Mary Fowler

Matildas coach Ante Milicic left some players broken-hearted and others ecstatic when he named his World Cup squad on Tuesday (May 14^th).

But according to The Sydney Morning Herald, Milicic says while focusing on Fowler's youth - she only turned 16 in February this year - might be understandable, it would be wrong.

She is, he insists, far more than a curio and has been chosen first and foremost because of her ability.

Fresh from scoring 10 goals in six games for the Young Matildas at the AFF Women's Championship, striker Mary Fowler will join the Australian set-up in America ahead of their friendly clashes with Brazil, the US and Japan.

The Cairns product has emerged from almost total obscurity to thrust herself into potential Women's World Cup calculations with a year to go until the showpiece tournament in France.

All other nations at the AFF Women's Championship fielded their full senior teams - except for Australia, who sent their under-20s.