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A COUNTRY girl who traded in her ballet shoes for soccer boots a decade ago is just days away from playing for Australia.
Monique Iannella is one of five Adelaide United W-League players included in the Young Matildas squad for next week's Asian Under-19 Championships qualifiers in Vietnam.
For Iannella, 18, her selection completes a journey which started as an eight year old at Gambier Centrals Soccer Club in Mount Gambier.
"I was waiting to go to ballet practice while my brother was at soccer training and I got asked to join in," says Iannella, a left-back who has never represented Australia at any level.
"I fell in love straight away and quit dancing for it.
