NZ Ferns v USA | 18 Jan 2023 at 4.00pm Sky Stad | and 21 Jan 2023 at 4.00pm Eden Park
- We have named (at least) three players who are currently not playing or who are injured - Lily, Satchell and Rolston (appreciate Rolston played tonight ... but hasn't been at the level she can play at for some time - playing against the best in the world when you are recovering can't be good for loading/confidence?)
- What is happening with the fringe Nix players? Are they completely off the radar now because they didn't play the NWL? This might be an eye-opener for these players who were told not to play the NWL by the Nix powers that be... I especially feel for Emma Main and Tui Duggan in this space.
- And in the same breath, awesome opportunity for the NWL group, but tough ask to play an international after all being most likely completely ''off'' for 3 weeks?
So jitka didn’t want these fixtures? Or she expected a better squad which was never realistic?
That's my issue with scheduling these games. Heavy losses on home soil is not going to do much in getting the public support behind this team and women's football leading into a home world cup. (Combined with the Nix sitting bottom of the table). Has NZF got it all wrong.
How much damage will be done to those uneducated in women's football? Luckily we do have some more international home games after this to build back some credibility and reputation for women's football after these USA games.
But was it unrealistic for Bunge, Stott & Bowen to be released by their ALW clubs for at least one of these USA games. All the talk of increased Trans Tasman co-operation of late.
Basically what can NZF & Jitka do. It's unlikely the high profile US Women's team will ever visit NZ to play the Ferns again, for many years if ever. US Soccer hold all the scheduling cards here. Damned if you do, damned if you don't
Was about 5 years between home games for the Ferns before the Korea games. Post the WWC that type of schedule will likely return, with Ferns in the OFC
Is it really the clubs fault though? I mean they pay the players wages, it's it really selfish to want the to work for the money? I don't really get why australian clubs would care about an NZ friendly outside of international windows.
Are they quietly a bit pissed with their clubs? From memory Barba & Ingham were released by their ALM clubs for that March 2022 OFC Tourney outside of FIFA window dates.
But yeah overall you could agrue, it's the Americans who could have done more to help, by visiting in the 13-22nd Feb FIFA window. Their new NWSL season doesn't start until 25th March, so why does the national team not visit NZ until Feb.
Edit - okay now see the Americans are hosting Japan, Canada & Brazil in a 4 nation tourney in Feb.
Disagree, this could be disastrous tbh. I think there's a high possibility that we lose the games by 6+ goals, thats gonna be a nightmare from a publicity front.
My partner and all her football playing friends are going to the game, usually most of them could care less about watching the game, this could put them off watching even more. I don't see how this will help womens football at all.
Silly decision from NZF. How much will we even learn from a thrashing?
But the USWNT will be in off-season so might not be too bad.
NZF/Jitka would have banked on 1-2 of Bowen, Stott & Bunge being available. Is rough that all 3 haven't been released by their ALW clubs, plus Taylor still injured.
Again for NZF is a bit damned if you do, damned if you don't. This opportunity to play the most high profile womens team at home in NZ, won't come around again for a very long time.
Maybe ask the US coach to flog her players in training pre the games sooo much - they are fatigued for the actual games. They will yes be out of season, so wouldn't be unreasonable they were doing some heavy pre season fitness stuff. A quiet word that thrashing our national team prior the WWC, will not be good publicity at all.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/130923809/united-states-visit-an-unnecessary-distraction-as-football-ferns-chase-world-cup-goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/130803847/why-football-fern-ali-riley-wont-just-stick-to-sport-at-this-years-fifa-world-cup
For a brief moment in the United States summer of 1999, it felt like time had stopped for Ali Riley.
Riley was among a generation of young American girls for whom that moment ignited something within.
“For me and I think a lot of other young people at that time, we suddenly dreamt about doing something huge with our lives,” says Riley.
Nearly 24 years on, Riley is on the cusp of a “full-circle moment”. The Football Ferns skipper, whose football dreams were inspired by “the 99ers” World Cup triumph in the city she was raised in, is preparing to lead her side in a home World Cup later this year.
Riley hopes the tournament, which New Zealand are co-hosting with Australia, can make a similar impression on Kiwi kids, just as it did for her.
“To be able to see your national team play live in a World Cup, and all these incredible teams and global superstars of the game here in New Zealand, I just really think it will impact so many different generations, for so many different reasons,” says Riley, who is eligible to play for New Zealand through her Kiwi father, John.
But the USWNT will be in off-season so might not be too bad.
They're bringing just about a full strength squad. Even our full ferns team isn't a match for them
But the USWNT will be in off-season so might not be too bad.
They're bringing just about a full strength squad. Even our full ferns team isn't a match for them
Well hopefully they will have the courtesy to dial down the tempo after a certain scoreline is reached
Also fans: "NOT LIKE THAT"
Also fans: "NOT LIKE THAT"
Was personally never calling for more ferns home games but sure mate.
Could really give a shark where they play I'm just more concerned about it leaving a poor image for the public.
Also fans: "NOT LIKE THAT"
Was personally never calling for more ferns home games but sure mate.
Could really give a shark where they play I'm just more concerned about it leaving a poor image for the public.
I doubt it could be worse than the Japan debacle. There was a big crowd in Wellington for that and I've never seen such negative dross in my life. Many of those spectators ain't coming back in a hurry.
Also fans: "NOT LIKE THAT"
Was personally never calling for more ferns home games but sure mate.
Could really give a shark where they play I'm just more concerned about it leaving a poor image for the public.
I doubt it could be worse than the Japan debacle. There was a big crowd in Wellington for that and I've never seen such negative dross in my life. Many of those spectators ain't coming back in a hurry.
Also fans: "NOT LIKE THAT"
Was personally never calling for more ferns home games but sure mate.
Could really give a shark where they play I'm just more concerned about it leaving a poor image for the public.
I doubt it could be worse than the Japan debacle. There was a big crowd in Wellington for that and I've never seen such negative dross in my life. Many of those spectators ain't coming back in a hurry.
Fair, thats was a truly awful game.
This is why I was hoping for some more winnable games before the world cup, you have to make the casuals actually believe that we're good and have a chance.
I get that it's a big opportunity to have the US at home but it's not like we lack opportunities to play them anyway.
Oh well, hopin for the best, 1-0 NZ.
Things you see when collecting your bags in Wellington 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/qHFOqSCamC
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) January 10, 2023
Also fans: "NOT LIKE THAT"
Was personally never calling for more ferns home games but sure mate.
Could really give a shark where they play I'm just more concerned about it leaving a poor image for the public.
I doubt it could be worse than the Japan debacle. There was a big crowd in Wellington for that and I've never seen such negative dross in my life. Many of those spectators ain't coming back in a hurry.
Also it's about $10 cheaper to go to this game than it is for the Nix
Downside though is in reality anything less than a 5 goal loss can be seen as a good result for the Ferns
Hello from New Zealand!
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) January 12, 2023
Kicking off 2023 in Auckland 🎉 pic.twitter.com/8YeAuqCAT5
Hello from New Zealand!
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) January 12, 2023
Kicking off 2023 in Auckland 🎉 pic.twitter.com/8YeAuqCAT5
Few images from todays @NZ_Football #FootballFerns open training session. Getting properly excited for this match with the USWNT next Wednesday. More imagery on Insta and Facie #COYFF pic.twitter.com/DdgcjpPHqF
— Photomac - Football 📸⚽ (@NZPhotomac) January 12, 2023
The Ford Football Ferns are back in 2023! 🤩🌿
— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) January 12, 2023
With the #FIFAWWC on home soil later this year, they take on World Champs @USWNT in an epic two-match series.
🗓️18 Jan @skystadium
🗓️ 21 Jan @edenparknz
Get your tickets now 🎟️ or watch LIVE on Sky Sport. #SkySportNZ
🤍🖤 pic.twitter.com/QF6miA3bKG
3⃣ #NZNationalLeague stars earned a call-up to the Ford Football Ferns squad off the back of their performances during the National League season 👏
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) January 13, 2023
💬 Hear first hand how their experience in camp so far has been!
🌿🖤🤍 | #WhānauFerns pic.twitter.com/RVxssfoBjm
Warming up at NZCIS 💪 (thanks @WgtnPhoenixFC) pic.twitter.com/oF96U9Krmj
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) January 13, 2023
Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe this feeling 🫶🏻 https://t.co/ttLOnmtOJA
— Brianna Edwards (@BriEdwards2701) January 14, 2023
When your team wins in training it’s important to celebrate 🥳 pic.twitter.com/QiD2bUHORP
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) January 14, 2023
Liv Chance and Gabi Rennie will be answering your questions tonight at 8pm on Instagram Live. Got a question? Comment below…
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) January 14, 2023
Watch live at https://t.co/nJSa2uoISH #AskLivAndGabi pic.twitter.com/ezhXjAFFzl
I'm more old school than young school - and I don't think you'd ever see Chris Wood playing the decks there like Ali Riley. But the genders are also often very different. With females seems having some fun, is of greater importance than in the mens game.
Others on here are involved with women's football, and will know far more than me. But if you go into that environment with an old school, very male approach, aka perhaps Andreas Heraf - it won't go well.
But yeah perhaps not the smartest clip by NZF to post on social media, if the Ferns go out & get thumped 6-0 or something. After all alot of the Ferns campaigns are at least partially funded by HPSNZ.
Wednesday's game against @USWNT at @skystadium is now the bestselling Ford Football Ferns game EVER.
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) January 15, 2023
🎟 Book tickets now at https://t.co/JdWiAsvDd0 pic.twitter.com/DbtPie38Yi
I'll be happy if we can just snag a goal against the world champs.