As one of the co-hosts of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand will be looking to make a splash. Playing in front of a home crowd at a World Cup is a once in a lifetime experience, and the Football Ferns will be wanting to make the most of it. While their previous World Cup performances and their recent form don’t make for good reading, the benefit of a home crowd can never be understated. Coach Jitka Klimková has named a squad with a solid blend of experience and youth, who will all be eager to give the country a tournament to remember.
World Ranking: 26 (highest: 16)
World Cup Appearances: 1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019
Best Finish: Group Stage (2pts in 2015)
Team Nickname: Football Ferns
Previous World Cup Performances
The Football Ferns have never won a World Cup match. Their best performance came in 2015, when they drew with Canada and China to earn two points. New Zealand lost their first eight games at World Cups, before earning a last-gasp draw with Mexico in their final group game in 2011. Despite their lack of wins, Aotearoa have become mainstays at the World Cup, having qualified for every tournament since 2007. As co-hosts, the Football Ferns will be riding a wave of public support as they search for their elusive first win.
Recent Form
Aotearoa haven’t been in ideal form leading into the tournament. The Football Ferns are on a run that has seen them win just one of their last ten games. They will, however, take confidence in their win over their group rivals, the Philippines in September 2022. Their recent form will be concerning though, with issues at both ends of the pitch. Across the previous 10 matches, the Football Ferns have only scored 4 goals and conceded 25. It is worth noting a significant majority of the games under Jitka Klimková have come against higher ranked opposition. This may help New Zealand prepare for the games against Norway and Switzerland in particular.
Most of the World Cup hopefuls have spent nine weeks in camp since the conclusion of the A-League season. Only a few international-based players have joined recently. Across these nine weeks, Jitka Klimková will have had the opportunity to assess her squad and really drill into them a style of play. This was evident in their final warm up match against Vietnam, which saw them claim a 2-0 win. This was their first win in 10 matches, first clean sheet in 11, and they equaled the total number of goals they had scored in the last 10 matches combined. The Football Ferns were comprehensive in this win, dominating possession and shots. They looked sharp and will take great confidence from their performance.
Squad
The Football Ferns announced their squad on the 30th of June at Eden Park, the site of their opening clash against Norway. With a strong mix of experience and youth, Aotearoa will be hoping this is the squad to lead them to their first World Cup win and possibly out of the group. While most of the squad is as expected, there is one notable omission. Meikayla Moore, of Glasgow City, has been left out of the squad in favour of Liz Anton. With only three specialist fullbacks in the squad, it is likely Anton’s ability to play left-back gave her the edge over Moore.
The Ferns will be bolstered by the return of midfielders Ria Percival and Annalie Longo, after both suffered ACL injuries last year. Ria Percival is New Zealand’s most capped player with 161 national team appearances, while Longo boasts an astonishing 127 caps herself. Ali Riley (152 caps), Percival, and Longo form a trio of Football Ferns appearing at their fifth World Cups. Additionally, Betsy Hasset (143) and Hannah Wilkinson (113) round out a quintet of centurions in this squad.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are 10 players who will be making their World Cup debuts. The youngest of these players is Milly Clegg. Clegg, just 17 years old, has played at the U17 and U20 World Cups, before rising through the ranks at the Wellington Phoenix this past season. Another player who has made a meteoric rise is Michaela Foster. Foster, 24, started the 2022/23 season on a scholarship contract with the Phoenix before establishing herself as a starter and a key player for the Wellington side.
The Players
Goalkeepers: Victoria Esson (14 caps) Rangers, Scotland. Anna Leat (9) Aston Villa, England. Erin Nayler (84) IFK Norrköping, Sweden.
Defenders: Liz Anton (18) Perth Glory, Australia. CJ Bott (37/2 goals) Leicester City, England. Katie Bowen (92/3). Claudia Bunge (20) Melbourne Victory, Australia. Michaela Foster (4). Ali Riley (152/2) Angel City, USA. Rebekah Stott (89/4) Brighton & Hove Albion, England.
Midfielders: Olivia Chance (43/2) Celtic, Scotland. Daisy Cleverley (31/2) HB Køge, Denmark. Betsy Hassett (143/13) Stjarnan, Iceland. Annalie Longo (127/15). Ria Percival (161/15) Tottenham Hotspur, England. Malia Steinmetz (18/0).
Forwards: Milly Clegg (2). Jacqui Hand (12/1) Åland United, Finland. Grace Jale (17/2). Gabi Rennie (24/2) Arizona State University, USA. Indiah-Paige Riley (7/0). Paige Satchell (42/2). Hannah Wilkinson (113/28) Melbourne City, Australia.
From London to Finland, Glasgow to Melbourne, LA to Leicester and beyond – our Ford Football Ferns play for some of the most iconic clubs in the world.
And now they’re home to play on football’s biggest stage at the @FIFAWWC 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/dX2LpLetog
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) June 28, 2023
Players to Watch
Despite her inexperience, Michaela Foster could be an influential player for the Football Ferns. Her meteoric rise has extended to the national team, and she stands a good chance to start matches at the World Cup. Her set-piece delivery could prove crucial for Aotearoa, especially in tournament football.
Jacqui Hand is coming off a season where she finished top scorer in the Kansallinen Liiga. Her goals will be important for a team that has struggled to score recently. Likewise, Milly Clegg could provide a spark up front, either starting or off the bench.
Ali Riley’s leadership will be vital for New Zealand. The Angel City FC captain, has led her country almost 50 times, and will co-captain the side at the World Cup with Ria Percival. Riley has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world. Her career has seen her represent Chelsea and Bayern Munich, before becoming a founding squad member of Angel City FC in the NWSL.
Group Preview
The Football Ferns open the tournament on July 20 with a tough match against Norway in Auckland. The two teams have faced each other twice since the last World Cup. The most recent match was a 2-0 win to Norway in the build-up to last year’s Euros. Norway will be favourites to win this, and Aotearoa will need to be at their best to earn a result.
Aotearoa will target the match in Wellington against the Philippines on July 25 as the opportunity to get their first ever World Cup win. The Philippines are the only team ranked lower than New Zealand in the group, and the Football Ferns will take confidence from their win in September 2022. Wellington Stadium has been the scene of some of New Zealand’s biggest football moments, and the crowd will be eager to play their part in adding to the storied history of the ground. A win in this match sets up their final group game against Switzerland as a potential decider.
New Zealand play Switzerland in Dunedin on the 30th of July, in what will possibly be the most important game of the group. Should previous results for both teams go as planned, this game will act as a virtual knockout. Aotearoa will still likely need to win this match. Recent form suggests they would probably be knocked out on goal difference should they finish level on points with Switzerland.
While getting out of the group will be a goal for the Football Ferns, a good start will be getting their first World Cup win. If they can manage this, they will have performed better than at any previous tournament and that would be a great achievement. Aotearoa haven’t always played many games at home, so the players will certainly enjoy soaking up the atmosphere that comes with playing in a home World Cup. Should they make it through the group stages, this group of players will certainly go Beyond Greatness.
To read more Women’s World Cup related articles, click here.
Follow Sporting Her on social media: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Youtube
