History for coochiee

Interesting that AV doesn't see veterans like Ali Riley, Percival, Hassett, Longo & Wilkinson as lockins for the Olympics. Riley no longer captain, but still playing at a high level in the USWL.

Would be a bit of an uproar I suspect if Clegg & Fraser weren't picked. So that makes 12 lockins I reckon.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350184096/football-ferns-secure-paris-olympics-place-big-win

As things stand, barring an upset by Uzbekistan over the Matildas, New Zealand will be seeded ninth, which means they’ll be in pot three for the draw, which therefore means they will draw two tough opponents and either Colombia - World Cup quarterfinalists in 2023 - or one of the two African teams.

The hopes and prayers for the friendliest draw possible can start in earnest once the pots are locked in. If Colombia, currently ranked 26th, were to catch the Ferns, ranked 22nd, before then (so Ferns drop to seeded tenth), the picture would change, and thee tough opponents would be on the cards again.

In the meantime, Ferns coach Jitka Klimková has some big decisions to make.

Since the start of July last year, when her side began their final preparations for the World Cup on home soil, she has called on 38 different players.

Only 18 will be allowed in the squad for the Olympics, while four will go as travelling reserves.

Five months out, you can probably write 10 names down in bold, when you account for the fact that the Olympics are being treated, to a certain extent, as a stepping stone for the 2027 World Cup.

They are goalkeepers Esson and Anna Leat, who started the final and semifinal respectively in Samoa; fullback CJ Bott (absent from this tournament); centre backs Bowen, Claudia Bunge and Rebekah Stott; midfielder Malia Steinmetz (also absent); and forwards Hand, Jale and Riley (India P-R).

The other eight spots are there to be won, starting in April, when the Ferns host Thailand for two matches in Christchurch.

Interesting that AV doesn't see veterans like Ali Riley, Hassett, Longo & Wilkinson as lockins for the Olympics. Riley no longer captain, but still playing at a high level in the USWL.

Would be a bit of an uproar I suspect if Clegg & Fraser weren't picked. So that makes 12 lockins I reckon.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350184096/football-ferns-secure-paris-olympics-place-big-win

As things stand, barring an upset by Uzbekistan over the Matildas, New Zealand will be seeded ninth, which means they’ll be in pot three for the draw, which therefore means they will draw two tough opponents and either Colombia - World Cup quarterfinalists in 2023 - or one of the two African teams.

The hopes and prayers for the friendliest draw possible can start in earnest once the pots are locked in. If Colombia, currently ranked 26th, were to catch the Ferns, ranked 22nd, before then (so Ferns drop to seeded tenth), the picture would change, and thee tough opponents would be on the cards again.

In the meantime, Ferns coach Jitka Klimková has some big decisions to make.

Since the start of July last year, when her side began their final preparations for the World Cup on home soil, she has called on 38 different players.

Only 18 will be allowed in the squad for the Olympics, while four will go as travelling reserves.

Five months out, you can probably write 10 names down in bold, when you account for the fact that the Olympics are being treated, to a certain extent, as a stepping stone for the 2027 World Cup.

They are goalkeepers Esson and Anna Leat, who started the final and semifinal respectively in Samoa; fullback CJ Bott (absent from this tournament); centre backs Bowen, Claudia Bunge and Rebekah Stott; midfielder Malia Steinmetz (also absent); and forwards Hand, Jale and Riley (India P-R).

The other eight spots are there to be won, starting in April, when the Ferns host Thailand for two matches in Christchurch.

Interesting that AV doesn't see veterans like Ali Riley, Hassett, Longo & Wilkinson as lockins for the Olympics. Riley no longer captain, but still playing at a high level in the USWL.

Would be a bit of an uproar I suspect if Clegg & Fraser weren't picked. So that makes 12 lockins I reckon.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350184096/football-ferns-secure-paris-olympics-place-big-win

As things stand, barring an upset by Uzbekistan over the Matildas, New Zealand will be seeded ninth, which means they’ll be in pot three for the draw, which therefore means they will draw two tough opponents and either Colombia - World Cup quarterfinalists in 2023 - or one of the two African teams.

The hopes and prayers for the friendliest draw possible can start in earnest once the pots are locked in. If Colombia, currently ranked 26th, were to catch the Ferns, ranked 22nd, before then (so Ferns drop to seeded tenth), the picture would change, and thee tough opponents would be on the cards again.

In the meantime, Ferns coach Jitka Klimková has some big decisions to make.

Since the start of July last year, when her side began their final preparations for the World Cup on home soil, she has called on 38 different players.

Only 18 will be allowed in the squad for the Olympics, while four will go as travelling reserves.

Five months out, you can probably write 10 names down in bold, when you account for the fact that the Olympics are being treated, to a certain extent, as a stepping stone for the 2027 World Cup.

They are goalkeepers Esson and Anna Leat, who started the final and semifinal respectively in Samoa; fullback CJ Bott (absent from this tournament); centre backs Bowen, Claudia Bunge and Rebekah Stott; midfielder Malia Steinmetz (also absent); and forwards Hand, Jale and Riley.

The other eight spots are there to be won, starting in April, when the Ferns host Thailand for two matches in Christchurch.