ANRINESWAR, Pakistan (AP) Alyssah Varella is a fresh face to Australia’s national team.
The Australian Under-20 Women’s Footballer of the Year won the 2015 Women’s World Cup, the 2018 FIFA Women’s Player of the Tournament and the 2019 FIFA Women World Cup.
She has also been called into the Women’s Socceroos’ 2018 World Cup squad.
Varela has been named captain of Australia’s 2018 Women’s Under-21 side.
She is the first Australian player to lead the side since Australia captain Steph Catley in 2011.
She’s been anointed the national team’s most promising player after taking her maiden senior appearance on the international stage.
Australia’s next four games are against Brazil, South Korea, Colombia and Ukraine.
Alyssa and her coach, Katie Kew, made a late push for the World Cup spot, but it was not to be.
Australia’s women’s Under 21 team was eliminated in the quarterfinals in September.
She played a pivotal role in the U-21 team’s qualifying run.
