Some players looked to be consistently at fault....
Clegg really shouldn't be there. She needs to concentrate on actually getting on the field in the US and A, rather than play at some bullshark tournament.
Colombia win so Australia can't advance out of their pool, with 1 game left.
Fiji consistent. Another 9-0 loss. Could be a bit brutal in the Fijian's last game, with France chasing goals, as they need a big GD turnaround to overtake Canada. The French also need the Canadians to lose to Brazil.
Interestingly we did once have what appeared to be a good pathway.. Federation Talent Centre FTC & National Training Camp NTC which in female space was beginning to show dividends when we look at the success of U17s in Uruguay - a group of girls who'd developed via that pathway over 5 years.
I think the age of this squad is the last to go through the FTC experience. Clegg, Page, Nathan, Colpi all played in the last winning Auckland team at Weir Rose Bowl which was culmination of FTC before the next year it was club driven.
With the NIX now having a womens team and Auckland to have one soon we will see a lot better talent come through. Even at club level there is a lot more focus on the womens game now and better coaching being offered.
I think NZ was a little late getting onto the professional womens game bubble compared to the rest of the world (maily due to our size lack of visibility in the womens game) so fell behind.
Maybe close the gap a bit on a country like Japan over time. But other countries with bigger player numbers, resources and a stronger football culture will make the largest progress. Ain't rocket science.
Argentina lost to North Korea 6-2 in this tourney. You can imagine that result back in Buenos Aires has caused a lot of angst, and a whole review of how they need to throw even more at the women's game in a proud footballing country.
Jesus, the defending from the ferns is so bad! Not sure you can blame the keeper for that one. So many defenders just standing around. Looks like the attacker might be off-side fractionally?
Jesus, the defending from the ferns is so bad! Not sure you can blame the keeper for that one. So many defenders just standing around. Looks like the attacker might be off-side fractionally?
Yeah that was a defensive disaster, nothing the keeper could do about that. Jeesh, happy I have a meeting at 2pm now.
Such a shame because we are dominating the ball and otherwise quite competitive, but if this is how we're defending, it's going to be a very ugly tournament for us.
Now hopefully they have to play some attacking football.
The last 5 mins we looked the better side because we finally played with urgency. We tried winning the ball further up. Why did it take over 40 mins into the game and with us two goals down for the change. We have to win to stay in the comp.
On their two goals, I still don't know how the second one wasn't ruled off side. Our player kicked it, it rebounded of their player then onto their striker who was offside... are the deeming it wasn't played at the first Austrian player?
The best four, 3rd placed teams from the six groups do go through to the R16. So despite NZ's terrible GD, a win over Ghana (2 losses from 2 games) in the last game maybe enough.
The best four, 3rd placed teams from the six groups do go through to the R16. So despite NZ's terrible GD, a win over Ghana (2 losses from 2 games) in the last game maybe enough.
Yep but Ghana played better against Japan and likely against Austria than us. So let's not fall into the trap of thinking that a developing womens footballing nation will be a walkover for us because we aren't flash ourselves.
The best four, 3rd placed teams from the six groups do go through to the R16. So despite NZ's terrible GD, a win over Ghana (2 losses from 2 games) in the last game maybe enough.
Yep but Ghana played better against Japan and likely against Austria than us. So let's not fall into the trap of thinking that a developing womens footballing nation will be a walkover for us because we aren't flash ourselves.
Not what I'm saying at all. Just that this game is not must win.
We play Ghana in warm & sweaty Cali. That will likely weather wise suit the Ghanians more than cooler Bogota.
That NZU17s team of 2018 (also coached by Birnie) that were 3rd in Uruguay are starting to look a bit like Des's 2019 mens U20s. A little mini golden generation one off anomaly. Things returning to the disappointing 'norm' since.
The blonde CB for NZ is a woeful passer of the ball. Hasn't hit feet almost all game... and she can't track a runner... totally watching the ball not the player for that third goal.
Wonder how FIFA are feeling about giving OFC 2 spots at this competition. So far 0 scored, 28 conceded (make that 32 if you geographically include Aus in Oceania).