Football Ferns

NO AUSSIE FOOTBALL SIDES GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE OLYMPICS - NZ CELEBRATES !!!!

PREVIEW AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/matildas-playing-catchup-for-matchup-with-kiwis-20120623-20uy1.html

MATILDAS coach Tom Sermanni has labelled his team the underdogs for today's match against New Zealand at WIN Stadium.

Australia will be without 13 foreign-based stars due to club commitments and have several players struggling with injury, forcing Sermanni to call on debutantes from the W-League for the Matildas' first match in nine months. Australia, last year's World Cup quarter-finalists, will host New Zealand as part of the visitors' preparations for the Olympic Games. The Matildas failed to qualify for London.

''The difference between us and New Zealand is that they've had a better preparation than us,'' Sermanni said.

''They've had nine games this year and we haven't played a game since last September. For this game, on paper, New Zealand have a little bit of an advantage. I would say that New Zealand are going into this game as favourites given the present circumstances.''

Youngsters Ashley Brown, Brianna Davey, Stephanie Catley, Georgia Yeoman-Dale and Hayley Raso could all make their international debuts this afternoon. Sermanni wants to use the game as a test of Australia's depth, and as an opportunity for fringe players to stake claims for starting positions.

''The W-League has been a huge bonus for us and it's helped us develop a large group of competitive players,'' Sermanni said. ''What I'm trying to do is run my eye over the players that I think could become international players.''

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Preview--Westfield-Matildas-v-New-Zealand/47841

Westfield Matildas coaches Tom Sermanni and Spencer Prior went undercover to check out New Zealand’s form ahead of this weekend’s clash. That involved them heading to New Zealand to watch the Football Ferns’ two recent matches against China.

So what did Sermanni and Prior find out about the Kiwis?

‘They were playing with a high degree of confidence,’ Sermanni said. ‘That’s probably an effect of having really good preparation this year. They were at a good level of match fitness. They’re also benefiting from competing at regular international events and having a significant number of players playing in highly competitive leagues overseas.’

So who should we watch out for?

‘There are a few you’ll recognise from the Westfield W-League,’ he said, ‘including Emma Kete, who’s always a threat with her pace and dribbling skills. Abby Erceg was key to Adelaide United’s improvement this season and is integral to New Zealand’s performance too.’

Then, he said, there are the players honing their skills overseas: ‘There are quite possibly more of their players currently playing overseas than in New Zealand, with at least five or six of them, including Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith, Katie Hoyle, Anna Green, Sarah Gregorius, and Amber Hearne playing in Germany alone.’

Plus they have ‘our Stotty’, Sermanni said, referring to Melbourne Victory standout Rebekah Stott, who we like to claim, but who New Zealand claims too: ‘A fantastic defender, she’s going to make our strikers work hard.’

And what about the Westfield Matildas’ prep?

‘I think we’ve got a very good squad together,’ Sermanni said. ‘The unknown factors for us are that we haven’t played an international game for some time and that this group of players haven’t really played in a competitive game with each other. That, along with the fact that we haven’t had a lot of preparation time, makes these matches tricky.’

‘But,’ he said, ‘that’s what happens in football and you’ve just got to go with it. I’m confident that any time an Australian team takes the pitch you know you’re going to get a competitive spirit (and never more so than when facing New Zealand).’

‘We’ve got a young team,’ he said, ‘but we’ve also had a fairly young team for a while (including at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup) that’s proved itself well. We’ve got a good core experienced players there too, who’ve also experienced success at international level.’

Sounds like a successful spying/scouting trip/holiday. Anything else we should know?

Sermanni and Prior ‘contributed to the New Zealand economy’. The two even bought themselves tickets to the match, which is, Sermanni says, ‘a first for a long time’ (they normally organise entry ahead of time with the member organisation).

They were also, he said ‘under severe pressure’ to leave New Zealand early on the Monday morning. ‘It was Spencer’s 18th wedding anniversary and he had to be back in the country. We left the hotel at 5.30am New Zealand time [read: 2.30am AEST]. Never let it be said we were on holiday. That’s some serious commitment to the cause.’

Ferns 1-0 up early in the second half.

Well done to them.

And Australia equalise in the 93nd minute. Diaster.

Fucking Australians.

what a load of crap.  We can't we bloody well hold on.  That sucks!

wtf?

wtf,  seems to be a habit oif newzealand sides to let people in in the last minutes.

Not a confidence-inspiring result when you consider this was far from being Australia's best team. From the Aussie report I posted above: 

"Australia will be without 13 foreign-based stars due to club commitments and have several players struggling with injury, forcing Sermanni to call on debutantes from the W-League for the Matildas' first match in nine months."

MATCH THREAD from Football Australia website (which unusually allows fans to post on the thread during the game along with their own commentators at the game):

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/westfield-matildas-v-ne...

    Westfield Matildas v New Zealand (06/24/2012)

Sunday June 24, 2012       

2.58 Just to clarify: the game's not be televised or live streamed. Updates here or via @FFAGirlsFC.   

3:01 And we have kickoff...

3.05 NZ hit the crossbar. Early scare for the Matildas. Corner to NZ, but comes to naught.  

3:05 [Comment From defdef: ]This is a very inexperienced squad. A this stage a reasonable showing will be a bonus. 

 3:05 [Comment From AllenAllen: ] and radio stream? is it on radio stream or anywhere?  

3:05 To clarify: no radio stream either.      

3.11 Physical first 10 mins as both teams test each other out and try to find rhythm. Fairly evenly matched.  

3.14 [Comment From defdef] Who is on the bench or is it just the rest of the squad?  

3:15 Bench is the rest of the 23-player squad. Should have six subs under international friendly rules, but we don't yet know who'll be subbed on.  

3:17 [Comment From sydmarinersydmariner: ]do any of the nz team play in the w-league?   

3:18 Three NZ players facing the Westfield Matildas also play in the Westfield W-League: Emma Kete, Anna Green, and Abby Erceg. Also Rebekah Stott (who we like to claim as our own).  

3:20 Close call for NZ with Ash Brown getting up for a header. But Bindon gathers the ball in to safety.   3:21@SydMariner: Stott? Melbourne Victory.   

3:24 23' Corner to the Matildas. Alleway got a head on the ball, but it just travelled wide of the far post.      3:26 25' gone and both teams finding their rhythm in this physical game. Ash Brown and Laura Alleway have had the best chances for the Westfield Matildas so far.  

3:29 28' Laura Alleway cops a rebound to the face, but waves away concerns.   

3:32 30': Score remains 0-0.  

3:32 [Comment From LBLB: ] Stotty is a Kiwi, You can't claim her.   

3:36 Referee is Casey Reibelt, Assistant referees are Sarah Ho and Melinda Bell, 4th official is Peta McCallum.  

3:39 38' NZ pressing hard, with Matildas scrambling to clear the ball. Laura Alleway slides in to the rescue.  

3:43 42' Caitlin Foord breaks away for a 1-2 with Sarah Walsh, but puts the ball into the side netting. Think the crowd, on its feet, sensed a goal just before half time.  

3:44[Comment From LBLB: ] Claim Stotty as your own? Why didn't she make the matildas then?  

3:44[Comment From NZfanNZfan: ] Bindon is the rock at the end of a great defensive line for NZ! 

3:46 44' NZ almost jagged a goal before half time with Gregorius running onto a through ball. But shanked it wide of the far post.  

3:46 Half-time score: Matildas 0-0 New Zealand. What did you think of the first half?     

3:53 [Comment From defdef: ]No point naming names but this is not a strong squad. Defs one of the forwards turns over the ball way too much in W league and at club level. If they just hold on then that is a good result. Good chance for some of the young ones to step though

3:54 Our pole has 58% in favour of New Zealand getting up. Where are the Aussie fans voting in the poll?!   

3:56 @Marc: Waiting for the official crowd figures, but looks like a couple of thousand.  

4:03 We're back for the 2nd half. No subs so far (at least, not that we've spotted).   

4:08 Goal to New Zealand! They take the lead early in the second half after Hayley Moorwood gets on the end of a cross. Matildas 0-1 New Zealand.  

4:12 Sub for the Westfield Matildas: Teigen Allen off, Catherine Cannuli on. Cannuli debuted for the Westfield Matildas against New Zealand in Gosford last year and scored against them in the second game. Might we see another goal from her against them?  

4:14[Comment From sydmarinersydmariner: ] nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!    

4:14 [Comment From CatCat: ] NZscore and theres no comments.... stunned mullets.     

4:18[Comment From NZfanNZfan: ] Great Work girls, lets get another one!   

4:18 [Comment From MOMO: ]Yuss! Go Kiwis!    

 4:24  To bring you up to speed: subs galore! Teigen Allen off, Catherine Cannuli (who debuted against New Zealand last year and scored against them too) on. Finally, Ash Brown off, Hayley Raso on for her national team debut. For New Zealand: Hannah Wilkinson off, Emma Kete (who you'll recognise from Perth Glory and Canberra United) on.

  4:24 [Comment From NZfanNZfan: ] how many years since NZ won in Australia?     

4.25 @NZFan 18. They haven't beaten the Westfield Matildas since 1994.   

4:25 70' Annalie Longo off, Betsy Hassett on.

    4:28 Sub for the Westfield Matildas (and one lots of you have been asking for): Ellie Brush off, Ellyse Perry on. 73' gone and score remains 0-1.  

4:30 Another sub: Sarah Walsh off (just after a great chance on goal), Georgia Yeoman-Dale on (also making her Matildas debut).

4:34 78' Ball pinballing around the box, with defender Laura Alleway forcing Bindon into a diving, left-handed parry. At the other end of the park, Betsy Hassett puts one over the crossbar.    

4:38 Sub for New Zealand: Percival off, Patterson on. Just under 10 minutes of regulation time left in the game.   4:39 Sub for the Matildas: Polkinghorne off, Teresa Polias on to debut  

4:45 Are still with us on the subs? Alanna Kennedy off, Renee Rollason on. Just under three minutes of regulation time left, with the Westfield Matildas pushing hard. Cannuli curled one in, but Bindon collected it at the far post. New Zealand continue to lead by one goal.      

4:47 So much action! Catley with a well-timed, body-on-the-line block to prevent a certain goal! Legendary save! Then the Matildas on the fast break, but Foord can't keep her shot down.  

4:47 Sub for NZ: Goalscorer Moorwood off, Katie Bowen off. 

  4:51 Goal to the Westfield Matildas! Thea Slatyer with a header at the far post in the final moments of the game! That's 1-1 at full time! The Westfield Matildas remain undefeated by New Zealand in 18 years.  

   4:54  GO KIWIS! HANG IN THERE!

4.54[Comment From BrogsFan!BrogsFan!: ]WHOO WHOO!!!! Go AUS!!! Did Brogs make it on??  

4.54  1-1? yyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssss   

4.54 [Comment From NZfanNZfan:  ]Damn it! Cmon girls you gotta stop conceding in the last five minutes! You let the USA off the hook the same          5:36  [Comment From score score: ] What's the final score?

                           5:36 Just in case you missed it, final score was: Matildas (Slatyer 93') 1-1 New Zealand (Moorwood 51').

18 years, good grief.  We are due and must make amends on Wednesday.

FOOTBALL FERNS V AUSTRALIA - about to kick off

LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY HERE:

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Westfield-Matildas-v-New-Zealand-Live/47867

ADD YOUR COMMENTS ON THE LIVE MATCH THREAD - find box at bottom of commentary - AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT !!!

MATCH THREAD - sounding positive:

Aussies have scored but NZ creating chances:

31' Goal to the Matildas! Perry with a cross to Walsh, who heads it in! The Matildas lead NZ 1-0!

42' Corner to NZ. Gregorius headed it down from the far post, but Moorwood couldn't get a shot off

44' Gregorius sets up Kete, but she can't get any power in the shot and Bubs gathers up the ball.

45' Cross to Hearn, who hits the upright. The ball ricocheted off and across the goal. How it didn't go in we don't know.

Half-time comment from Westfield Matilda Heather Garriock: We're dominating. We're attacking a lot more than the last game. Perry's ball was absolutely pinpoint and Walshy's finish was world class.

On the match thread poll, 60% think NZ will equalize, 67% currently think NZ will win..

Final score?

Man, that's some amazing streak on the Matildas' part - 23 wins and one draw over 18 years - so that draw on Sunday was a standout result really, comparatively speaking.

But then again, the Ferns once had a golden spell against the Aussies lasting 19 years 1975-1994:   P:20     W:9     D:5     L:6  

So we had the upper hand (mostly) for a similar period until our last win over Australia in 1994, including being Oceania champions twice in 1983 and 1991.

Full list of Footbal Ferns' previous A internationals here:

http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/FootballFerns/id40.htm

It's a concern we couldn't get a result over a weakened Matildas missing all their overseas players and based mostly on domestic players making their debuts...hey, we're the ones going to the Olympics right?

So what will the squad of 18 be?

Readings in the paper today:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/7182770/Squad-naming-adds-to-jitters-for-Football-Ferns

Readings also used 18 players against Australia but with Olympic certainties Kirsty Yallop and Ali Riley already back in Europe after contributing to historic back-to-back victories over China – plus other players recuperating from injury – some of the personnel that performed admirably against Australia will miss the cut.

"We have a number of players in each position so we're going to be trimming from every area," he said.

"Our depth has improved across the park so there's going to be a few players that have worked hard that are going to be quite unlucky, it's probably the first time we've had that."

Readings confirmed some fringe candidates had played their way into the Olympic team during a schedule that featured four games in 10 days but would not elaborate.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

GREAT BRITAIN TEAM NAMED YESTERDAY:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18592483

All player details here - age, club, caps etc.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_women's_Olympic_football_team#Squad

Team GB Squad:

• Eniola Aluko, Anita Asante, Karen Bardsley, Sophie Bradley, Rachel Brown, Karen Carney, Ifeoma Dieke, Stephanie Houghton, Kim Little, Claire Rafferty, Alex Scott, Jill Scott, Kelly Smith, Casey Stoney, Fara Williams, Rachel Williams, Ellen White, Rachel Yankey.
• Reserves: Jess Clarke, Emma Higgins, Jane Ross, Dunia Susi.  

Kelly Smith, England's all-time leading scorer, recenty returned to fitness after suffering a stress fracture in March, has been named in the Team GB squad for London 2012 .

The only non-English players selected in the squad of 18 are Scots Ifeoma Dieke (Kirsty Yallop's Vittsjo team-mate in Sweden) and Kim Little. 

Powell, who has managed England since 1998, says she based her selections for the Team GB squad purely on merit. 

"I didn't feel any pressure to include players from Northern Ireland or Wales," she said.

"I was tasked with picking the best squad of players and that's what I've done. We had everyone looked at extensively.

"I took the associations out of the equation and it was just about trying to pick a squad of players that I felt would do the best job possible." 

Four play in Sweden, two for NZ u-20 Katy Rood's Lincoln Ladies, six for Arsenal, two for Everton, three for Birmingham City, one for Chelsea. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Since it's basically the England side, they have the huge advantage of having played serious competitive matches in recent weeks in qualifiers for the 2013 UEFA Women's Finals. BBC Sport:

17/6/12 1-0 home win: A moment of quick-thinking by Arsenal winger Rachel Yankey gave England what should prove a decisive Women's Euro 2013 qualifying group victory.

Yankey curled home a 20-yard free-kick with the Dutch still organising their defensive wall following a 67th-minute foul on midfielder Fara Williams. 

21/6/12 4-0 away win:  Everton midfielder Jill Scott was on target twice as England beat Slovenia 4-0 in their Women's Euro 2013 qualifier to close in on a place at the finals in Sweden.

Scott's two first-half goals were followed by second-half strikes by Birmingham City colleagues Karen Carney and Rachel Williams, both substitutes.

England must now win their last group match, at home to Croatia in September, to clinch top spot in Group Six and secure the only automatic qualification place.

But having beaten the bottom-of-the-group Croatians 6-0 away, that should not prove too arduous a task for Hope Powell's team. 

Captain Jill Scott (England & Everton) has an excellent regular blog on the BBC Sport website - informative:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18608764

At nine on Monday morning I took a call telling me I would be selected for the first Great Britain women's football squad in Olympic history.

I was sworn to secrecy until Tuesday when the news was made official - although I did tell my mum because I knew she wouldn't tell anyone - and now I can say I'm over the moon to be part of Team GB.

It is difficult to put into words to be honest. My focus has been on England, with two massive Euro 2013 qualifiers last week, but now they are out of the way we can all finally get excited about London 2012.

The added pressure is that our opening game against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium will actually be the first event of the whole Olympics, even before the opening ceremony. 

But having beaten them 2-1 at last year's World Cup, a match in which I managed to score, we will be getting some good sessions in and aiming to get the win to kick-start our tournament.

Brazil will be our toughest test for sure, as they have the world's best player - Marta - in their ranks, while Cameroon will be a bit of an unknown quantity, but I'm confident we will get out of our group and give the fans something to cheer about....

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Great Britain's only friendly is 20/7/12 in Middlesbrough v Sweden in a double-header with G.B. Men v Brazil. 

Would be geat to see those on Sky TV here - worth contacting Sky to ask about it...

No real surprises in the Football Ferns squad named Friday I guess. Not as many youngsters as John Herdman used to include when he promoted several u-17 and u-20 players to the Ferns. Still relatively young squad (eight are 24 or less) but very experienced at the same time (862  caps combined, ten players with > 50 caps) with eleven from the Beijing 2008 squad.

Second-choice goalie Rebecca Rolls had 16 years between caps 1996 - 2012 after she spent the period as a White Ferns cricket wicketkeeper.

Maybe unlucky to miss out: Aroon Clansey (Liverpool, English Women's Premier Lge), Katie Rood (Lincoln, English WPL). Clansey, aged 26, was key to Canberra winning the Aussie W-League unbeaten 2011-12 and has made appearances for Liverpool this current season whilst the first-choice goalie was injured. Midfield/ striker Rood is a member of NZ's squad for the u-20 World Cup in Japan in August. Both Clansey and Rood are probably seen as more ones for the future. Goalies Bindon and Rolls can't have too much playing time left at their age, so Clansey especially should come into the picture more post-Olympics, along with Erin Nayler, 30, of Eastern Suburbs.

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1733&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=985b7e7cdf

Goalkeepers
1-Jenny BINDON Goalkeeper (Hibiscus Coast – 69/0)
18-Rebecca ROLLS Goalkeeper (Fencibles United – 14/0)

Defenders
2-Ria PERCIVAL (USV Jena, GER – 70/2)
3-Anna GREEN (Lokomotive Leipzig, GER – 50/6)
5-Abby ERCEG (Fencibles United – 72/4)
6-Rebecca SMITH (Captain, VfL Wolfsburg, GER – 68/4)
7-Ali RILEY (Malmö, SWE – 61/1)
14-Kristy HILL (Eastern Suburbs – 19/0)
15-Rebekah STOTT (Melbourne Victory, AUS – 3/0)

Midfielders
4-Katie HOYLE (Bad Neuenahr, GER – 62/1)
8-Hayley MOORWOOD (Chelsea, ENG – 80/10)
11-Kirsty YALLOP (Vittsjö, SWE – 59/11)
12-Betsy HASSETT (UC Berkeley, USA – 38/4)
16-Annalie LONGO (Three Kings United – 42/0)

Forwards
9-Amber HEARN (USV Jena, GER – 59/30)
10-Sarah GREGORIUS (Bad Neuenahr, GER – 28/15)
13-Rosie WHITE (UCLA, USA – 35/9)
17-Hannah WILKINSON (Glenfield Rovers – 33/12)

Standby
19-Katie BOWEN (Glenfield Rovers – 8/0)
20-Sarah McLAUGHLIN (Claudelands Rovers – 11/0)
21-Holly PATTERSON (Claudelands Rovers – 4/0)
22-Erin NAYLER (Eastern Suburbs – 0/0)

FOOTBALL FERNS V CANADA 2 AM SUNDAY MORNING:

LIVE STREAMS HERE:

http://www.coolsport.tv/stream5.php

http://www.oleoletv.com/watch/live/stream/online/free/tv/video/channel/feed/link/broadcast/vivo/gratis/p2p/4/july/14/2012/4/2/48/v-424968/canada-vs-new-zealand.html

LIVE MATCH TWEETS HERE:

For those unable to catch ?#canWNT? v NZL on TV, we will be providing in-depth match tweets via @CanadaSoccerEN

New Zealand take on the fellow Olympic qualifiers in Châtel-St-Denis, Switzerland, in the opening game of the Matchworld Women’s Cup tournament and coach Tony Readings said it marks a step up from both the series win against China and a draw and narrow loss to Australia.

“The performances against those countries were an important marker for us but Canada are a step above,” Readings said.

“They are peaking for the Olympics and exactly the sort of test we need this close to London.

“The will also be similar to Great Britain in many respects so they will be a good dress rehearsal for our opening game in Cardiff. There’s also a chance we could meet again in the knockout stages so it’ll be a useful sighter for us.”

Football Ferns staff will also get a valuable look at Brazil who take on Colombia in the day’s later kickoff. New Zealand play Colombia in the Matchworld Cup next week but will not meet Brazil until their second Olympic group match in Cardiff on July 28.

The team set up camp in Switzerland this week and shook off the jetlag on Wednesday with a 10-0 win over the women’s team of Swiss club Young Boys FC, a side that reached the last 32 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season.

Readings has a fully fit squad to choose from for the Canada match, including Ali Riley and Kirsty Yallop who missed the games against Australia due to club commitments.

“Our plans are taking shape and these final two games in Switzerland will help make those final decisions we need to make before we meet Great Britain.”

The match kicks off at 2am on Sunday morning New Zealand time with the Oly Whites playing their second warm up game against Korea Republic in Seoul at 9pm Saturday night (NZT).

Canada are coached by former Football Ferns coach John Herdman.

Matchworld Women’s Cup 2012
New Zealand v Canada
Châtel-St-Denis, Switzerland
July 14, 4pm (2am July 15 NZT)

New Zealand: (from) 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 3-Anna GREEN, 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH (captain), 7-Ali RILEY, 8-Hayley MOORWOOD, 9-Amber HEARN, 10-Sarah GREGORIUS, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 12-Betsy HASSETT, 13-Rosie WHITE, 14-Kristy HILL, 15-Rebekah STOTT, 16-Annalie LONGO, 17-Hannah WILKINSON, 18-Rebecca ROLLS (GK) .
Coach: Tony READINGS

Best chance by any team so far- great volley attempt from side-on position by Hearn hits the crossbar !!!

Too many long balls by NZ not finding their target...

Pretty even so far, NZ containing Canada well. Bindon the busier goalie though.

Good counter-attacks by NZ...

Canada open scoring - Matheson chips Bindon from edge of penalty box, well-taken goal....

Remains 1-0 to Canada at halftime - had better of the half...

Canada made it 2-0 on 47 mins when their top striker Sinclair ran on to a long ball behind our defence and scored from inside the box - and it remains so on 75 mins...Canada continue to dominate.

Ali Riley now looks to be badly injured in a horrendous tackle and is going off - looks bad (could be an ankle sprain or even a break).

Rosie White now on...

FOOTBALL FERNS V CANADA : Just kicked off.

Good quality live stream here (English commentary): just click away annoying overlay over screen (clicking on "full screen" helps):

 http://www.oleoletv.com/watch/live/stream/online/free/tv/video/channel/feed/link/broadcast/vivo/gratis/p2p/4/july/14/2012/4/2/48/v-424968/canada-vs-new-zealand.html

- Hearn alone up front, Gregorius, Yallop, Moorwood, Wilkinson, Percival, Smith, Erceg, Riley, Bindon etc.

Finishes 2-0 to Canada who were quite a lot better than us.

We're quite capable up front and okay in defence but our midfield is really ineffectual (just as with our men's Olympic side) so the strikers feed on scraps.

Also our set-pieces were hopeless in terms of corners (we had twice as many as Canada) and freekicks...

Doesn't look good for Ali Riley - let's hope she's not ruled out of the Olympics as we need her pace and skill...

Next game v Colombia Wednesday July 18 2 am NZT

Bound to be a live link somewhere - try as for Canada game:

http://www.oleoletv.com/

http://www.coolsport.tv/

2-0 to nz half time. looking decent

deserve the lead

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1750&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=4a09de0208

Matchworld Women’s Cup 2012
Saviese, Switzerland
July 17, 2012

New Zealand 2 (Amber HEARN 45+1’, Rebecca SMITH 45+3’)
Colombia 1 (Liana SALAZAR 86’)
Halftime: 0-2

New Zealand: 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 3-Anna GREEN (15-Rebekah STOTT 68’), 4-Katie HOYLE (8-Hayley MOORWOOD 46’), 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH (captain / 14-Kristy HILL 81’), 9-Amber HEARN, 10-Sarah GREGORIUS, 12-Betsy HASSETT, 13-Rosie WHITE (17-Hannah WILKINSON 46’), 16-Annalie LONGO (11-Kirsty YALLOP 71’).
Substitutes not used: 18-Rebecca ROLLS (GK).
Unavailable: 7-Ali RILEY.
Coach: Tony READINGS
Cautions: Katie HOYLE 12’

Rebecca Smith scored New Zealand's second goal. FIFA via Getty Images

July 18, 2012

AUCKLAND – The Football Ferns head to London in buoyant mood after wrapping up their Olympic preparations with a 2-1 win over Colombia in Saviese, Switzerland this morning.

New Zealand dominated the South Americans from start to finish but didn’t make the breakthrough until injury time in the first half when Amber Hearn and Rebecca Smith both netted.

Hearn nodded the Ferns into the lead in the first minute of time added on when Rosie White put Anna Green’s cross back into the fray. Two minutes later Hearn helped on Ria Percival’s freekick to Rebecca Smith whose flick looped into the Colombian net.

New Zealand missed a host of chances to kill the game in the second half with a pair of Hearn headers missing the target and close range shots from Hannah Wilkinson and Ria Percival both saved by the ‘keeper.

Colombia took advantage of a flat five minute spell from the Ferns late in the match to pull a goal back through Liana Salazar but it was a rare foray into New Zealand’s penalty area and the kiwis quickly regained control to see off the fellow Olympic competitors.

The Football Ferns were without Ali Riley who picked up an ankle injury from a nasty challenge in Sunday’s loss to Canada. The fullback didn’t suit up against Colombia but is expected to be fit to face Great Britain in their Olympic opener...

...The Football Ferns head to London tomorrow for two days in the Olympic Village before resuming training in Cardiff on July 20 ahead of their July 25 match against Great Britain – the opening act of the entire Olympic Games. They also face Brazil and Cameroon in pool play.

Highlights NZ v Canada:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b5sKNW8lT0

Highlights NZ v Colombia:

http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/video/new-zealand-beat-colombia-2-1-matchworld-women-s-cup-2012

Highlights NZ's opponents Brazil v Colombia (same tournament):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsPN4alMEm4&feature=plcp

Brazil v Canada winning the Matchworld tournament:

http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/video/brazil-beat-canada-match-highlights-to-win-the-matchworld-women-s

NEWS ON GREAT BRITAIN WOMEN AND NZ'S OPENING GAME:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

BBC:

"The Olympic Games begin with a round of football matches on Wednesday 25 July, including Team GB's women taking on New Zealand in Cardiff, two days before the opening ceremony in Olympic Park.

The capacity in the stadium will be scaled down from nearly 75,000 to 40,000.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe told the BBC "just shy of 40,000" tickets had been issued for that match and suggested the shortfall in football ticket sales was to be expected.

"It's always a challenge; you've got lots of venues and lots of matches and you don't know until late on who is going to be playing," he said.

Lord Coe said the remaining tickets would be sold "by hook or by crook".

That may include using London 2012's Ticket Share system, which provides free tickets to children, servicemen and women and their families, and sportspeople, funded through hospitality packages.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

GREAT BRITAIN WOMEN V SWEDEN SATURDAY 3AM NZ TIME, MIDDLESBROUGH

Part of a double-header with GB Men v Brazil - should be a cracker!!!

Live on the BBC 

Suggest contact Sky TV to see if they're showing it:

https://skytv.custhelp.com/app/ask                     Ph. 0800 759759

Full Game Football Ferns v Colombia 2-1 18 July - Last Pre-Olympics Friendly - First Half:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eYBrhTkwDA&feature=channel&list=UL

Second Half:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw1llvNQ0-k&feature=plcp

Football Ferns Olympic Tournament Music Video (made by Ali Riley and Emma Kete):

some of the best moves you'll see from any international sports side:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=405097022859448

Last Year's Ferns' Women's World Cup Music Video (guest appearance from Robbie Williams - yes, he really does appear with the Ferns in the video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh0gxkLSz_k&feature=plcp

Get to Know the Ferns - Player Identification Video Set to Music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZocHxuP36Vw&feature=fvwrel

STOPOVER IN OLYMPIC VILLAGE, LONDON BEFORE TRAVEL TO CARDIFF 

Football Ferns shared NZ Olympic Team's photo - July 19 The Football Ferns respond to their welcome to the Olympic Village with their team haka. They arrived overnight (NZT) and have a couple of days of rest to soak up the atmosphere in London before heading to Cardiff to get to work. 

Note Ali Riley in moon boot on right - will she be fit for the Games?

 

 

 

 

 

 

RONALDINHO WANTS TO PLAY FOR FOOTBALL FERNS:

Wow that would be quite an experience!

Interesting that they look like they are all sitting in a hotel room...

That's a photo from Beijing 2008.

FOOTBALL FERNS V GREAT BRITAIN : LIVE SKY SPORT 5 (NEW OLYMPIC CHANNEL) 2.50AM THURSDAY

22/7/12 NZ Football: "Ferns fullback Ali Riley has returned to training after suffering a leg injury against Canada a week ago and is expected to be fit to play the Olympic hosts in three days time."

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1761&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=91e1ab1abb

23/7/12 Great Britain and England coach Hope Powell has added only two Scottish players to an otherwise all English playing squad giving the Great Britain team a familiar look despite their Olympic debut. New Zealand have met England twice since 2010 drawing the first encounter and losing 2-1 at last year’s Women’s World Cup after leading for most of the match.

New Zealand coach Tony Readings has a full squad to choose from for the match with Ali Riley back to full training after missing last week’s international against Colombia through injury.

He has two more sessions to settle on a starting 11 but says whoever gets the chance to be get New Zealand’s 2012 Olympic campaign underway will embrace the honour.

“We are always proud to pull on the New Zealand shirt and to do it at the Olympics is even more special because you are representing not just the football people of New Zealand but representing the whole country and part of the wider Team New Zealand,” Readings said before his side’s walkover of Millennium Stadium pitch.

“To be the first New Zealand athletes to compete is magic for us and we’re really looking forward to it.

“I guess there could be some added pressures but for us there’s more pressure on the hosts in front of an expectant crowd.

“For us it’s just another game of football. We’ve played in front of big crowds many times now – we played in front of 55,000 at the World Cup in 2007 – so it’s not something that fazes our players anymore. We play most of our games away from home so this one is no different.

“It’s a proud moment but one that we’re relishing and we can’t wait to get on the pitch.”

The Football Ferns take on Great Britain at 3am on Thursday (NZT) with Group E rivals Brazil and Cameroon clashing at 5.45am (NZT), also in Cardiff.

Great Britain: (from) 1-Karen BARDSLEY (GK), 2-Alex SCOTT, 3-Stephanie HOUGHTON, 4-Jill SCOTT, 5-Sophie BRADLEY, 6-Casey STONEY (captain), 7-Karen CARNEY, 8-Fara WILLIAMS, 9-Ellen WHITE, 10-Kelly SMITH, 11-Rachel YANKEY, 12-Kim LITTLE, 13-Ifeoma DIEKE, 14-Anita ASANTE, 15-Eniola ALUKO, 16-Claire RAFFERTY, 17-Rachel WILLIAMS, 18-Rachel BROWN (GK).

Coach: Hope POWELL

New Zealand: (from) 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 3-Anna GREEN, 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH (captain), 7-Ali RILEY, 8-Hayley MOORWOOD, 9-Amber HEARN, 10-Sarah GREGORIUS, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 12-Betsy HASSETT, 13-Rosie WHITE, 14-Kristy HILL, 15-Rebekah STOTT, 16-Annalie LONGO, 17-Hannah WILKINSON, 18-Rebecca ROLLS (GK) .
Coach: Tony READINGS

Great Britain v Sweden final friendly match report:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/20/london-2012-olympics-team-gb-sweden

Video highlights: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbaErtyreR8

FOOTBALL FERNS OLYMPIC SCHEDULE AND TV COVERAGE:
July 25
New Zealand Women v Great Britain
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
4pm (3am, July 26 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 5

July 28

New Zealand Women v Brazil
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2.30pm (1am, July 29 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 8

July 31

New Zealand Women v Cameroon
City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry
7.45pm (6.45am, August 1 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 4

SHODDY SKY TV COVERAGE AFTER GROUP STAGE:

Note that of the eight dedicated Olympic channels only channels 4-8 are available to all Sky subscribers with Sky Sport. Channels 9-11 are available only to "My Sky HD" subscribers with Sky sport.

QUARTER-FINALS: Only two of the women's quarterfinals are on the standard Olympic channels 4-8 one live, one delayed - the other two are not being screened on channels 4-8 at all !!! That's absolutely shocking !!!

But the seperate Olympic TV schedule in the Skywatch mag is all up the shoots anyway, listing the "third quarterfinal" as being broadcast before the "first quarterfinal" etc.

Men's quarterfinals: only TWO incredibly are live on the standard Olympic channels according to the schedule (the first quarter at 10.35 pm Sun. 4 and the third quarter at 3.50 am Mon. 5); the other two are NOT SCHEDULED TO BE SHOWN AT ALL ON THE STANDARD OLYMPIC CHANNELS 4-8 !!! Not even delayed !!!

Hope that's an error in their listings or I read it wrong - but that's what I'm seeing... 

SEMIS: The women's semis are LIVE ONLY FOR MY SKY SUBSCRIBERS on channels 9-11 on the morning of Tues. 7 August, otherwise for most of us replays several hours later at 2pm and 4.10 pm.

Men's semis: ONLY ONE LIVE on the standard channels (6.35am Wednes. 8), other delayed (8.50am) but live only to My Sky folk (3.50am Sky Sport 11).

FOOTBALL FINALS: Predictably LIVE ONLY TO MY SKY HD SUBSCRIBERS !!!

Women's 6.35am Fri. Aug. 10: Sky Sport 9

and for most of us the replay really sucks - 14 hours delayed at 8pm that night on Sky Sport 5 !!!

Men's Final: If you have MY Sky HD live on Sky Sport 10 at 1.50am on Sun. 12 Aug.

For the rest of us: TEN HOURS DELAYED at 11.35am on Sky Sport 5.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION: Most of us will be living on scraps and the coverage is not at all satisfactory, considering fans are paying to have Sky and they have eight dedicated Olympic channels.

The coverage of the quarter-finals , semis and finals is particularly shoddy with few games live on the standard Olympic channels.

IT'S A MARKETING PLOY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO "MY SKY HD" AND I'M AS LIKELY TO FALL FOR THIS AND TAKE OUT A SUBSCRIPTION AS I AM TO BUY AN ALL BLACKS SEASON TICKET-

STUFF SKY - and I'll be complaining to them at:

https://skytv.custhelp.com/app/ask/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzQzMDkxNzk3L...

Needless to say I probably won't get too much coverage of the Football Ferns her in Germany.

Here is hoping for some quality internet streams. I would even be willing to pay if anyone knows a service that will cover the  olympics online streaming especially for the woman and mens football?

Actually I will eat my words, just looked on the TV guide here in Berlin. for the NZ vs GB game it is actually on live on TV starting at 4.45pm on Channel 1. (ARD). Sweeet!

If anyone is going to the game from London in the morning then let me know (somehow)

NZ WOMEN'S AND MEN'S FOOTBALL OPENING GAMES FREE TO AIR LIVE ON PRIME TV:

NZ WOMEN V GB LIVE 3AM THURSDAY - a few hours away - according to onscreen guide build-up starts at 2.30am

NZ MEN V BELARUS LIVE 6.35AM FRIDAY

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHEN WATCHING OLYMPIC FOOTBALL ON SKY TV, GROUP GAMES ARE ON VARIOUS TEMPORARY OLYMPIC CHANNELS:

They are positioned directly after the regular Sky Sports channels 1-3 (ch. 30-32) on the Electronic Program Guide on screen BUT NOTE THE CHANNEL NUMBERS ARE IRREGULAR: 

Sky Sport 4 = CH. 131       Sport 5 = ch. 132  Sport 6 = ch. 133    Sport 7 = ch.134     Sport 8 =ch135

NZ Women v GB is live on Sky Sport 5 (ch. 132) at 2.50am

NZ Men v Belarus is on Sport 5 (ch.132) at 6.35am Friday 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

BEST SOURCE OF NEWS ON THE WOMEN'S FOOTBALL OUT OF THE BRITISH PAPERS IS THE GUARDIAN:

Latest reports here: Ticket sales for the women's football are really taking off now - heading for a world record for a women's match GB v Brazil next Tues. (70,000 sold already !!!):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2012/jul/25/london-2012-olympics-two-days-to-go-live-blog?newsfeed=true

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/24/team-gb-women-football-preview

PREVIEW GREAT BRITAIN V NEW ZEALAND WOMEN Georgina Turner guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 24 July 2012 22.10 BST

• Women's football's big opportunity in Olympics
• Around 40,000 tickets sold for first match

This time Britain's women will compete with nobody else for attention, a chance to grab the kind of audience that they have rarely, if ever, been afforded. "I am really pleased it has happened this way," said Powell, who has defended the selection of 16 English players and two Scots (Kim Little and Iffy Dieke) by saying she disregarded associations and focused instead on the best possible squad.

Friday's 0-0 draw with Sweden, ranked fourth in the world (England and Scotland are currently ninth and 21st respectively) and tipped for a medal, was a solid result, but perhaps not a sufficiently spectacular game to seduce a casual viewer.

New Zealand drew with England at the Peace Cup in 2010 and the last meeting between the two, at the 2011 World Cup, produced a host of chances – mainly for England, but the Football Ferns were more accurate with their shooting and England had to come back from behind to win in the 81st minute.

Such meetings are the best available for a comparison ahead of Wednesday's game, which should be one in which neither side chooses to sit back and soak up pressure. Rachel Yankey was a second-half substitute against Sweden but enjoyed the best of a running battle with New Zealand's right flank last summer, when both teams made full use of the wide areas.

Amber Hearn set up the opening goal for Sarah Gregorius after running into space in part opened up by the England right-back and player of the match Alex Scott's gallivanting. The New Zealand coach, Tony Readings, has his own marauding full-back fit again as Ali Riley has recovered from an ankle injury picked up recently against Canada.

The warm-up against Canada ended in a 2-0 defeat for New Zealand, whose press noted the stature and physical nature of their opponents. GB are not an excessively aggressive team but certainly a tenacious one. Powell has a strong No9 available in Ellen White, robust midfield options in Fara Williams and Anita Asante, and a tough and well-organised defence.

Stationed in the centre alongside Stoney, Dieke, who plays her club football in Sweden for Vittsjo, is ostensibly filling the recently retired captain Faye White's boots, and got off to a good start with a player of the match performance on Friday.

If GB are to win the game and capture hearts and minds – to grasp this latest 'moment' – it will be down to the squad's creative forces to spark. Everton's Jill Scott is an exceptionally consistent player on the international stage and will look to influence things from a deeper midfield position; ahead of her, GB must fit six in to four.

Against Sweden, Little roamed behind and Eni Aluko and White either side of Smith, who looked to be close to her probing and confident best after recovering from a stress fracture, before Yankey and Karen Carney were introduced in the second half. Both wingers will have their fingers crossed for a start against New Zealand after combining well.

Interview with "arguably the greatest female footballer Britain has ever produced", current squad member Kelly Smith.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/24/london-2012-kelly-smith-boys

"I've never had the opportunity to play in the Olympics and we've got a chance to break the world record [of 76,000] for the biggest crowd to watch a women's match. A week ago we'd sold 70,000 tickets for our game [next Tuesday at Wembley] against Brazil. I think, with the Olympic buzz, we could do it."

Anyone going to the game today?  I'm going to be there proudly flying my flag.  I see you'll be there Feverish, anyone else from around here?