To really progress the Women’s and age group teams football at future World Cups it would be great to have the teams that come 3rd and 4th in their pool go it out a Plate or Bowl group and then they play either knockout games or split into two pools and play more meaningful games. The players are already there in the host country. The stadium’s are all set up for it. The fans can stay for longer if they can afford it. Watching the Ireland vs Nigeria game now and I reckon we would be pretty competitive against the Irish.
Plate group could be: NZ, Canada, Zambia, China, Portugal, Jamaica, South Africa, Morroco.
Bowl group could be: Phillipines, Ireland, Costa Rica, Haiti, Vietnam, Panama, Argentina, Korea.
As I write this it is clearly the same sort of format as the Uefa Champions League, Europa and Conference League.
This would allow more opportunities for the younger players to get more game time and to be put in the shop window for overseas clubs, where they can be pushed and develop further.
I hope that there are a whole bunch of the NZ players use the ALW as a stepping stone to the bigger leagues. It is a fantastic gateway to higher leagues. Onwards and upwards for the women’s game.
Plate group could be: NZ, Canada, Zambia, China, Portugal, Jamaica, South Africa, Morroco.
Bowl group could be: Phillipines, Ireland, Costa Rica, Haiti, Vietnam, Panama, Argentina, Korea.
As I write this it is clearly the same sort of format as the Uefa Champions League, Europa and Conference League.
This would allow more opportunities for the younger players to get more game time and to be put in the shop window for overseas clubs, where they can be pushed and develop further.
I hope that there are a whole bunch of the NZ players use the ALW as a stepping stone to the bigger leagues. It is a fantastic gateway to higher leagues. Onwards and upwards for the women’s game.