The Ferns started slowly and Nanna Christiansen converted Danish pressure on the half hour mark with a low drive that saw Jenny Bindon concede for the first time in over four hours of international football.
New Zealand produced enough chances in a brighter second half to draw level but couldn’t quite apply the finishing touches to good build-up play.
Midfielder Kirsty Yallop was denied by the Danish goalkeeper when one-on-one and also pushed an eight-yard header wide of the mark, while Abby Erceg and Sarah McLaughlin also went close with second-half efforts.
The Ferns finish the Matchworld Cup in second place behind the Danes after momentum-building wins over Wales (2-0) and Colombia (1-0). Colombia defeated Wales 3-1 in the tournament’s final match to seal third place.
With starters Betsy Hassett and Sarah Gregorius unavailable through injury, and today’s match falling just two days after the win over Colombia, New Zealand coach John Herdman took the opportunity to rotate players, giving starts to 18 year olds Katie Bowen and Rosie White, while limiting the time for others including fullbacks Anna Green and Ali Riley.
“The big thing around this tournament is getting the girls up to international match fitness and I think we’ve done that,” Herdman said.
“We’ve also shown we can use some of the wider squad and grind out a performance against a good side.”
“The team performed differently in each half. We started really slow and that‘s a good reminder for the players but in the second half we came out and should’ve equalised, if not gone on to win the game with the opportunities we had. When we are able to be clinical in front of goal we should be able to get something.”
The Football Ferns will spend a day recovering in Switzerland before travelling on to Germany for their World Cup opener against Japan in Bochum on Tuesday morning (NZT), followed by matches against England (July 1) and Mexico (July 5).
Herdman was relatively comfortable with his team World Cup preparations.
“We got what we wanted out of the tournament. We got a couple of wins under our belt and an up-and-down performance today will give us an opportunity to look at the way the game caused us a few problems and take some key learnings into the game against England.
“It’s right on the peak of going into a World Cup. The girls have had a taste of winning and they are learning how to try and shut out some of the best teams in the world, and Denmark are in that top bracket. The back four were very solid today and apart from the goal and the team needing to be sharper in that first half I can’t complain too much.”
Match Details
New Zealand 0
Denmark 1 (Nanna CHRISTIANSEN 30’)
Halftime: 0-1
New Zealand: 1-Jenny BINDON (gk), 2-Ria PERCIVAL (3-Anna GREEN 46’), 6-Rebecca SMITH (c), 7-Ali RILEY (16-Annalie LONGO 60’), 9-Amber HEARN (14-Sarah McLAUGHLIN 75’), 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Abby ERCEG, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 13-Rosie WHITE (8-Hayley MOORWOOD 46’), 17-Hannah WILKINSON (15-Emma KETE 75’), 18-Katie BOWEN.
Substitutes not used: 19-Kristy HILL, 20-Aroon CLANSEY (rgk), 21-Erin NAYLOR (rgk).
Unavailable: 10-Sarah GREGORIUS, 12-Betsy HASSETT
Coach: John HERDMAN
FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011
New Zealand v Japan
Bochum, Germany
Monday June 27, 3pm (1am June 28 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport
New Zealand v England
Dresden, Germany
Friday July 1, 6.15pm (4.15am July 2 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport
New Zealand v Mexico
Sinsheim, Germany
Tuesday July 5, 6.15pm (4.15am July 6 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz