The 21 players in the team announced earlier this month had their playing shirt presented to them by someone special; with family members, friends and former coaches on hand to award a symbol of years of hard work.
New Zealand U-20 coach Aaron McFarland said after the presentation the squad is in a good space before jetting out on Friday.
“The feeling is really positive; we’ve had good preparation and the experience the players have got and the caps they’ve accumulated means this team can go to the tournament with a real purpose and a mission about them.”
Training in the final week has been focussed, with the team minimising the risk of last minute injuries for a squad that includes six players who have already pulled on a Football Ferns jersey, including captain Katie Bowen.
McFarland is looking for that experience to bear fruit on the field in Canada for both individuals and the group.
“What I expect to see is players being able to express themselves close to their full capacity and to their best potential.
“Having had that experience, they’ll now go onto the field with a lot more confidence in their own ability and what’s required from them on the pitch. There’s much less fear about the occasion and more focus on the game itself.”
McFarland says the Junior Football Ferns’ opponents in Canada – France, Paraguay and Costa Rica – will pose different problems and the team is relishing the challenges ahead.
“If every player on the pitch can highlight their strengths and unleash those on the pitch, you’ll see a really good team performance.
“Our aim will be to assist the players to shine on the pitch as much as they can under the pressure of the tournament.”
Once the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup gets underway you’ll be able to catch the Junior Football Ferns in action LIVE on SKY with their first outing against Paraguay on August 7 (12pm NZ time).
Junior Football Ferns – FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014, Canada
Goalkeepers
Lily Alfeld – Mainland Football
Corina Brown – Capital Football
Ronisa Lipi – Capital Football
Defenders
CJ Bott – Capital Football
Emily Jensen – Mainland Football
Megan Lee – Northern Football
Meikayla Moore – Mainland Football
Megan Robertson – Capital Football
Ashleigh Ward – Mainland Football
Midfielders
Katie Bowen (capt) – Northern Football
Hannah Carlsen – Northern Football
Daisy Cleverley – Auckland Football
Isabella Coombes – Waikato Bay of Plenty Football
Evie Millynn – Capital Football
Forwards
Tayla O’Brien – Northern Football
Briar Palmer – Capital Football
Jasmine Pereira – Northern Football
Martine Puketapu – Auckland Football
Emma Rolston – Capital Football
Stephanie Skilton – Auckland Football
Belinda van Noorden – Mainland Football
Head coach – Aaron McFarland
Assistant coach – Jitka Klimkova
Goalkeeper coach – Kevin O’Leary
Match Schedule – Group D
New Zealand v Paraguay
Wednesday 6 August, 8pm (Thursday 7 August, midday NZ time)
Montreal
New Zealand v France
Saturday 9 August, 5pm (Sunday 10 August, 9am NZ time)
Montreal
New Zealand v Costa Rica
Wednesday 13 August, 5pm (Thursday 14 August, 9am NZ time)
Toronto
Story courtesy of New Zealand football www.nzfootball.co.nz

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