Jitka Klimková joined Ria Percival on the @skysportnz Kiwi Football Fix to talk about what it means to lead a Ford Football Ferns camp in NZ for the first time 🇳🇿
It's time for NZF to come out with a statement that she's no longer going to be picked. Moving on etc.
I would expect the same if Wood started behaving like this not that I think he ever would. I was certainly no fan of Hay and Nelsen doing it in their primes when Vicelich always turned up and would have been happy if NZS/NZF walked away from the two of them.
I'm off to the match soon. Not expecting much of a crowd due to the poor promotion of the matches. I haven't seen any advertising in the local papers etc. The free Star city-wide paper had no mention of today's game. It's a double-edged sword having a game during Show week in Christchurch. There are lots of people from outside the city visiting but on the other hand, there are so many other events on. (It's the last day of the races at Riccarton today) So you really have to put an effort into promoting any sports event. Back in 1995 when the All Whites played a friendly against the Socceroos during Show Week 10,000 showed up at QE II Stadium. That was considered a very good crowd at a time when the All Whites weren't drawing big crowds, especially for friendlies. I knew the late David Cox, then a City Councillor and NZFA board member, who was in charge of organizing the game and suggested to him that he take out advertising in the Star. My friend's dad worked for the Star and a double page promotional feature worked out very reasonable. Squad list, player photos and pen portraits of some players. Proper advertising does pay off - worth spending a bit of money on it.
Alot of the tickets were given away to school children for free as not much interest raised - possibly wrong venue or higher expectations that what people are really interested in or willing to pay Wonder if the evening game will spark more interest
I’m only now getting really into the Ferns and have been doing some thinking about what our best XI might look like for the World Cup. Assuming everyone was fit and available (which almost definitely won’t be the case), might our best XI look something like this? 3A04B08B-5E69-4368-9E04-D073BC385C6A.jpeg403.66 KBI’m still not 100% certain about different player’s best positions, especially since there’s no database like transfermarkt for women’s football, soccerway is useless for position info.
I’m only now getting really into the Ferns and have been doing some thinking about what our best XI might look like for the World Cup. Assuming everyone was fit and available (which almost definitely won’t be the case), might our best XI look something like this? 3A04B08B-5E69-4368-9E04-D073BC385C6A.jpeg403.66 KBI’m still not 100% certain about different player’s best positions, especially since there’s no database like transfermarkt for women’s football, soccerway is useless for position info.
That looks like it might be just about the most boring Ferns team to ever play. And that's saying something.
Well said Katie. If she not interested don't bother chasing her.
They were team mates this season at NC Courage in the USWL. But reading that article seems they may not completely see eye to eye.
Bowen will certainly know where Erceg is at, more than anyone re the Ferns.
Fair enough making yourself unavailable if not happy with Heraf, given what came out afterwards. But if she's doing it all over again because she is not a fan of Klimkova (may be the case, and may not) then it's just getting a bit self centred, tiresome - and yeah move on.
It'll be interesting to see who will take over the captaincy once Riley retires. At 35, I suspect the World Cup could be the last time we see her in a Ferns jersey, if she's available that is.
Anyway, I think the most likely candidates to be the next captain will probably be Percival, Hassett, Longo, and maybe Green. Unfortunately out of those four, Hassett is the only nailed on starter at the moment. Bowen could also be included in there as well.
She clearly not showing same level of want and commitment as others whether she would walk into the team or not. Katie a senior player so if she be passed about her coming back into the fold I'm sure other will be as well. Some frosty handshake (Bruno and Cristiano style) would be in order.
It'll be interesting to see who will take over the captaincy once Riley retires. At 35, I suspect the World Cup could be the last time we see her in a Ferns jersey, if she's available that is.
Anyway, I think the most likely candidates to be the next captain will probably be Percival, Hassett, Longo, and maybe Green. Unfortunately Hassett is the only nailed on starter at the moment.
Esson captained the team against Korea didn't she?
If there is a big cleanout/lots of retirements, post WC don't rule out Taylor. She's very young but obviously a born leader.
Though a few senior players will no doubt try to hang in for the Paris Olympics (less than 2 years away)
It'll be interesting to see who will take over the captaincy once Riley retires. At 35, I suspect the World Cup could be the last time we see her in a Ferns jersey, if she's available that is.
Anyway, I think the most likely candidates to be the next captain will probably be Percival, Hassett, Longo, and maybe Green. Unfortunately Hassett is the only nailed on starter at the moment.
Esson captained the team against Korea didn't she?
If there is a big cleanup/lots of retirements, post WC don't rule out Taylor. She's very young but obviously a born leader.
Though a few senior players will no doubt try in hang in for the Paris Olympics (less than 2 years away)
Yeah I agree with you on Taylor and that it may just depend on what senior players we have left after the WC up until the Olympics.
If Percival, Longo, and Green also retire after the WC and Esson did captain the team during the Korea games, then I'd say going forward Bowen, Hassett, Taylor, and Esson are leading candidates.
Rosie White is another that for what ever reason has unfortunately disappeared from the football scene. Double Bummer. Would be a different team with those two involved.
amazing, if only NZF had put this much effort into getting the men home games before their world cup campaign.
I love sticking it to NZF as much as anyone, but that was out of their hands with the borders shut, and football doesn't allow for MIQ like cricket or rugby. The first window they could've played at home since November 2019 was September this year, which they did. Burgess reported in NZH a couple weeks ago that NZF are closing in on two home games for March next year as well, and if they pull that off I think it said it'll be only the third time since 2006 they have played two home games in one window.
amazing, if only NZF had put this much effort into getting the men home games before their world cup campaign.
I love sticking it to NZF as much as anyone, but that was out of their hands with the borders shut, and football doesn't allow for MIQ like cricket or rugby. The first window they could've played at home since November 2019 was September this year, which they did. Burgess reported in NZH a couple weeks ago that NZF are closing in on two home games for March next year as well, and if they pull that off I think it said it'll be only the third time since 2006 they have played two home games in one window.
that's fair for the COVID impact, but lets be honest, the mens team have never had 5 home games scheduled just months before a world cup. The women have 2 against the USA, 1 against portugal and then 2 against Argentina. When can you say the men have ever had the kind of quality on our shores in the space of a few months?
amazing, if only NZF had put this much effort into getting the men home games before their world cup campaign.
I love sticking it to NZF as much as anyone, but that was out of their hands with the borders shut, and football doesn't allow for MIQ like cricket or rugby. The first window they could've played at home since November 2019 was September this year, which they did. Burgess reported in NZH a couple weeks ago that NZF are closing in on two home games for March next year as well, and if they pull that off I think it said it'll be only the third time since 2006 they have played two home games in one window.
that's fair for the COVID impact, but lets be honest, the mens team have never had 5 home games scheduled just months before a world cup. The women have 2 against the USA, 1 against portugal and then 2 against Argentina. When can you say the men have ever had the kind of quality on our shores in the space of a few months?
To be fair. Its all obviously because we are hosting the womens world cup next year. Teams want to come here to check it out. We are having a world cup qualification tournament here etc. Got to compare apples with apples.
Plus with the far greater depth in the mens game, and various Confederations intense qualifying programs that run basically right up to the 2nd last window pre a WC - it's nigh impossible to get any quality teams to travel to NZ. Always will be.
Fair play to Prganell if he can bring 2 teams to NZ in March. Coupled with the Socceroo game back in September. Will be virtual feast of AWs action at home.
Plus with the far greater depth in the mens game, and various Confederations intense qualifying programs that run basically right up to the 2nd last window pre a WC - it's nigh impossible to get any quality teams to travel to NZ. Always will be.
Fair play to Prganell if he can bring 2 teams to NZ in March. Coupled with the Socceroo game back in September. Will be virtual feast of AWs action at home.
if he manages to bring 2 homes games in march the I'll accept it as an apology foir the lack of apparrent effort to bring the AW's home for so many years.
Huge jump from NZ National League to playing the world champs!! But wonder if any of the NL players stand out, the Nix ALW side could sign them to short term season ending deal(s). They have a pretty skinny squad.
Of these, Hassett not available for game on 21st. Presupposing that is so she can play for WPX next day, what of the others? Game day minus one would normally be light training. Might depend on how much fern time they get; I know Mackenzie Barry is super fit so could probably do a half for ferns and play next day without much detriment.
Football Ferns veteran Betsy Hassett will miss Wellington Phoenix’s clash with A-League Women pacesetters Western United so she can be a bridesmaid at former New Zealand team-mate Rosie White’s wedding.
The only positive I can see in this squad is the opportunity for some national league players and other fringe players to get a go in the Ferns environment. Biggest worry for me is looking at our defenders. Sounds like Ally Riley is not good for 90 minutes. Anton and Barry won't start the first game as they are playing in Perth just days before. Take those three players out and the starting line up at the back is very likely to be a combination of players that have never played together before. Against a USA attack that are out to prove they are worthy of a place in a World Cup squad. Hope I'm wrong, but we could potentially get torn apart here.
