After posting 2-1 losses against Sweden and Korea DPR, two of the heavyweights of women’s football, New Zealand’s hopes of climbing out of the ‘Group of Death’ into the knockout stages of the 16-nation tournament have faded.
But the team’s competitive fires are stoked by the chance to claim the first ever win for a New Zealand side over Brazil.
“We would’ve loved to be going into this game needing to win to go through,” coach Tony Readings says. “But to beat Brazil in any form or level of the game would be a massive achievement.”
“We’ve watched them already at this tournament and they look very good. They’re a little less structured but with some fantastically talented individuals.”
New Zealand’s best ever result against a Brazilian team came four years ago at the same level, when the U-20 class of 2006 drew 0-0 with the eventual bronze medallists in Moscow.
In that tournament, the draw was good enough for Brazil to finish top of the group but after a loss to Korea DPR and a 1-1 draw with Sweden so far in Germany, the Auriverde’s quarterfinal hopes hinge on beating New Zealand, and Sweden losing to Korea DPR in their final pool match.
But after taking two teams ranked in the top echelon of FIFA women’s rankings at senior level to the wire in their other matches, Readings is confident his side can do it again this time with more reward.
“Brazil are a good side and they need to win so they’ll be a very tough ask to get three points from. But if we show the same level of character and commitment as we did against North Korea then we’ve got every chance.
“We’ve had two performances that were good enough to get results out of but didn’t yield anything. To play like that and not get any reward is just going to drive our players to get the three points in this match.”
The match kicks off at 12.30am on Wednesday morning with coverage live on TV One.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010
Group B: New Zealand v Brazil
Dresden
July 20 2.30pm local (12.30am July 21 NZT)
Live on TV One from 12am
Delayed on Sky Sport 1 at 1.30am
New Zealand (from): 1-Victoria ESSON (GK), 2-Elizabeth MILNE, 3-Anna GREEN (Captain), 4-Chelsey WOOD, 5-Briony FISHER, 6-Bridgette ARMSTRONG, 7-Hannah WILKINSON, 8-Betsy HASSETT, 9-Hannah WALL, 10-Annalie LONGO, 11-Rosie WHITE, 12-Claudia CRASBORN, 13-Nadia PEARL, 14-Renee LEOTA, 15-Emily COOPER, 16-Julia LYNDS (GK), 17-Sarah MCLAUGHLIN, 18-Lauren MATHIS, 19-Terri-Amber CARLSON, 20-Erin NAYLER (GK), 21-Lisa KEMP.
Coach: Tony Readings
Brazil (from): 1-ALINE (GK), 2-LEAH, 3-JULIANA CARDOZO, 4-ESTERGIANE, 5-BRUNA, 6-RAFAELLE, 7-KETLEN, 8-CAMILA, 9-DEBORA, 10-ALANNA, 11-ANDRESSA, 12-MONIQUE (GK), 13-MARINA, 14-LARA, 15-ALINE FERNANDA, 16-THAYNARA, 17-RAFAELA, 18-EDNA, 19-POLIANA, 20-LUDMILA, 21-ANA (GK).
Coach: Marcos GASPAR
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
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