As the eve of the Paris Olympics games is now upon us, we prepare for a scintillating fortnight of football at the highest level as 12 nations gear up in the fight for gold.

Read below as The Halfway Line provides you with all twelve Olympic rosters en route to Paris.

Australia

The Matildas return to the Olympic Games once more, but this time without their captain and star-striker, Sam Kerr. Australia will battle a tough calibre of group opponents, as they prepare to face Germany, USA, and Zambia.

Read more about Australia’s quest for gold here.

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah

Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley (captain), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne

Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond (vice-captain), Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop

Forwards:  Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Cortnee Vine

Alternates: Lydia Williams, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin, Sharn Freier.

Brazil

Since Women’s Football has been introduced at the Olympics in 1996, the Brazilian women’s football team have qualified for every tournament.

Now turning their attention toward Paris, the nation bid farewell to one of the greatest legends of the women’s game- Marta.

Marta told fans in April that the Paris Olympics would be her final tournament, after announcing her imminent retirement from international football once the tournament concludes.

Read more about the Brazil side, here.

Goalkeepers: Lorena, Taina

Defenders: Tarciane, Rafaelle, Thais Ferreira, Antonia, Tamires, Yasmin

Midfielders: Yaya, Duda Sampaio, Ana Vitoria, Adriana

Forwards: Gabi Portilho, Adriana, Kerolin, Ludmila, Marta, Jhennifer, Gabi Nunes

Alternates: Luciana, Lauren, Angelina, Priscila

Canada

On the search to retain their gold medal feat from the Tokyo Olympics, Bev Priestman’s Canada side will be fighting with eager intent to find back-to-back victory at the Paris games.

Despite the defending champions now naming a squad rich with talent, Canada will be without Christine Sinclair for the first time since the beginning of her brilliant tenure. The nation’s top goalscorer with 190 goals and 54 assists across 331 appearances, Sinclair has officially bid farewell to international football.

Priestman’s Canadian squad gear up to take on their testing group opponents in Colombia, France, and New Zealand.

You can read more about the Canada squad here.

Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Kailen Sheridan

Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Gabrielle Carle, Vanessa Gilles, Ashley Lawrence, Jayde Riviere, Jade Rose

Midfielders: Simi Awujo, Jessie Fleming, Julia Grosso, Quinn

Forwards: Janine Beckie, Jordyn Huitema, Cloé Lacasse, Adriana Leon, Nichelle Prince, Evelyne Viens

Alternates: Desiree Scott, Lysianne Proulx, Shelina Zadorsky, Deanne Rose

Colombia

As Paris approaches, the Colombian squad will travel to the upcoming games with the goal to make it out of the group stage for the very first time. Searching to continue their driving momentum from an impressive campaign at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Marsiglia’s 18-player squad is rich with talent heading into a group with hosts France, New Zealand, and the reigning Champions in Canada.

Read more about the Colombia side here.

Goalkeepers: Catalina Perez, Katherine Tapia

Defenders: Carolina Arias, Daniela Caracas, Manuela Vanegas, Jorelyn Carabali, Daniela Arias, Yirleidis Minota, Angela Baron

Midfielders: Daniela Montoya, Leicy Santos, Marcela Restrepo, Liana Salazar, Ilana Izquierdo

Forwards: Catalina Usme, Linda Caicedo, Manuela Pavi, Mayra Ramirez

Alternates: Sandra Sepulveda, Lady Andrade, Wendy Bonilla, Maria Camila Reyes

France

Tournament hosts and searching to make a statement, France will be eager to capitalise on their home advantage to see out Hervé Renard’s final tournament in charge.

Drawn in Group A alongside Colombia, New Zealand, and Canada, many are expecting France to put in a clinical display against their upcoming opponents.

You can read more about the 18-player squad set to host the games, here.

Goalkeepers: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Constance Picaud

Defenders: Wendy Renard, Griedge Mbock Bathy, Sakina Karchaoui, Elisa De Almeida, Salma Bacha, Maelle Lakrar, Estelle Cascarino

Midfielders: Amandine Henry, Grace Geyoro, Kenza Dali, Sandie Toletti, Sandy Baltimore

Forwards: Eugenie Le Sommer, Kadidiatou Diani, Delphine Cascarino, Marie-Antoinette Katoto

Alternates: Eve Perisset, Lea Le Garrec, Vicki Becho, Solene Durand

Germany

Germany will be looking to improve on their recent fall of form on the international stage, after a disappointing campaign at the FIFA Women’s World Cup saw the nation fall out of the tournament in the group stages.

Horst Hrubesch selects an exciting pool of talent en route to France, though in a devastating turn of events, the Germans will be without vice-captain Lena Oberdorf after the midfielder sustained a ruptured ACL and MCL in a friendly fixture with Austria.

Read more about the 18-player squad setting off to France, here.

Goakeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger, Merle Forhms

Defenders: Sara Doorsoun, Giulia Gwinn, Marina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich, Sarai Linder, Bibiane Schulze Solano

Midfielders: Sydney Lohmann, Sjoeke Nüsken, Janina Minge, Elisa Senss

Forwards: Vivien Endemann, Jule Brand, Klara Buhl, Laura Freigang, Alexandra Popp, Lea Schüller

Alternates: Stina Johannes, Felicitas Rauch, Pia-Sophie Wolter, Nicole Anyomi

Japan

An exciting Japanese team will be looking to continue their impressive run of form at the Olympic Games, as Futoshi Ikeda names a dynamic roster for Paris.

Though Japan will face a very challenging run to commence proceedings, being drawn in a group alongside tournament mainstays in Brazil, an exciting Nigerian side, and the reigning World Champions, Spain.

Read more about the Japan side, here.

Goalkeepers: Ayaka Yamashita and Chika Hirao

Defenders: Saki Kumagai, Risa Shimizu, Moeka Minami, Hana Takahashi, Hikaru Kitagawa and Tōko Koga

Midfielders: Yui Hasegawa, Kiko Seike, Honoka Hayashi, Fuka Nagano, Hinata Miyazawa, Aoba Fujino and Momoko Tanikawa

Forwards: Mina Tanaka, Riko Ueki and Maika Hamano

Alternates: Syu Oba, Miyabi Moriya, Remina Chiba, Rion Ishikawa

New Zealand

Perhaps considered the underdogs in their group, New Zealand will be eager to challenge the tough opponents of Colombia, France, and Canada.

Michael Mayne will be hopeful that his side can challenge in a difficult group, as he selects a bright squad to compete for Aotearoa New Zealand.

You can read more about the New Zealand side, here.

Goalkeepers: Victoria Esson and Anna Leat

Defenders: Mackenzie Barry, CJ Bott, Katie Bowen, Ally Green, Meikayla Moore, Ali Riley, Rebekah Stott and Kate Taylor

Midfielders: Macey Fraser, Grace Jale, Katie Kitching, Malia Steinmetz

Forwards: Milly Clegg, Jacqui Hand, Gabi Rennie and Indiah-Paige Riley

Alternates: Claudia Bunge, Michaela Foster, Annalie Longo, and Murphy Sheaff

Nigeria

Having become the most decorated African side in women’s football, Nigeria will arrive at the forthcoming Olympic Games with much to prove. After what was a stellar campaign at the FIFA Women’s World Cup- having beaten the hosts Australia and falling to a narrow penalty shootout defeat to England- Nigeria will be once more looking to stir the pot amidst a group of tough challengers.

Nigeria will face Brazil, New Zealand, and Spain in the upcoming group stages, and are expected to have a large say in the swing of results with an armoury of exciting players.

Read more about the Nigeria squad, here.

Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi and Chiamaka Nnadozie

Defenders: Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Nicole Payne, Chidinma Okeke, Oluwatosin Demehin

Midfielders: Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini,Deborah Abiodun, Rasheedat Ajibade

Forwards: Esther Okoronkwo, Asistat Oshoala, Chinonyerem Macleans, Uchenna Kanu, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Ifeoma Onumonu

Alternates: Jumoke Alani, Gift Monday, Morufa Ademola, Regina Otu

Spain

The reigning World Champions gear up for another major tournament in the spotlight. After triumphing the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Spain will be eagerly searching to carry across their dominant form to the Paris Olympics.

You can read more about the Spain squad, here.

Goalkeepers: Cata Coll and Misa Rodríguez. 

Defenders: Laia Aleixandri, Ona Batlle, Olga Carmona, Laia Codina, Oihane Hernández and Irene Paredes. 

Midfielders: Teresa Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí, Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas and Jenni Hermoso. 

Forwards: Athenea del Castillo, Mariona Caldentey, Lucía García, Eva Navarro and Salma Paralluelo.

Alternates: Maria Méndez, Vicky López, Alba Redondo, Elene Lete

USA

Entering a new era under the management of Emma Hayes, the USWNT has faced some renovations as they head into the Olympic Games.

Squad mainstay and star-striker Alex Morgan has not retained her place inside of the squad, as Emma Hayes opts for a rotated roster to what we have all become used to seeing.

Catarina Macario withdraws from the squad due to a ‘minor knee concern’ whilst Lynn Williams now enters the main side. Emily Sams has been welcomed as an alternate.

Read more about the USA squad, here.

Goalkeepers: Casey Murphy, Alyssa Naeher

Defenders: Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett

Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle

Forwards: Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Lynn Williams

Alternates:Jane Campbell, Hal Hershfelt, Croix Bethune, Emily Sams

Zambia

In perhaps what is the surprise package of the tournament, Zambia arrive to challenge their tough group opponents in Australia, USA, and Germany.

It is an Olympic dream for the Copper Queens, and they should not be underestimated ahead of the action.

Read more about the Zambia side set for the games, here.

Goalkeepers: Catherine Musonda, Ngambo Musole

Defenders: Diana Banda, Lushomo Mweemba, Esther Siamfuko, Pauline Zulu, Martha Tembo, Esther Muchinga

Midfielders: Rhoda Chileshe, Misozi Zulu, Grace Chanda, Avell Chitundu, Prisca Chilufya, Hellen Chanda

Forwards: Ochumba Lubandji, Kabange Mupopo, Barbara Banda, Racheal Kundananji

Alternates: Eunice Sakala, Vast Phiri, Rachael Nachula, Mary Wilombe