Shark. do we have a chance? We've played well against China and Netherlands lately right...
We must have a good chance of beating China who we've beaten in three out of four of our last meetings with a goal differential of 8 : 2. Although China are ranked 14th in the world and NZ 19th, there probably isn't much difference between the sides in reality.
The Netherlands women's team are not as fearsome as their men's team and this is their first appearance at a World Cup.
Their current world ranking is 15 and they have never been higher than 13. They've fluctuated between 13th and 20th over the last six years.
They made the UEFA Women's Finals last year but were knocked out in the group stage, finishing bottom of their group after losing to Norway and Iceland and drawing with Germany 0-0. Iceland are currently ranked 20 in the world and NZ 19th, so it indicates we have quite a chance really.
In qualifying for next year's finals, the Netherlands made it via the play-offs after finishing second to Norway in their not very strong group which contained UEFA lightweights Portugal, Belgium, Greece and Albania (none of them very strong in women's football).
They beat Scotland (ranked 21) over two legs and then Italy (ranked 13) in the play-off final over two legs.
Most of the Dutch squad play for the women's teams of Eredivisie clubs like Ajax, PSV and FC Twente with a few playing in Germany and Sweden. The Dutch women's league is much weaker than the German or Swedish.
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NZ's recent form against our opponents and group preview:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/63912308/Fif...
"New Zealand have played all three teams since the 2011 World Cup. They drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in Cyprus in 2012, lost 2-0 to Canada in Switzerland in 2012, and have played China four times, winning 3-1 and 1-0 in Auckland in 2012, 4-0 in Switzerland in 2013, before losing 1-0 in China earlier this year."