The 21-strong line-up includes nine players with senior international experience, 11 veterans of the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile – where New Zealand were just seconds away from reaching the second round – and 10 graduates of the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign in New Zealand.
Several players tick two or more of those boxes on their playing resume and two young stars can even add an Olympic Games into the mix.
But New Zealand coach Tony Readings says every ounce of that experience will be needed in a group that includes three heavyweights of the women’s game – Brazil, Sweden and Korea DPR.
“We’ve got players who have tasted FIFA age-group tournaments and big games at senior level and that breeds a quiet confidence within the group that we can cause a few surprises and get out of what is a very tough group,” Readings says.
“We’ve also got some fresh faces, they are exciting prospects who have earned their places on merit but who our opposition won’t know a lot about. It lets us keep a little something up our sleeve.”
The team will be led by Auckland-based fullback Anna Green, who has 23 senior caps to her credit, while the side’s most experienced player is Annalie Longo, who has been capped 26 times for the Football Ferns and will be travelling to her fifth FIFA event.
One other player with senior experience, Merissa Smith, is among four players not considered because of injury.
Meanwhile Chelsey Wood, the elder sister of All White Chris Wood, will get the chance to emulate her brother in playing for New Zealand at a FIFA World Cup.
Chelsey was an unused substitute in all three of New Zealand’s matches at the 2008 U-20 Women’s World Cup while Chris was one of New Zealand’s best performers at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea.
Chris also caught the eye at this month’s senior men’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The Junior Football Ferns open their campaign against Sweden in Bielefeld on July 13 and face former champions Korea DPR at the same venue three days later, before moving to Dresden to finish pool play against Brazil.
The top two teams in each of the tournament’s four pools qualify for the quarterfinals.
New Zealand complete their build up for the 16-nation finals with an international against fellow finalists Switzerland on July 5, followed by a training match against Japan in Germany on July 8.
The Junior Football Ferns train on Tuesday and Wednesday nights before departing for Europe on Friday.
New Zealand squad for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup:
Goalkeepers
1-Victoria ESSON (Fencibles United)
16-Julia LYNDS (Unattached)
20-Erin NAYLER (Eastern Suburbs)
Defenders
2-Elizabeth MILNE (Glenfield Rovers)
3-Anna GREEN (Captain) (Three Kings United)
4-Chelsey WOOD (Three Kings United)
5-Briony FISHER (Three Kings United)
6-Bridgette ARMSTRONG (Glenfield Rovers)
9-Hannah WALL (Three Kings United)
21-Lisa KEMP (Eastern Suburbs)
Midfielders
8-Betsy HASSETT (UC Berkeley, USA)
10-Annalie LONGO (Three Kings United)
12-Claudia CRASBORN (Three Kings United)
13-Nadia PEARL (Three Kings United)
15-Emily COOPER (Lynn Avon United)
19-Terri Amber CARLSON (Waterside Karori)
Forwards
7-Hannah WILKINSON (Glenfield Rovers)
11-Rosie WHITE (Three Kings United)
14-Renee LEOTA (Waterside Karori)
17-Sarah MCLAUGHLIN (Claudelands Rovers)
18-Lauren MATHIS (Glenfield Rovers)
Management Team
Head Coach: Tony Readings
Assistant Coach : Paul Temple
Assistant Coach: Ali Grant
Goalkeeping Coach: Danny Robinson
Team Manager: Kristy Hill
Doctor: Dr Paul Wharam
Physiotherapist: Catherine Porteous
Sport Science: Brad Conza
Technical Assistant: Michael Rumpf
Not considered because of injury: Katie Rood (foot), Megan Shea (back), Merissa Smith (knee), Charlotte Wood (head).
Schedule:
July 5
New Zealand v Switzerland
U-20 International Friendly
Zurich
7pm local time (5am July 6 NZT)
July 8
Training match
New Zealand v Japan
Augsburg, Germany
6pm local time (4am July 9 NZT)
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Germany
July 13 – August 1
New Zealand v Sweden
Bielefeld
July 13 2.30pm local (12.30am July 14 NZT)
New Zealand v Korea DPR
Bielefeld
July 16 6pm local (4am July 17 NZT)
New Zealand v Brazil
Dresden
July 20 2.30pm local (12.30am July 21 NZT)
Player Notes:
Capped at senior level: Bridgette Armstrong, Anna Green, Betsy Hassett, Renee Leota, Annalie Longo, Sarah McLaughlin, Elizabeth Milne, Hannah Wall, Rosie White, Hannah Wilkinson.
Member of 2008 Olympic Team: Anna Green, Renee Leota.
Member of 2008 U-20 World Cup squad: Bridgette Armstrong, Victoria Esson, Briony Fisher, Anna Green, Renee Leota, Annalie Longo, Sarah McLaughlin, Elizabeth Milne, Hannah Wall, Rosie White, Chelsey Wood.
Member of 2008 U-17 World Cup squad: Bridgette Armstrong, Claudia Crasborn, Victoria Esson, Briony Fisher, Annalie Longo, Sarah McLaughlin, Lauren Mathis, Nadia Pearl, Hannah Wall, Rosie White.
Member of 2007 Women’s World Cup squad: Annalie Longo.
Member of 2006 U-20 World Cup squad: Annalie Longo, Renee Leota.
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
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