Football Ferns vs Sweden | Tuesday 27th July | 8.00pm | Rifu, Japan

Sweden to field a B side having already qualified?

https://www.facebook.com/footballferns/photos/a.10157259417172021/10157990472707021/

coochiee

Sweden to field a B side having already qualified?

https://www.facebook.com/footballferns/photos/a.10157259417172021/10157990472707021/

Good news - a 3-0 loss will be much more credible than a 6-0 pasting.

Good start by the ladies. Much more promising then the last two games 

Is that Woud in goal again?

Nayler at fault there
But how does the ref stop play after corner was taken for a retake?

Why are TVNZ showing swimming that doesn't even have any kiwis in instead of the game???

watching_from_far

Why are TVNZ showing swimming that doesn't even have any kiwis in instead of the game???

Dead rubber?

Both goals conceded could have been avoided. I feel the ladies do 2 things right, then shoot themselves in the foot.

NZ keepers have not covered themselves in glory at all.

Good effort and intent. A couple of ropey moments by the keeper. Nothing to show we can knock off the top teams unfortunately.  Lacks some flow in link play which might come down to strategy. 

Looked toothless but better in general play.. not sure how the gap between the top teams like Aus, usa and Sweden will close, if at all though 

Yes better showing by the ferns. Intent was there and they did create some genuine chances, but those goals conceded were soft. 
They are still a way off the top tier teams. Not having any lead-up to the tournament didn't help.
A big hill to climb to be competitive at the home world cup in two years. Huge job for who ever the next coach will be.

There is a solid core in this team.
Percival, Hassett, Erceg, Bowen, Riley. Were all good.
Cleverley probably the breakout young player. She is still playing college football I believe. 
Bott improved as tournament went on.
Moore was reliable and generally pretty solid.
Satchell is getting better with more experience.
Bunge, Rennie and Leat coming through the ranks.
Longo surprisingly unused this tournament.
Stott to make a return.
Something at least for the new coach to work with.
Need somehow for our younger generation coming through to be playing more consistent higher level football to make the step up. W league team would be a start.

After seeing the Ferns play these 3 games these are my thoughts:
It would be good to see the team be more aggressive and press other teams in a coordinated way, then they have the chance to win the ball higher up the pitch. We may not be able to compete skills wise at the current stage, but there's no reason we can't be as fit or fitter than the opposition to enable a pressing strategy when it's right to do so. 
Looking at our best players it seems the pathway for most of them from College scholarship to Pro football has given them more opportunities, and they have pushed on further than those who remained in Australasia. It would be great to see more players in Europe. Bott was the one who impressed me the most in our three games, great composure on the ball, good in 1v1's and got forward to help when we were in possession. Will be interesting to see who applies for the FF coaching job after Sermanni.

This is why we need a Nix Women team in the W-League.

I haven't given senior women's football much of a chance. I did this Olympics (watched all 3 NZ games and a few games not involving NZ), from my point of view it was pretty painful viewing. I doubt I'll bother next time around. I get that we had a group of death, but despite that we were worse technically and football intelligence wise than I expected.

I've watched some junior girls football where the quality and skills were better than I expected, so it surprised me the senior team is so bad.

Yeah a strong core but an aging one now, although I'd imagine most will stick it out for 2 more years. There was little to work with up front Wilkinson offers little more then a physical presence and Satchell didn't offer much when she came on. Despite make some good saves they keeper probably hasn't help herself on the hunt for a new contract.

Womens football doesn't have the number of skilled players as the mens game. But one thing I enjoy is there intent. You don't see the women rolling around on the ground pretending to be in pain every second tackle (which I find hugely annoying in the men's game). They play alot more in the spirit of the game with the intention to actually play football rather than play for a foul. Don't always have the execution, but some of the top sides particularly the European womens teams are making great strides in the quality of football they are playing.
Sadly we are getting left behind because of our lack of professional exposure.

siac

I haven't given senior women's football much of a chance. I did this Olympics (watched all 3 NZ games and a few games not involving NZ), from my point of view it was pretty painful viewing. I doubt I'll bother next time around. I get that we had a group of death, but despite that we were worse technically and football intelligence wise than I expected.

I've watched some junior girls football where the quality and skills were better than I expected, so it surprised me the senior team is so bad.

Totally agree. I watch a lot of lower level women's football because my missus plays but I'd never actually bothered to watch a FF game before, I was genuinely surprised by how average it was. Really didn't even feel like that much of an incredible step up for national league stuff here. None of the games that I watched screamed that these were some of the top professional women in the world.

any chance of getting some comments of Sermanni (apart from that we left the tournie on a high - which is a bit weird)?

Monto

siac

I haven't given senior women's football much of a chance. I did this Olympics (watched all 3 NZ games and a few games not involving NZ), from my point of view it was pretty painful viewing. I doubt I'll bother next time around. I get that we had a group of death, but despite that we were worse technically and football intelligence wise than I expected.

I've watched some junior girls football where the quality and skills were better than I expected, so it surprised me the senior team is so bad.

Totally agree. I watch a lot of lower level women's football because my missus plays but I'd never actually bothered to watch a FF game before, I was genuinely surprised by how average it was. Really didn't even feel like that much of an incredible step up for national league stuff here. None of the games that I watched screamed that these were some of the top professional women in the world.

I've enjoyed the women's games generally. Thought the USA v Sweden game was a real cracker. The pace and skill is nothing like I've seen at a lower level here or in the W league.