildas through their last World Cup.
In addition to her physical abilities, her communication from the back, leadership, and organisational skills at set pieces are also notable strengths, and will certainly come in handy the further the team progresses.
For the first time, 24 teams will contest this year's tournament, with the top two in each group and the four best third-placed sides going through to the knockouts: something the Young Matildas haven't achieved since 2004.
The Young Matildas begin their campaign tomorrow morning against Colombia.
Colombia v Australia
Date: Sunday, 1 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 9:00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia
Mexico v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 4 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 8:00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia
Australia v Cameroon
Date: Saturday, 7 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 11:00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia