Elise Kellond-Knight has been recognised as one of the world’s best footballers — and she will only improve.
The former Brisbane Roar midfielder and her Matildas teammate Lisa De Vanna were on Tuesday named in the FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star squad following their quarter-finals appearance in Canada.
For Kellond-Knight it was her second appearance in the honorary squad after her maiden selection four years ago in Germany.
It is scary to imagine how much more improvement lies in the 25-year-old after leaving behind her amateur status in the W-League to train and play as a professional with Bundesliga club FFC Turbine Potsdam.
“Your only focus is football here. And all the players are world class,” she said.
“It’s really what I needed to take a step forward.”
Kellond-Knight is training three times a day ahead of the new Bundesliga season starting on August 28.
Her two-year stint in Potsdam, near Berlin, means the little general will not return to the Roar for the 2015-16 season.
Kellond-Knight was central to Australia’s stunning round-of-16 upset of Brazil, after which she was named player of the match.
The World squad was made up of 23 players who impressed FIFA’s Technical Study Group experts during the June tournament.
Also included were five players from the winning US side, with Ballon D’or winner Carli Lloyd and Golden Glove Hope Solo obvious selections.
“It’s the kind of recognition you dream of,” Kellond-Knight said.
GOALKEEPERS: Nadine Angerer, Karen Bardsley, Hope Solo DEFENDERS:Saori Ariyoshi, Lucy Bronze, Kadeisha Buchanan, Steph Houghton, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Wendie Renard MIDFIELDERS AND FORWARDS:Ramona Bachmann, Lisa De Vanna, Amandine Henry, Elise Kellond-Knight, Eugenie Le Sommer, Carli Lloyd, Anja Mittag, Aya Miyama, Megan Rapinoe, Mizuho Sakaguchi, Celia Sasic, Elodie Thomis, Rumi Utsugi
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