In this week's Asian Watch; Australia and Korea Republic have announced their final squads, and a Paris-bound Thailand are close to the doing the same, while Asako Takakura has reflected on the importance of last April's AFC Women's Asian Cup triumph in Jordan.

Unsurprisingly, UK-based stars Ji So-yun and captain Cho So-hyun both feature in the 23-strong contingent, which also features 10 players from Korean domestic champions Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels.

West Ham United's Cho is Korea Republic's most capped international, while Chelsea's Ji - with 53 international goals - is the country's all-time top scorer.

The striker's inclusion - which is set to make her Australia's youngest World Cup player - is among the biggest talking points in an otherwise richly-experienced 23-strong squad, which features 15 players to have previously appeared in the tournament and 12 with over 50 international caps.

The teenager's selection comes after four previous appearances for the Matildas - including a substitute appearance in their most recent outing against the United States - as well as seven goals in three matches in last month's 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship Qualifiers.

Headlined by France-based captain Saki Kumagai, the squad contains a balance of youth and experience, with a string of new faces called upon in addition to a reliable core of senior players.

The Asian champions can boast four players who have already lifted a world title on French soil, with victorious 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup quartet Moeka Minami, Asato Miyagawa, Riko Ueki and Jun Endo all earning selection.

They are joined by goalkeeper Chika Hirao, midfielder Hina Sugita and NTV Beleza pair Narumi Miura and Rikako Kobayasahi as players aged 22 or under, and with less than 10 international appearances.

Milicic, who took charge of Australia’s senior women’s national football team in February 2019 shortly before the inaugural Cup of Nations, will oversee Australia’s bid to qualify for Tokyo 2020 early next year, and, if successful, will guide the Matildas to the 12-nation tournament in Japan.

One of Milicic’s assistant coaches, Ivan Jolic, has also had his contract extended for the same period.

Having stormed to the tournament’s ultimate match in the past two editions of the global showpiece, Japan now have a chance of making history by becoming the first team to complete a treble at France 2019. It is a target in which Japan midfielder Yuka Momiki has her sights firmly fixed.

The duo is joined by Pernille Harder of Denmark, Lindsey Horan of the United States and Ada Hegerberg, Kumagai's Olympique Lyonnais teammate, who won the first ever Women's Ballon d'Or in 2018.

The publicly-voted award, which will be announced on May 22, has never been won by an Asian player since its inception in 2015, and this year's edition is the first time two Asian players have reached the top five.