The 28-year-old American-born Kiwi is expected to make history tomorrow when the Football Ferns play the Australian Matildas in the first of two international friendlies to prepare for the Rio Olympics.
The likeable defender will join some illustrious company in the Ferns’ 100 club. She will become only the fifth New Zealander to play 100 games or more for her country after Abby Erceg (124), Katie Duncan (nee Hoyle) (113), Amber Hearn (110) and Ria Percival (114).
Riley, who plays her football for FC Rosengård in Sweden, doesn’t expect she will get too emotional when the teams line up for the anthems tomorrow afternoon at Morshead Park in Ballarat.
“It is just another game,” she said after training. “Every game is a privilege and an honour for me. I can’t believe I get to do what I love both professionally and personally.
“Just to represent New Zealand and be part of this team that is inspiring new generations of girls to play football in New Zealand and being pioneers. Every game is huge for me when I get to wear this jersey. I don’t think I will think about it that much. After I hope we can celebrate and celebrate with a win too.”
Football Ferns coach Tony Readings said Riley is a key member of the team both on and off the pitch.
“Ali Riley is the heart and soul of our team,” he said.
“People can see what sort of player she is on the pitch because what she brings is obvious – she’s fearless, fit, works through the pain barrier, is really skilful going forward and has lots of pace.
” But what people don’t see is what she brings behind the scenes and that’s just as important. She’s a great driving force and any successful team needs players like Ali – she’s a great role model and inspires others to be the best they can be.”
It is fitting that Riley’s 100th cap will come against the Matildas as her international career began against Australia in 2007.
While Riley has special memories throughout her successful time with the Football Ferns over the past nine years, her debut is one that she would rather forget. The Ferns were comprehensively beaten 5-0 by Australia that day and she admits that her introduction to international football was a baptism of fire.
“The good thing about this team is we have only got better and better,” she said with a laugh. “The first few caps, or first few tournaments even are not really my fondest memories.
“It is more about the countries that we have travelled to and the places we have experienced. We got thrashed in those early years so I definitely like the more recent memories a lot more.”
She has countless fond memories but the one highlight would be the 2012 Olympics which she described as “probably one of the greatest experiences of my life”.
“We were still such a young team in 2007 and 2008 but in 2012 I felt like we really made a statement,” she said.
The Ferns made the quarterfinals at the London Olympics – losing to the eventual champions the United States – and it was a really proud moment for Riley and the team.
“I remember crying when we beat Cameroon and made it out of the group stage. I will never forget that and I hope this year in August I will make a new memory with the Olympics but that is one of the highlights of my career and I think it always will be.”
First things first and the Ferns are focused on taking on the old foe on their home turf. Riley reckoned they could not have asked for a better opposition in the lead up to Rio. She said in terms of their skill and their style, the World No 5 is a good comparison to the USA and France.
“It is just a good rivalry and atmosphere and it is good to have that sort of pressure,” she said. “It has been 27 years since we haven’t got a win off them. It is that kind of pressure that is fun but also a really hard game that we need in our preparation. I think we are going to have some great crowds.”
Riley was the last member to join the Ferns squad in Victoria but she said the preparation has been good and the team is looking “really snappy”. The Ferns have been revising all of the things they worked on for their last fixture against the Netherlands that didn’t go to plan in the 2-0 loss.
“We have got to get our press down. We have got to be aggressive. We know this Australian team well so it just a matter of playing our game and scoring some goals.”
For all the reflection on her career so far, Riley feels like there is much more to come. She is excited about what this team can achieve at the upcoming Olympics.
“I just love being on this team so much. I love these girls. Many of us have been part of this team since the Under 20s in 2006. I feel really lucky to have been on this journey and with Tony for such a time. I am really excited about what we can achieve as a group.”
Australian Matildas v Football Ferns Coverage on SKY SPORT
Game 1: Saturday June 4 in Ballarat, 5pm LIVE SKY Sport 1 (Highlights June 4, 9:30pm SKY Sport 4)
Game 2: Tuesday June 7 in Melbourne, 7pm LIVE SKY Sport 1 (Highlights June 7, 10:30pm SKY Sport 2)
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football

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