Football Ferns 2024 Paris Olympics

Friendly verus Zambia. KO 3am NZT Sunday
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/new-zealand-v-zambia-women-international-friendly-2024/41751e06-ca47-4b69-bc7a-872dfe5d52c5

This is the Ferns Olympics squad.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/142844?newsfeedId=1275608&newsfeedPageNum=1
Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville FC, USA
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, USA
Ally Green* (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand* (27 caps) Unattached
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa FC, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Unattached
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City FC, USA
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached

*First time being involved in an Olympic campaign

In addition, Claudia Bunge (HB Koge, Denmark), Michaela Foster (Unattached), Annalie Longo (Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand), and Murphy Sheaff (Kansas State University, USA) have been named as travelling reserves.

coochiee

Friendly verus Zambia. KO 3am NZT Sunday
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/new-zealand-v-zambia-women-international-friendly-2024/41751e06-ca47-4b69-bc7a-872dfe5d52c5

This is the Ferns Olympics squad.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/142844?newsfeedId=1275608&newsfeedPageNum=1
Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville FC, USA
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, USA
Ally Green* (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand* (27 caps) Unattached
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa FC, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Unattached
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City FC, USA
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached

*First time being involved in an Olympic campaign

In addition, Claudia Bunge (HB Koge, Denmark), Michaela Foster (Unattached), Annalie Longo (Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand), and Murphy Sheaff (Kansas State University, USA) have been named as travelling reserves.

So good to see Unattached FC well represented again. Great reward for their amazing fan base.

To be fair it will naturally be more common in the women's game, with 1 year contracts often de rigueur. Plus it's now the off season for most leagues.

I know it's only a friendly but feel like this match against Zambia is actually quite important. 

We're badly in need of a confidence boost and some good news after the past 8-10 months of issues (I mean we haven't beaten a serious team), not to mention the more recent blowup regarding player power and Jitka Klimkova.

Whatever is going on behind closed scenes, they need to pull together and put out  a respectable showing at these Olympics.

I will be watching and have faith in a 2-1 win...

First half pretty much gone as expected, 0-0 at the break.

Zambia started very badly defensively but unfortunately we couldn't take advantage, we have had more attacks and making some good passing combinations but often lacking final ball.

Clegg rounded the keeper and shot at goal but a defender blocked it, so we should probably be a goal up tbh.

Zambia created a bit more as the half went on, usually through intercepting bad passes or utilizing their pace on the wings.

1-1 draw it finishes.

We had a lot of chances - could have and should have won it. Zambia scored first early-ish in the second half with a header off a set piece, Katie Kitching equalizing with a penalty kick.

Standouts for NZ imo - Kitching was a creative force and moved about well again, and Foster made a good impact off the bench. Bowen as well looked pretty assured.

Disappointments - Leat okay with saves but very shaky in distribution, Clegg couldn't hit a barn door today tbh.

Still have no confidence in either of these teams getting out of the group stage.

Thanks for the analysis, there was no article on stuff so this is great. 

Leat came on for Esson with 20 mins left?  Ali Riley rather than Bowen the captain which is interesting.

Pretty close to full strength starting lineup.
3 attackers in Fraser, India Paige-Riley & Jale all rested.

Zambia kept Banda on the bench until 73 mins.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/07/13/world/friendly-women/new-zealand/zambia/4398021/

Our starting XI to take on Zambia is in 🇳🇿⚔️🇿🇲

Grace Jale, Macey Fraser, and Indi Riley have been rested for the match as a precaution 🔄

🎥 Watch the match live and free on FIFA+: https://t.co/lCPzDkDgZO pic.twitter.com/gTZCCqtT0E

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) July 13, 2024

Brief highlights.
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/new-zealand-v-zambia-women-international-friendly-highlights-2024/9e4adaf2-b327-46e5-9c8d-921b3a8e984f

Thought it was a pretty entertaining game. Pretty positive play from the FFs. Some nice combinations building in this team. Stott - Bowen. Taylor - Steinmetz. Kitching was industrious and looked good. Thought Clegg, looking the most likely to score, getting into dangerous positions, getting shots away. (doing well considering this is like her 3rd real game in the last 9 months or so).
We now need to figure out who best complements Clegg up front. Thought Hand didn't really involve herself enough and leaves the door open for others to grab that starting spot. 

Had enough chances to win it, unfortunately struggled to get decent shots off in a few scrambles in the box. 

But overall a lot of positives to take from the match and with another almost 2 weeks together before the Canada match they should be able to strengthen their understanding of each other on the pitch.

Hopefully Macey Fraser's ankle will be fine in 12 days as I think she'll be able to inject a lot of creativity into our attacks and make us more of a threat going forward.

I get there's some positives to take out but man we still look like a team that doesn't know how to score and doesn't know how to win. You can say we should have won on the chances but that is also true for Argentina (second game), Philippines and Thailand (second game). It's not unlucky, it's a pattern of a team that doesn't know how to win.

Just had a look now - we have a record of W2 D2 L6 against teams ranked below us (non-OFC) since the start of 2023. Not blaming the stand-in coach but when this whole Olympics is over and Jitka surely leaves for good, there needs to be an overhaul.

Watched the highlights, wow, I dont know how there were only 2 goals in that game! Ferns should certainly have scored more, timing and positioning of runs onto the cross could certainly improve. But Zambia had equally good chances with their pace, and it looks like we had some excellent last minute defending and keeping.

coochiee

Leat came on for Esson with 20 mins left?  Ali Riley rather than Bowen the captain which is interesting.

Pretty close to full strength starting lineup.
3 attackers in Fraser, India Paige-Riley & Jale all rested.

Zambia kept Banda on the bench until 73 mins.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/07/13/world/friendly-women/new-zealand/zambia/4398021/

Our starting XI to take on Zambia is in 🇳🇿⚔️🇿🇲

Grace Jale, Macey Fraser, and Indi Riley have been rested for the match as a precaution 🔄

🎥 Watch the match live and free on FIFA+: https://t.co/lCPzDkDgZO pic.twitter.com/gTZCCqtT0E

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) July 13, 2024

Ali Riley was captain because she is the captain.

Okay I missed that she was named captain for this Olympics squad. 

But Katie Bowen has mostly been the captain since the WWC? Including many windows when Riley has been available? 

And out of interest AV, is Natalie Lawrence an assistant with the Ferns in France?

coochiee

Okay I missed that she was named captain for this Olympics squad. 

But Katie Bowen has mostly been the captain since the WWC? Including many windows when Riley has been available? 

And out of interest AV, is Natalie Lawrence an assistant with the Ferns in France?

Ali Riley has been captain since she's been captain. There hasn't been any change there. And I believe Lawrence is there, yes.

I would definitely rather be a NZ fan than a Zambian fan in that game. Zambia short passing and possession was terrible. NZ was in complete control. Any opposition player with excellent pace or athletisim is always going to cause worries on counter attacks or goals against the flow for NZ. Other than that NZ was in complete control. 

I am happy with the direction of the new coach. I really believe that if Hannah Wilkinson was not playing or starting against Philippines, we would have found a win in that game. However, in this game if Wilkinson was playing I feel like we would have got a goal from set plays, high balls or off the back of her holding the ball up front. Not saying bring her back just saying my opinion for this game. Clegg right now is a good sub to bring on up front with her energy and getting in the right position. Her final touches/decisions still need to develop and then she will be awesome for NZ. Once Jale is back, she will be the starter up front. Also, believe we would have won if she was able to start and definitely would have her ahead of the left out Wilkinson. The final third attacking needs work in general. Way too many long balls through for sprint races against faster defenders. Need to keep passing and moving in that last third and be creative in finding a way to get forward momentum shots off on the edge or outside the box. Fraser will fix some of those problems. So fingers crossed Fraser and Jale are available to start in all games at the Olympics. Looking forward to it regardless of results. We are definitely building momentum now with the choice of players we have who are going to stronger clubs. 

What player would want to sign a mediocre deal with their existing clubs right now, when they are about to go onto a massive world stage with the hope of picking up contracts with better overseas clubs. 

Rusty Dunks

coochiee

Friendly verus Zambia. KO 3am NZT Sunday
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/new-zealand-v-zambia-women-international-friendly-2024/41751e06-ca47-4b69-bc7a-872dfe5d52c5

This is the Ferns Olympics squad.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/142844?newsfeedId=1275608&newsfeedPageNum=1
Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville FC, USA
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, USA
Ally Green* (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand* (27 caps) Unattached
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa FC, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Unattached
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City FC, USA
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached

*First time being involved in an Olympic campaign

In addition, Claudia Bunge (HB Koge, Denmark), Michaela Foster (Unattached), Annalie Longo (Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand), and Murphy Sheaff (Kansas State University, USA) have been named as travelling reserves.

So good to see Unattached FC well represented again. Great reward for their amazing fan base.

LondonChris

I would definitely rather be a NZ fan than a Zambian fan in that game. Zambia short passing and possession was terrible. NZ was in complete control. Any opposition player with excellent pace or athletisim is always going to cause worries on counter attacks or goals against the flow for NZ. Other than that NZ was in complete control. 

I am happy with the direction of the new coach. I really believe that if Hannah Wilkinson was not playing or starting against Philippines, we would have found a win in that game. However, in this game if Wilkinson was playing I feel like we would have got a goal from set plays, high balls or off the back of her holding the ball up front. Not saying bring her back just saying my opinion for this game. Clegg right now is a good sub to bring on up front with her energy and getting in the right position. Her final touches/decisions still need to develop and then she will be awesome for NZ. Once Jale is back, she will be the starter up front. Also, believe we would have won if she was able to start and definitely would have her ahead of the left out Wilkinson. The final third attacking needs work in general. Way too many long balls through for sprint races against faster defenders. Need to keep passing and moving in that last third and be creative in finding a way to get forward momentum shots off on the edge or outside the box. Fraser will fix some of those problems. So fingers crossed Fraser and Jale are available to start in all games at the Olympics. Looking forward to it regardless of results. We are definitely building momentum now with the choice of players we have who are going to stronger clubs. 

Don't know if you've watched much of the Glory this past season, but if we're pinning our hopes on Jale lifting our attack, we're in a pretty desperate place.

She's a flat-track bully who can score a heap against island teams with her physicality and positioning but beyond that, a poor striker at international level (and not a natural winger).

Clegg on the other hand is a strong talent and needs more gametime for the Ferns, and this is still the case even though she played poorly yesterday.

Finishing in the Women's game in general is very poor - just look at 1 - 1 finishing.

Women almost always shoot directly at the goal keeper, very few ever take it around the goalie.

I think many parts of the women's game has improved on the last 10 - 20 years, especially, the technical side of the game... but the mental aspect (calm finishing) still needs significant work.

To be fair Milly Clegg's finishing is usually excellent. She hasn't played much football of late so you could excuse her for being a bit rusty and she is relatively inexperienced at senior international level. Give her time and she will be one of our most prolific strikers.   

Gaffa

To be fair Milly Clegg's finishing is usually excellent. She hasn't played much football of late so you could excuse her for being a bit rusty and she is relatively inexperienced at senior international level. Give her time and she will be one of our most prolific strikers.   

Scored a great goal against Japan, recent friendlly in Spain.

Still only 18. From Zambia game highlights I watched, she looked a bit gun shy on the physical stuff. But yes that could just be her lack of playing time the last 12 mths, and maybe just looking to avoid any injury before the Olympics proper.

Don't have much expectation for the Ferns 3 games at the Olympics. Too many limited players in the squad.

Hopefully by Los Angeles in 2028, when Fraser and Clegg will have 4 years in the NWSL behind them, and other good technical players like Whinham are playing at a reasonable level overseas - by then you'd hope the Ferns actually look like scoring some goals. 

Plus by then NZ with have two professional ALW teams in NZ, further broadening the pro pathway for young Kiwi girls. We have already seen Clegg, Fraser, Foster, Wisnewski, Taylor, Barry come through the Nix in short order.

But for this Olympics, low expectations.

Two 1 - 1 draws for the u20's against Australia gives me some hope for the future as well.

Aussie football, particuarly in the women's game is at an all time high - so two get two results is a very good indication of some decent talent coming through.

MetalLegNZ

Two 1 - 1 draws for the u20's against Australia gives me some hope for the future as well.

Aussie football, particuarly in the women's game is at an all time high - so two get two results is a very good indication of some decent talent coming through.

 Would be cautious on the optimism - Aus aren't very strong at youth level

MetalLegNZ

Finishing in the Women's game in general is very poor - just look at 1 - 1 finishing.

Women almost always shoot directly at the goal keeper, very few ever take it around the goalie.

I think many parts of the women's game has improved on the last 10 - 20 years, especially, the technical side of the game... but the mental aspect (calm finishing) still needs significant work.

I've seen some cracking goals at club and international level of late here in the UK. I think the finishing thing seems to be down to players out of their depth in pro/international football.

The only position where I think the ladies are still greatly let down is in goal.

Marto

MetalLegNZ

Finishing in the Women's game in general is very poor - just look at 1 - 1 finishing.

Women almost always shoot directly at the goal keeper, very few ever take it around the goalie.

I think many parts of the women's game has improved on the last 10 - 20 years, especially, the technical side of the game... but the mental aspect (calm finishing) still needs significant work.

I've seen some cracking goals at club and international level of late here in the UK. I think the finishing thing seems to be down to players out of their depth in pro/international football.

The only position where I think the ladies are still greatly let down is in goal.

I don't disagree but just wanted to say - 2023 WWC they were much fewer GK mistakes than ever before, and there were honestly more great performances by keepers (cheers Olivia McDaniel) than bad ones. It has progressed a lot over the years, don't be fooled by desperate pages cherry picking the worst for engagement on Instagram reels.

lthomas20

MetalLegNZ

Two 1 - 1 draws for the u20's against Australia gives me some hope for the future as well.

Aussie football, particuarly in the women's game is at an all time high - so two get two results is a very good indication of some decent talent coming through.

 Would be cautious on the optimism - Aus aren't very strong at youth level

I obviously didn’t watch the second game but I thought we did really well in the first game. The Aussie team had some great ALeague starters in the team and we had just a few. But I thought our centre back and centre midfield stood out. So 

Actually remember that Blacks Sticks hockey team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
They topped their pool, and there was alot of excitement, about them suddenly. Then it all turned to custard in the medal round and they finished 6th.

Mandy Smith, Marc Ellis's girl friend, now Dean Baker's wife was one of the stars.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350349733/new-zealands-youngest-olympian-paris-follows-mums-footsteps

Not sure the reigning gold medallists need to resort to spying to get the edge over New Zealandhttps://t.co/5M6pZ6rORt

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 23, 2024

Canada taking the absolute piss here.

This is so embarrassing and it will not go over well at all here in Canada.

And as the quote tweet says - and no disrespect to the Ferns intended - what exactly were we hoping to gain by doing this? I don't think anyone (feel free to disagree with me) is expecting anything unorthodox from Jitka Klimkova on Thursday.

I am sorry our we let our CONCACAF show.

juneof86

This is so embarrassing and it will not go over well at all here in Canada.

And as the quote tweet says - and no disrespect to the Ferns intended - what exactly were we hoping to gain by doing this? I don't think anyone (feel free to disagree with me) is expecting anything unorthodox from Jitka Klimkova on Thursday.

I am sorry our we let our CONCACAF show.

I wouldn't expect much from Jitka on Thursday either. 😆

(You're probably unaware she's taken a leave of absence for the Olympics - It's a shark show down here too!)

YoungHeartHM

juneof86

This is so embarrassing and it will not go over well at all here in Canada.

And as the quote tweet says - and no disrespect to the Ferns intended - what exactly were we hoping to gain by doing this? I don't think anyone (feel free to disagree with me) is expecting anything unorthodox from Jitka Klimkova on Thursday.

I am sorry our we let our CONCACAF show.

I wouldn't expect much from Jitka on Thursday either. 😆

(You're probably unaware she's taken a leave of absence for the Olympics - It's a shark show down here too!)

LOL I clearly was unaware. 

I still can't believe we can afford a drone!  😆 

BTW Herdman probably did the same to Honduras in World Cup qualifying. The Hondurans accused of doing so and this is what Herdman said
https://twitter.com/BTFR17/status/1815879101573660730 

Niche Cache having some fun with it.

Sorry chums, an apology just ain’t gonna cut it this time. We demand reparations in the form of:

👉 A new head coach (Bev Priestman will do - she’s already married to a kiwi)
👉 Some extra attacking players
👉 A default victory
👉 Your gold medals from last time pic.twitter.com/6N8Idnb8DA

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) July 23, 2024

Where’s the drone shot though? https://t.co/k5rJoqdQgx

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) July 23, 2024

Canada have now learn't the secret to unsuccessfully parking the bus.

They must have been worried that with Klimkova gone we might actually have a plan of attack?