All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams

Football Ferns

4463 replies · 834,064 views
01 Dec 08:44
Fenix
LT01
Fenix
You think we have problems?

China,ranked next to Australia, just got beat 8-0 by England! Can we play them next?
 And England beat Australia 3-0 about a month ago. On that basis losing 8-0 to them is pretty comparable to us losing 5-0 to Aussie.
really? I'd suggest our results are piss poor. There is nothing to suggest our ranking is doing anything but heading downwards.

I'm not going to discuss the reasons for that here, but we are in a poor state I'd say.


I wasn't disagreeing with that - just pointing out that China losing 8-0 to England is barely worse than us losing 5-0 to Aussie. So it's not exactly much solace that they lost by more because they played a better team.

On another note, I think the concerning thing is a perception that we played a great team and Aussie are elite. They're not. They went on a great run at the WWC but other than that, they're some way behind the big hitters such as USA, Spain, England, Germany. That shows you just how many miles behind the pacesetters we are.
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02 Dec 00:52 · edited 02 Dec 00:53 · History
Hope we do better. Won't be able to watch as its on too late for a work night. 
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02 Dec 08:41


Tonight's lineup 
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02 Dec 08:48 · edited 02 Dec 08:50 · History
Is that a 3-5-2? Where’s Bott and Moore and Riley playing? 
Half a Pint


Tonight's lineup 
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02 Dec 09:12
Moore and Rennie.
Like tits on a bull.
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02 Dec 09:17
Well as far as I can see I’m the only Ferns supporter in the away section (even if one of the Aussie fans sitting next to me greeted me with a friendly “kia ora”), and there are wall-to-wall advertising hoardings blocking where I’d hoped to hang the Flying Kiwis banner, but still it was worth it - hopefully Flea comes on for her final game!
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02 Dec 09:19
Good luck to Wisniewski.
She's given a huge ask there.
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02 Dec 09:42
Unused sub
Is that a 3-5-2? Where’s Bott and Moore and Riley playing? 
Half a Pint


Tonight's lineup 

Er. Where is it on TVNZ? All I can see is Deal or No deal.
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02 Dec 10:01
Fenix
Unused sub
Is that a 3-5-2? Where’s Bott and Moore and Riley playing? 
Half a Pint


Tonight's lineup 

Er. Where is it on TVNZ? All I can see is Deal or No deal.
It's on TVNZ+
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02 Dec 10:05
So far we are looking. Nope spoke too soon. Why are we leaving their wide players completely open to receive passes? we are holding off about 5-8m away from them instead of getting tighter and making the player in possession think twice about even passing to them. We are defending narrow, but then are allowing them acres of space to run down our wings and we are not switched on enough to track their runners off the ball very well. 
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02 Dec 10:19
So close to an equaliser! That would've been great!
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02 Dec 10:29
Australia totally dominating the game. But I like our set up. Have created a few genuine chances.
No matter what the end result. We Really need to score a goal today.
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02 Dec 10:29
Well that half was okay. Created a bit. Made life hard for them at times. Got into bad habits in the middle of that half letting them run at us and have too much space on the wings but wrestled momentum back since. Just need to keep creating and believing the goal will come, and probably shut down their key players like Raso, Foord better.
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02 Dec 10:31
Ranix
Australia totally dominating the game. But I like our set up. Have created a few genuine chances.
No matter what the end result. We Really need to score a goal today.
I don't mind letting them dominate possession. If we can't press well, I don't the see point in pressing them. Let them play out from the back and have comfortable possession in their own half/the halfway line. But just need to shore it up more in our defensive third.
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02 Dec 10:38
Half a Pint
Fenix
Unused sub
Is that a 3-5-2? Where’s Bott and Moore and Riley playing? 
Half a Pint


Tonight's lineup 

Er. Where is it on TVNZ? All I can see is Deal or No deal.
It's on TVNZ+

Ah, so NZ Footballs publicity doesn't even provide the correct channel...
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02 Dec 10:40 · edited 02 Dec 10:42 · History
To be fair she's (Wisneski, )been one of our better players in the first half. Incredible work rate and a real threat on attack. Could have scored twice on another day. Good to see Maine looking to the future instead of dragging has beens out again. Now let's see Pynenburg and Hahn out there.
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02 Dec 11:05
Alina Santos on debut has been very assured and professional in goal. Awesome stuff
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02 Dec 11:31
Our decision-making in front of goal been disappointing today. With the runs made and opportunities forged today we probably shoulda put one in the net
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02 Dec 12:37
LT01
Our decision-making in front of goal been disappointing today. With the runs made and opportunities forged today we probably shoulda put one in the net
 
When the ball bounced onto the top netting in the 88th minute I almost thought we had!
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02 Dec 12:53 · edited 02 Dec 12:54 · History
Other things from the game, announced attendance was 15,097 which I think is fairly close to capacity.

And I don’t know if it made the TV coverage (I suspect they deliberately didn’t show it), but some idiots threw a couple of flares and a smoke bomb onto the corner of the pitch right in front of me. Thankfully the players were a good distance away and the staff dealt to things promptly, but still I’m appalled anyone would do that.
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02 Dec 22:49
Simon B
Other things from the game, announced attendance was 15,097 which I think is fairly close to capacity.

And I don’t know if it made the TV coverage (I suspect they deliberately didn’t show it), but some idiots threw a couple of flares and a smoke bomb onto the corner of the pitch right in front of me. Thankfully the players were a good distance away and the staff dealt to things promptly, but still I’m appalled anyone would do that.
Thats a great showing for Adelaide, but I'd argue with proper marketing in Auckland we could've gotten close to that.
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02 Dec 22:59 · edited 02 Dec 23:18 · History
On a Tuesday night, days after an ALM match at Mt Smart I seriously doubt it. Discretionary football dollars and all that

From memory outside the WWC the biggest Ferns home crowd was about 7k at the ROF for that awful match against Japan under Heraf

The Matildas on the other hand are a seriously big draw card now on the Australian sporting scene 
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03 Dec 02:58 · edited 03 Dec 03:12 · History
Only saw the final 20 mins, but Santos looked very solid, athletic and generally impressed. Gutsy call by Mayne to start her.

Puts some future pressure on Esson & Leat re starting keeper.
Santos definitely one to watch when she finishes at her US College

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360893402/football-ferns-make-matildas-work-win-annalie-longos-final-game

Mayne again gets asked about the absence of Stott, but MM reveals little.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/12/03/what-coaches-had-to-say-after-second-football-ferns-game-against-australia/
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03 Dec 05:23 · edited 03 Dec 05:24 · History




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08 Dec 23:40
  • Maya Hahn – Having had a crack at making the Germany U20s a few years back (her chances spoiled by covid), Hahn flipped back to Aotearoa this year and quickly became a regular presence in the midfield, showing great technical ability, some decent defensive work, and scoring the winner against Costa Rica. With Longo’s retirement, Hahn’s profile is only going to rise further.

  • Kelli Brown – Debuted this year and went on to play every game. Still searching for a first goal for the national team but it’s clear her hustle and workrate have made an impression on her coaches. Probably not a starter but she’s now a regular squadie.

  • Emma Pijnenburg – She’s someone who the casuals (aka non-Flying Kiwis readers) may not have even heard of yet but EP played in 7/9 games this year. All off the bench. Sometimes at wing-back but increasingly in her preferred midfield position as the year went on. Another good technical player in that area, still young and trying to earn more minutes at Feyenoord in the Netherlands but she’s on the right track.

Michael Mayne was asked at game two press conference to elaborate on what he said about Rebekah Stott getting her necessary feedback over selections. The feedback thing seems to have been more of a point about having team protocol ensuring good communication with players but make of this what you will (if you can make anything of it at all)...

“I think we've we've done a good job to shift internally our processes so that players are getting the feedback they need. We have a really strong campaign plan that takes us through to ‘27 and beyond. That needs clarity for players. Like I said the other night, it's not just Stotty. There's other players that have feedback in terms of where we're at, what we're trying to shift, and what they can do. It's different for each player. I can't elaborate because that's a conversation between me and the players. But what I'd say is, like, Stotty’s a class player. She's been around this team for a long time. There's other players that aren't here as well that have put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that shirt. As you can probably see, even tonight, because we had to manage some players, I haven't been afraid to change that team up and test them at the highest level and that's probably where we're at in our program. This year was a big piece around understanding what we've got in that wider squad and it's yeah there's things that me and Stotty have have discussed around where she's at and what she needs to do and it's the same for every every player. So I think, again, it's part of our process. It's giving the players the information they need and then we get another window and we see what happens.”
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24 Dec 06:10
Article says Michael Mayne was a NZ U20 international.

https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/michael-mayne-new-zealand-football-ferns/

So tragically did some trainspotting and see that he was part of the NZ20s at OFC WC qualifying tourney in 2005 (in Solomons). NZ finished 5th!!
Lost to both Fiji & the Solomons

Champions Australia (12th title)
Runners-up Solomon Islands
Third place Vanuatu
Fourth place Fiji

Was the last OFC tourney with Australia in it (they won) before all Australian national teams joined in with AFC.

Spoonley, Tinkler, Old, Brockie, Kris Bright and Ian Hogg probably the most well known players in that team. Also included a guy called Prince Quanash
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27 Jan 09:05
We’re one month out from Round 2 of the Oceania WWC 2027 qualifiers (27 Feb - 5 March).

Group A:

American Samoa
New Zealand
Samoa
Solomon Islands

Matches at National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Group B:

Fiji
New Caledonia
Papua New Guinea
Vanuatu

Matches at Govind Park, Ba, Fiji.

Semi-finals are both at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on Sunday 12 April, final at North Harbour evening of Wednesday 15 April (if you plan on attending, don’t forget the Nix men play in Christchurch on Saturday 18th).

Any guesses on when the Ferns squad will be announced?
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01 Feb 23:14
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04 Feb 01:04 · edited 04 Feb 01:06 · History

Squad
Goalkeepers: Vic Esson, Alina Santos, Maddie Iro

Defenders: Michaela Foster, Liz Anton, Claudia Bunge, Meikayla Moore, Lara Wall, Mackenzie Barry, Rebekah Stott

Midfielders: Katie Kitching, Indiah-Paige Riley, Manaia Elliott, Hannah Blake, Charlotte Lancaster, Maya Hahn, Deven Jackson, Grace Wisnewski, Emma Pijnenburg, Grace Jale, Pia Vlok

Forwards: Kelli Brown, Milly Clegg
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04 Feb 02:03 · edited 04 Feb 02:03 · History
coochiee

Squad
Goalkeepers: Vic Esson, Alina Santos, Maddie Iro

Defenders: Michaela Foster, Liz Anton, Claudia Bunge, Meikayla Moore, Lara Wall, Mackenzie Barry, Rebekah Stott

Midfielders: Katie Kitching, Indiah-Paige Riley, Manaia Elliott, Hannah Blake, Charlotte Lancaster, Maya Hahn, Deven Jackson, Grace Wisnewski, Emma Pijnenburg, Grace Jale, Pia Vlok

Forwards: Kelli Brown, Milly Clegg
Ranix


Neville not mentioned. 

Need to ship out Moore and Anton. VDM and Lake are better than them.

Barry and Jale back in deservedly.

We are light on goalscorers!

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04 Feb 03:27 · edited 04 Feb 03:30 · History
Everyone is a potential goal scorer in these games. Chance to blow out one’s stats


Friday, February 27, 3pm: v Samoa; National Stadium, Honiara
Monday, March 2, 7pm: v Solomon Islands; National Stadium
Thursday, March 5, 3pm: v American Samoa; National Stadium
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05 Feb 11:58
Fenix
coochiee

Squad
Goalkeepers: Vic Esson, Alina Santos, Maddie Iro

Defenders: Michaela Foster, Liz Anton, Claudia Bunge, Meikayla Moore, Lara Wall, Mackenzie Barry, Rebekah Stott

Midfielders: Katie Kitching, Indiah-Paige Riley, Manaia Elliott, Hannah Blake, Charlotte Lancaster, Maya Hahn, Deven Jackson, Grace Wisnewski, Emma Pijnenburg, Grace Jale, Pia Vlok

Forwards: Kelli Brown, Milly Clegg
Ranix


Neville not mentioned. 

Need to ship out Moore and Anton. VDM and Lake are better than them.

Barry and Jale back in deservedly.

We are light on goalscorers!



Something maybe happening with Neville club wise. From Niche Cache......


Elsewhere, Bristol City smacked Sunderland 3-0 and Katie Kitching only played 22 minutes off the bench for some reason. Ipswich Town were able to grab a 1-1 draw away to Newcastle but Grace Neville wasn’t involved. A key player through the first half of the campaign yet she only played two minutes last week and wasn’t even on the bench this time so this could be Watch This Space territory.
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06 Feb 01:57
coochiee
Everyone is a potential goal scorer in these games. Chance to blow out one’s stats


Friday, February 27, 3pm: v Samoa; National Stadium, Honiara
Monday, March 2, 7pm: v Solomon Islands; National Stadium
Thursday, March 5, 3pm: v American Samoa; National Stadium

Manifesting Vic Esson goal
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13 Feb 00:10
Happy retirement Betsy.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/02/13/midfielder-betsy-hassett-retires-from-ferns-after-160-cap-international-career/

Midfielder Betsy Hassett has called time on her international career, announcing her retirement from the Football Ferns.

Hassett (35) played 160 games for New Zealand, scoring 16 goals, in her 17-year international career.

She was a member of four FIFA Women’s World Cup squads, represented New Zealand at three Olympic Games, and is the third-most-capped Fern of all time.

Acknowledging Hassett’s contribution, NZ Football told social media followers: “A role model in every sense and a Ferns icon through and through. Thank you for everything, Betsy.”

Auckland-born Hassett began playing football at four, and played school football, captaining Avondale College’s girls first team.

She left for the United States in 2009 for three seasons with the California Golden Bears, at the University of California, Berkeley.

Her club career took her to big-name clubs such as Manchester City (UK), Werder Bremen (Germany), Ajax (Netherlands) and Stjarnan (Iceland), and a season in the women’s A-League with the Wellington Phoenix in 2022-23.

Hassett and partner Gummi became parents to son Nói in 2024.

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19 Feb 08:46
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