New Zealand team page
Squad
Coach: John Herdman
Roster
Goalkeepers: Jenny Bindon, Rachel Howard, Stephanie Puckrin
Defenders: Hannah Bromley, Abby Erceg, Maia Jackman, Marlies Oostdam, Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith
Midfielders: Simone Carmichael, Rebecca Sowden, Priscilla Duncan, Katie Hoyle, Emma Humphries, Annalie Longo, Emily McColl, Hayley Moorwood
Forwards: Wendi Henderson, Ali Riley, Merissa Smith, Rebecca Tegg, Zoe Thompson
Scouting report
Current world ranking: 23rd (first in OFC)
Strengths: Athleticism and youth are assets of this squad. Captain Rebecca Smith and standout defender Maia Jackman provide the leadership on the squad, which has an average age of 22. This is New Zealand's first appearance at the World Cup in 16 years and they have no illusions about advancing out of the group stage, but that's not to say they'll just roll over and let their rivals have their way with them, either. Herdman has demanded excellence from his club (one of the reasons he scheduled exhibition games with quality teams like Canada and the U.S. prior to the World Cup), but he's realistic that this tournament will mostly be a learning experience. U.S.-based Emma Humphries and Simone Carmichael provide some spark as attacking midfielders.
Weaknesses: Experience. This team has less international caps between them than American veteran Kristine Lilly alone. Though more than half the team has experience at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, only one player has World Cup experience: 36-year-old Wendi Henderson, who was a member of New Zealand's last World Cup team in 1991. The Football Ferns did not fare well against Canada and the United States in exhibition games leading up to the World Cup, scoring one goal while conceding 14 in three losses. With Australia now in the AFC, the Oceania region is extremely weak, leaving New Zealand with teams like Tonga, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea as their competition in the confederation. Enough said.
Player to watch: Maia Jackman will be leading the Football Ferns from the fullback position. What she may lack in technical skill, she makes up for in physical stature. She is considered one of the most finely-tuned athletes in the game thanks to her year-round commitment to fitness. The 32-year-old veteran, who was selected to play for the FIFA all-stars last spring, has said she will likely retire after the World Cup.
Prognosis: First round is where it begins and first round is where it will end for the young Kiwi squad, though Herdman is optimistic that his team could pull off a surprise. "The players and the management are well aware that we can inject the game with a huge boost of energy if we can cause an upset," he told New Zealand's soccer website.
ROAD TO THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
2007 qualification route: New Zealand booked its spot to China 2007 by placing first at the 2007 OFC Women's Championship.
Qualification record: 3 matches played, 3 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
Goals for: 21 Goals against: 1
Top goal-scorer(s) in qualifying: Kirsty Yallop (4), Nicola Smith (4)
Qualifying results:
Round robin: in Lae, Papua New Guinea
April 9, 2007: New Zealand 6, Tonga 1
April 11, 2007: New Zealand 8, Solomon Islands 0
April 13, 2007: Papua New Guinea 0, New Zealand 7
Women's World Cup 1st round matches (all times local)
Sept. 12 : New Zealand vs. Brazil in Wuhan (Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium) at 1700
Sept. 15: Denmark vs. New Zealand in Wuhan (Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium) at 1700
Sept. 19: China vs. New Zealand in Tianjin (Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium) at 2000
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP HISTORY
Welcome back, Kiwis. New Zealand will be making its second World Cup appearance after a 16-year absence. At the 1991 inaugural World Cup in China, New Zealand lost all three of its first-round games to Denmark (3-0), Norway (4-0) and China (4-1). Current national team member Wendi Henderson was on that 1991 team.
Number of previous Women's World Cup appearances: 1
Hosted the Women's World Cup: never
1991: First round
1995: Did not qualify
1999: Did not qualify
2003: Did not qualify
