On the back of making history with a first win against England, the Football Ferns are looking to continue their winning form against Wales tomorrow morning (NZT) ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

The Tom Sermanni-coached team made international headlines when they upset one of the World Cup favourites in Brighton and they want to build on that performance in their final hit-out in Cardiff, only three days out from the start of the biggest women’s sports event in the world.

Football Ferns forward Rosie White, who played a role in the lead-up to the Sarah Gregorius goal against the World No 3, said there is a good feeling in the squad as they continue to improve.

“[Beating England] was such an amazing accomplishment for the team, so everyone is feeling really stoked about it,” said the 25-year-old. “It was a pretty tough game. We did a lot of defending. We were probably lucky in moments that they didn’t score. We played really well and that win gives us a lot of confidence going into tomorrow and the World Cup.

“It is pretty massive to make history. It was amazing to do that in front of more than 20,000 roaring English people it was pretty cool to be a part of.”

White said they are expecting a tough challenge from the World No 33 Wales who did not qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and will be looking to prove a point.

“It will be a pretty different game to what we have faced in the last couple of games,” she said.  “They are very structured in the way that they defend. From what we have seen in the footage, they will be hard to break down, but it might be a game where we have control of the ball more compared to the England game so it will be an opportunity to work on our attack. We will work on trying to keep the ball a bit more.”

The Ferns have achieved some significant wins this year under Sermanni, In April, they defeated World No 12 Norway 1-0 with White scoring the winner in the first three minutes. They defeated Mexico 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly in New York and then followed that with a win over the Lionesses. 

“It is really exciting as we start to get some results. In the past we have always been so close, but we have never really had luck on our side. Not that it is luck, but these games are all so tight, we have learned how to hold on and defend really well. To be getting results against these top teams is massive for us. Things are feeling good heading into Wales tomorrow and the World Cup.”

White said grinding out results against world-class opposition gives them confidence for the challenge they will face in Group E of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the Netherlands, Canada and Cameroon.

“Just being able to capitalise on any opportunities that we have. We know against the top teams in the world we are not going to get very many. To be able to put one away, it can be enough if we defend well, and we have been defending well. Our back four have absolutely amazing for us. Any top team that we play at this World Cup, if we can capitalise on the opportunities that we get and defend well, then it will put us in pretty good stead. I think this team deserves that sort of credibility and it is pretty cool to be part of that.”

The FIFA Women’s World Cup begins on Friday 7 June (Saturday 8 June NZT) with the hosts France taking on South Korea in Paris. The Ferns begin their campaign four days later on 11 June (12 June NZT) in Le Havre. White said the excitement in the group is building.

“We have had a really good time under Tom and the group has really come together. We have been working really hard and we are pretty excited to get things going at this World Cup.”

The Football Ferns have played Wales once before, they beat them 2-0 at the Matchworld Cup in 2011. 

International Friendly
Wales v New Zealand
Date: 4 June, kick off 7pm (5 June 6am NZT)
Venue: Cardiff International Sports Stadium, Cardiff
Live updates on Twitter @NZ_Football #WALvNZL #FootballFerns #ForTheFern

New Zealand (from): 1. Erin Nayler, 2. Ria Percival, 3. Anna Green, 4. CJ Bott, 5. Meikayla Moore, 6. Rebekah Stott, 7. Ali Riley (captain), 8. Abby Erceg, 9. Emma Kete, 10. Annalie Longo, 11. Sarah Gregorius, 12. Betsy Hassett, 13. Rosie White, 14. Katie Bowen, 15. Sarah Morton, 16. Katie Duncan, 17. Hannah Wilkinson, 18. Stephanie Skilton, 19. Paige Satchell, 20. Daisy Cleverley, 21. Vic Esson, 22. Olivia Chance, 23. Nadia Olla
Coach Tom Sermanni

Article added: Tuesday 04 June 2019