Football Ferns

Vietnam offered zilch.
They gave us the first goal,so we really only managed one,and that won't be good enough against better sides. We knocked it around okay,without ever looking particularly great. 
A bit of a confidence booster I suppose, but im not sure we learned much.

lthomas20

Small detail btw - Ferns facebook said "Here is how we start for our last public game before the FIFA Women's World Cup". 

Indicating that perhaps we have a closed doors games before the opener?

Yes they are playing Italy behind closed doors sometime soon.
Thought first half was very good. Good intent and positive play. But definite drop in intensity in the second half. Some players reverting to the turn and play backward too often, almost giving Vietnam an in, on occasions. And killing any momentum for us. 
Norway is going to be a big ask. Especially considering the occasion is likely to cause alot of nerves for our players. Probably good we have them up first, get that one done. (no one will be expecting us to win) But we need to at least keep it close as goal difference could end up being a decider if we can actually beat the Philippines and then maybe get a draw with the Swiss.

Went to the game let just say the fan experience was 0 could hear a pin drop for most of the game NZF need to do something about that in future.

As far as the game Bott was stand out for me, Longo looked sharp when she came on considering she not played. Wilkinson while some of her link up play was ok she offers little can't shoot and isn't mobile enough. I would have like to Jale get some time up front. 
Going forward I felt we were reluctant and get runners in the box. Often the 3 players in more advanced positions were isolated. 
Does Ali Reily normal play left or right back?

watching_from_far

Went to the game let just say the fan experience was 0 could hear a pin drop for most of the game NZF need to do something about that in future.

As far as the game Bott was stand out for me, Longo looked sharp when she came on considering she not played. Wilkinson while some of her link up play was ok she offers little can't shoot and isn't mobile enough. I would have like to Jale get some time up front. 
Going forward I felt we were reluctant and get runners in the box. Often the 3 players in more advanced positions were isolated. 
Does Ali Reily normal play left or right back?

Just out of interest. McClean Park being a cricket oval. Did they move the football pitch closer to the stands where the fans were. Or did they leave it in the middle of the oval?
If we want atmosphere we really need to select grounds that are rectangular so the fans can be closer to the action. Or be smarter on how they set up.

I didn't feel I was far away from the pitch. It's not that much of an oval I think in terms of boundaries for cricket they pretty small. 
There was a small group of veitnames with drums, but i guess it just comes down to being a typical kiwi crowed we not renowned for chants and singing at games.

Monto

lthomas20

1-0 up after 23 mins, deflected goal from CJ Bott, we've dominated and created plenty of chances. Very good signs I'll be buzzing if we can play this well whole 90.

It's definitely a big improvement over what we've seen in previous outings. Hopefully they keep it up!

The only thing I will say is that there's no way that goal goes in against a better team.

Oh and please for the love of God can we be rid of this shark commentary.

I turned the commentary off,they talk too much. 

Worse, for me,is the TV spectacle is ruined by too many intrusive and moving advertisements.  It's all about money now - not the paying and viewing public - so I will stop watching sport on tv after this WC. 

I'll put my hand up and say I haven't been as motivated for the big event in our backyard as I should be as a fan, due to the bulk of our performances under Klimkova I'd gotten very cynical about our Ferns, but this game was the kick up the ass I needed. Yes we could have had more, yes we did drop off in the second half but I'm sure this result will be huge for the girls and very reassuring. We haven't had the ideal lead in for sure, but that's done now. Roll on 20th July!

Wouldn't it be great if the Kiwi crowds had a song they would all join in with for the Ferns. Eg Tutira Mai or similar

Very pleased with that result and some of the play tonight was among the best passages of play I’ve seen the Ferns play. Granted the opponents weren’t as strong as I thought- although FIFA ranks them in the 30’s? It was what we needed. What a difference having our strongest team available makes. I think it was very balanced and although surprisingly Chance didn’t start I thought Indy and Jacqui were fantastic. Very confident getting forward, and great control. Maybe Jale gets to start the next game against Italy instead of Wilkinson? I think we have to play Steinmetz to give the team balance defensively. If Longo starts it probably has to be instead of Hassett. Backline and Keeper only tested a couple of times. They were comfortable on the ball and patient in their build up not risking the ball too much. I think the Phillipines will definitely be harder and they have played a huge number of games in the last year so will be a tough test. I think we could beat Phillipines and Switzerland. No one expected Morroco to be semi finalists in last years World Cup or for Greece to win the euros in 2004. Football is always 0-0 when you start so we have a great chance of progressing. We need the crowds to make more noise though. That is not NZ footballs fault, it is up to the fans to make the noise and make up chants like the YellowFever do. The crowd could make the difference in those two key matches. I also think if we play out of our skins we could draw with Norway. We were very close to getting a result last year against the Aussies, so anything is possible. 

I thought we were very good and would be happy with that starting eleven and structure if it suited the opposition. Foster or Riley is an interesting one.
Are the Nix social media going to be flossing on about their players during the WC? Just let it rest, most aren’t even signed and we just want to get behind the Ferns. 

Jeez some of you "fans" just can't be pleased with any kind of result. 
2-0 at home against the team ranked 32nd (we are 26th I think).
Sure the Vietnamese offered very little in attack, they set up with 5 at the back and look like they were preparing for the US onslaught. Heck their main striker was playing deep in the midfield for most of the game!
But from a positive standpoint, it was the rn the whole team needed, probably the XI we'll see start most games I'd expect barring injury. Back 4 did well enough, Esson in goal did all that was needed. Foster when she came on looke solid, as did clegg. Wilkinson just looks slow and really only offers a heading option against shorter teams - even then the two headed chances she ha dweren't great. Rennie or Clegg would be better options. Thought the midfield look solid, Hasset wasn't her best but did enough to be busy.
Norway will be a totally different story and if we are not careful defensively we could ship a few goals so I'd expect different tactics from the team. Against Phillipines though we could go for the win. Steal a draw against one fo the other teams and we might just get out of the group.

I think we need someone who can head a ball at 9 and HW might be the best option

Jale can do this too- head the ball in as a 9.  As proven at alw level. She should start versus Italy on Friday. Hopefully Chance and Longo can get more minutes and Foster too. Percival given captains armband suggests that Ali Riley is not certain to be a starter. It did appear like Percival wasn’t 100% at times last night with a bit of a limp or favouring one side. But that is to be expected after such a long time out. So if she doesn’t play at all against Italy then that is probably for the best to rest her.
I’m delighted with the result that will give them a big boost. The coach has to be trusted now. She is qualified and has had heaps of time to see who is fully fit- likely why Chance didn’t start. But if she doesn’t start in the World Cup because India and Jacqui are playing better then that is great for the team.

Feverish

I think we need someone who can head a ball at 9 and HW might be the best option

 

Unused sub

Jale can do this too- head the ball in as a 9.  As proven at alw level. She should start versus Italy on Friday. Hopefully Chance and Longo can get more minutes and Foster too. Percival given captains armband suggests that Ali Riley is not certain to be a starter. It did appear like Percival wasn’t 100% at times last night with a bit of a limp or favouring one side. But that is to be expected after such a long time out. So if she doesn’t play at all against Italy then that is probably for the best to rest her.
I’m delighted with the result that will give them a big boost. The coach has to be trusted now. She is qualified and has had heaps of time to see who is fully fit- likely why Chance didn’t start. But if she doesn’t start in the World Cup because India and Jacqui are playing better then that is great for the team.

Feverish

I think we need someone who can head a ball at 9 and HW might be the best option

 

Percival and Riley are co-captains so I'd expect to see both wearing the armband over the tournament. Both are likely to start most games, Percival more liekly to be subbed, although, personally I rate Foster over Riley at LB.

watching_from_far

Went to the game let just say the fan experience was 0 could hear a pin drop for most of the game NZF need to do something about that in future.

As far as the game Bott was stand out for me, Longo looked sharp when she came on considering she not played. Wilkinson while some of her link up play was ok she offers little can't shoot and isn't mobile enough. I would have like to Jale get some time up front. 
Going forward I felt we were reluctant and get runners in the box. Often the 3 players in more advanced positions were isolated. 
Does Ali Reily normal play left or right back?

I was just now reminded about when we were almost physically assaulted for trying to provide a "fan experience" at an All Whites game at NHS. "Why don't you just sit down and watch like everyone else" said a steward as we were shepherded away for our own safety

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Wouldn't it be great if the Kiwi crowds had a song they would all join in with for the Ferns. Eg Tutira Mai or similar

That'd be a great song, unfortunately it would set off the "STOP THE WOKE MAORIFICATION OF EVERYTHING" brigade

Doloras

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Wouldn't it be great if the Kiwi crowds had a song they would all join in with for the Ferns. Eg Tutira Mai or similar

That'd be a great song, unfortunately it would set off the "STOP THE WOKE MAORIFICATION OF EVERYTHING" brigade

You really have to make everything about politics don't you?

theprof

Unused sub

Jale can do this too- head the ball in as a 9.  As proven at alw level. She should start versus Italy on Friday. Hopefully Chance and Longo can get more minutes and Foster too. Percival given captains armband suggests that Ali Riley is not certain to be a starter. It did appear like Percival wasn’t 100% at times last night with a bit of a limp or favouring one side. But that is to be expected after such a long time out. So if she doesn’t play at all against Italy then that is probably for the best to rest her.
I’m delighted with the result that will give them a big boost. The coach has to be trusted now. She is qualified and has had heaps of time to see who is fully fit- likely why Chance didn’t start. But if she doesn’t start in the World Cup because India and Jacqui are playing better then that is great for the team.

Feverish

I think we need someone who can head a ball at 9 and HW might be the best option

 

Percival and Riley are co-captains so I'd expect to see both wearing the armband over the tournament. Both are likely to start most games, Percival more liekly to be subbed, although, personally I rate Foster over Riley at LB.

Love Foster but Ali Riley is a much more accomplished and skillful footballer. Hopefully there is a way we can get both on the park at once - but think best avenues of doing that are putting Riley at CB/RB (not sure if preferable to other options) or putting Mickey Foster on the wing (but again Hand/IP Riley just impressed there and Chance is an option too)

Philippines will be a tough opponent. There is a deep US connection in the squad and it's a very international squad with many players also playing in Europe 

The players receive $30k presumably usd each for the group games. This jumps to $60k each if we make it out of our group and it’s worth an extra $300 odd k for nzfootball as well so some great incentives to get the
Results on top of the fame and glory! 

lthomas20

theprof

Unused sub

Jale can do this too- head the ball in as a 9.  As proven at alw level. She should start versus Italy on Friday. Hopefully Chance and Longo can get more minutes and Foster too. Percival given captains armband suggests that Ali Riley is not certain to be a starter. It did appear like Percival wasn’t 100% at times last night with a bit of a limp or favouring one side. But that is to be expected after such a long time out. So if she doesn’t play at all against Italy then that is probably for the best to rest her.
I’m delighted with the result that will give them a big boost. The coach has to be trusted now. She is qualified and has had heaps of time to see who is fully fit- likely why Chance didn’t start. But if she doesn’t start in the World Cup because India and Jacqui are playing better then that is great for the team.

Feverish

I think we need someone who can head a ball at 9 and HW might be the best option

 

Percival and Riley are co-captains so I'd expect to see both wearing the armband over the tournament. Both are likely to start most games, Percival more liekly to be subbed, although, personally I rate Foster over Riley at LB.

Love Foster but Ali Riley is a much more accomplished and skillful footballer. Hopefully there is a way we can get both on the park at once - but think best avenues of doing that are putting Riley at CB/RB (not sure if preferable to other options) or putting Mickey Foster on the wing (but again Hand/IP Riley just impressed there and Chance is an option too)

In a not very serious note because it won't happen. Put Foster up front. #9. Strong physical player, kicks off both feet with a great shot, Has an eye for goal, Can she hold up the ball and distribute ?. (probably better than we saw last night) Could do worse. But certainly won't happen this tournament. 
She played forward in the NL last year and scored buckets of goals.....

Yep, Alen Stajcic is a wily coach with an axe to grind..he's scoured the globe for players with Phillipine heritage and has them well drilled. I reckon our win is more likely to come v Switzerland.

morgenstern12

Philippines will be a tough opponent. There is a deep US connection in the squad and it's a very international squad with many players also playing in Europe 

Watching the highlights and the commentator is butchering those Vietnamese names, I thought they got phonetic transcriptions. It's almost as cringe as that OFC commentator talking about "Emma Pidge-nenburg"

We are not all as bi-lingual as you! calm down - no issues with fair attempts

I wasn't concerned with the names more the fact they kept repeating everything the other one said!!! We are very amateur but i guess it's better than nothing. I mean its better than the Fred De Jong days zzzzz

Could we switch Ali Reily to RB and have Foster LB pushing Bott into a more advanced role? We are a bit light physically up front and Bott puts herself about. I was surprised how big Clegg was she could almost do the Wilkinson role, or is she not that big? Obviously experience wise not there.

Doloras

Watching the highlights and the commentator is butchering those Vietnamese names, I thought they got phonetic transcriptions. It's almost as cringe as that OFC commentator talking about "Emma Pidge-nenburg"

When I watched it live I was actually impressed with how effortlessly he was rattling their names off, but I guess I don't have any grasp of how to pronounce Vietnamese names (all I'm saying is it sounded like he'd done his homework)

lthomas20

Doloras

Watching the highlights and the commentator is butchering those Vietnamese names, I thought they got phonetic transcriptions. It's almost as cringe as that OFC commentator talking about "Emma Pidge-nenburg"

When I watched it live I was actually impressed with how effortlessly he was rattling their names off, but I guess I don't have any grasp of how to pronounce Vietnamese names (all I'm saying is it sounded like he'd done his homework)

The most basic bit is that Vietnamese "th" is pronounced like English T, so for example Trần Thị Thu is pronounced something like "chun tee too", rather than "thee thoo". Also the extremely common surname "Nguyễn" is pronounced closer to "ngwen" (one syllable) than "ngoo-yen".

As I said, I was under the impression that commentators were handed a list of phonetic transcriptions of player names, but maybe Vietnam couldn't get organised like that. I didn't expect him to get the tones right or anything silly like that

Have to feel sorry for Moore - for a decent player she's had quite the unlucky international career.
2015 - picked for WC but didn't even play a minute
2019 - picked for WC but injured a few days out and long recovery
2022 - the three own goals saga
2023 - the most unlucky player to miss the WC squad with Klimkova only choosing three centrebacks

Unlucky International career? she's played 51 games!!! and travelled the world!!! 

if that's unlucky what about the rest of us!

Showtime Nixie

Unlucky International career? she's played 51 games!!! and travelled the world!!! 

if that's unlucky what about the rest of us!

Lucky she probably wasn't relying on your sympathy 🙄

By Bonnie Jansen 

Before the Football Ferns roster was announced, Grace Jale was quietly confident she would play a key part in the Football Ferns’ home Fifa Women’s World Cup campaign.

When the forward heard her name on the list she was “so excited”, but after not featuring in the Football Ferns’ last two warmup matches ahead of the World Cup, she has become increasingly confused about her role in the team.

Whether she would be in the starting XI or getting good minutes off the bench, Jale felt at just 24 years old, she had the “privileged pressure” of playing in a home World Cup and it was a “dream come true”.

She knew as a goal scorer she had a responsibility and was excited to strut her stuff – particularly knowing how much the Ferns have struggled to find the net in the past 18 months.

Jale has scored twice in her 17 caps for New Zealand and has become a fan-favourite because of her versatility and composure on the ball.

She said being in this environment since she was 16, there will be no hiding at this World Cup – eager to prove how valuable she can be.

Before official World Cup preparations started, Jale started six of the seven Football Ferns games this year. However, in the two pre-tournament friendly matches last week against Vietnam and Italy, Jale wasn’t selected to take the field.

At training sessions, she’s been locked in a group mostly involving the reserve players travelling with the squad and seems to be well down on coach Jitka Klimková’s list. Now, three days from their tournament kick-off, Jale has been left feeling confused about her role within the team.

Jale said it’s been hard as others, including teammates, have asked if her reason for lack of game time is because she’s carrying an injury – which she confirmed to the Herald was not the case.

With her team Canberra United, Jale was second in the 2022-23 A-league season for most assists – behind Australian star forward Courtnee Vine. The seven assists was more than any of her Fern teammates, who have been selected over her, in their respective A-league teams, including Hannah Wilkinson (2), Paige Satchell (0) and India-Paige Riley (0).

Jale scored three goals for her club this season, in comparison to Wilkinson’s five and Satchell and Riley’s one. She scored six the year prior with the Wellington Phoenix.

Jale’s versatility has prevailed in the Ferns environment having played in the midfield and across the front line, but she would prefer playing down the middle.

“They (the coaches) like me out on the wing. But I’ve got a lot of comments about wasting my potential upfront as a striker, which I would love, or just in the midfield as an attacking midfielder.

“I would love to be on the ball a bit more and not be trapped to the sideline.”

But for Jale it’s not about where she hopes to play, but more about simply getting on the park.

On why she’s suddenly been dropped down the pecking order, Klimková said: “We are waiting for Jale to bubble up again.

“We all know she is an amazing player, and her time might come.”

Jale met with staff to discuss the recent dropping, which Klimková said went well.

“She’s ready to compete. She’s ready to fight for her spot and that’s our goal.”

Klimková clarified she has tough competition in her position: “We have flying players who are really now bubbling up and are very influential during the game.”

Klimková also addressed the centre forward option: “She is comfortable mostly on the flank, but another secondary position is actually centrally.”

Despite being confused about her role, Jale made it clear she’s grateful for the opportunity to even be in this position.

If her part of the puzzle is on the bench, that’s what she’ll do.

“I want the best for the team, so whatever that is, I’m happy.

“The tournament hasn’t started yet, so I got to keep my hopes high and keep working to try and stamp my mark on the team.”

Why, in heaven's name, are players allowed to go bitching to the press if they're not picked? Surely this just makes everything worse? It means it's less likely she'll be picked, it disrupts the team, it makes the team look even worse to the public 2 days out from a game in which they might get pumped

Bonnie got such a scoop with the WSAFC drama that she seems to be trying to dig up dirt anyway

Simply embarrassing from player and reporter. Terrible all round.

Perhaps Bonnie should become a coach if she thinks she knows womens football better than the Ferns coaches and everyone at Springs...

a desperate reporter reporting on a desperate plea from a desperate player in an attempt to achieve a world cup minute.

The coaching staff should show her the door. And don't let it hit you on the way out.

Gees womens football you wouldn't touch it would ya.

I agree with sentiment above on the "story", but im surprised Jale seems to be a bit on the outer.  We are gonna need anyone who is likely to score,and I'm not backing Wilkinson or rennie to do so.

Also, I see Spain put 9 past Vietnam!!!

I tend to agree, imp Jale is more of  vertisile and proven goal scorer than Rennie who seems to be fast but doesnt give much more than this. Hope Jale gets her moment, we need goal scorers

Fenix

I agree with sentiment above on the "story", but im surprised Jale seems to be a bit on the outer.  We are gonna need anyone who is likely to score,and I'm not backing Wilkinson or rennie to do so.

Also, I see Spain put 9 past Vietnam!!!

Yeah that's a wild thing for a player to come out with, completely unprofessional. Trying to strong-arm your way into the team is a terrible look.

Should be dropped completely for that imo and I say that as someone that wanted to see her get minutes.

Yeah poor poor form from Bonnie putting this out. Makes me wonder if it was meant to a be friendly chat and she has run with it as a story. I hope Jale gets a good run, she should be starting ahead of Wilkinson imo.

According to The Herald. CJ Bott is nursing a hamstring injury. Anyone know if she has been training with the group or sitting out training.