Dave Edmondson’s charges have set their sights on becoming the first female footballers from New Zealand to reach the second round of a FIFA event, emulating their male counterparts who made the knockout stages of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria last year.
With European champions Spain and perennial age-group contenders Japan starting as favourites for Group C’s two quarterfinals spots, the Young Football Ferns’ match against the South American dark horses has taken on added importance.
“There are only three games in group play so it’s really important to get every point possible and that first game makes such a big difference in terms of pressure following on from that,” Edmondson says.
“We’re in the situation where we play Venezuela first then the European champions followed by Japan so this first game is really important just from that point of view but also for our confidence because if we get a result if gives us the chance to build during the tournament.”
“Realistically we have to take something form the game if we want to progress from the group.”
Having brushed up on footage of the Venezuelans, says his team can expect all the traditional flair and a healthy dose of gamesmanship traditionally associated with teams from the region.
“They are a pretty typical South American team. They are robust, strong and they are well versed in the game. They know how to use their bodies and how to be clever within the game so that’s something we need to be aware off and not be surprised by.”
Edmondson says his players responded well to a disappointing 1-2 loss to Ireland, and the resulting rocket delivered by coaching staff, last week and to the fact that the team were prevented from conducting their captain’s run on the main pitch at Ato Boldon Stadium.
The Young Football Ferns did manage to get inside Hasely Crawford stadium in Port of Spain to watch the first half the tournament’s opening game between Nigeria and North Korea to get a taste of the atmosphere.
Nigeria upset Korea DPR 3-2 in that match while hosts Trinidad & Tobago got off to a great start with a 2-1 win over Chile in Group A’s other fixture. Germany sounded a clear warning to the rest of the field with a 9-0 win over Mexico to lead Group B ahead of Korea Republic who beat South Africa 3-1.
Edmondson said the results, particular those in the host’s group, have helped set the tone for his players.
“The results have brought home the reality of World Cup football. You have to work for 90 minutes and do the ugly stuff well as the nice stuff.“
“There’s going to be no easy games in the World Cup and today teams that were meant to be weaker have got results which is something that we can look at as both motivation and a reminder.”
New Zealand’s match against Venezuela is live on Sky Sport 1 from 10.45am.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – Group C
New Zealand v Venezuela
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 6, 7pm (11am, Sept 7 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 10:45am
New Zealand (from): 1-Chloe-May GEURTS (GK), 2-Rachel HEAD, 3-Tessa MCPHERSON, 4-Olivia CHANCE, 5-Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH, 6-Evie MILLYNN, 7-Holly PATTERSON, 8-Kate LOYE, 9-Hannah CARLSEN, 10-Hannah WONG, 11-Grace PARKINSON, 12-Stephanie SKILTON, 13-Megan LEE, 14-Katie BOWEN (Captain), 15-Kate CARLTON, 16-Jessie MATHEWS, 17-Sivitha BOYCE, 18-Rebecca BURROWS, 19-Michelle WINDSOR, 20-Jess REDDAWAY, 21-Lily ALFELD
Head Coach: Dave EDMONDSON
Venezuela (from): 1-Maleike PACHECO (GK), 2-Genesis MORENO, 3-Yaribeth ULACIO, 4-Soleidys RENGEL, 5-Yurimar TOLEDO, 6-Maria RODRIGUEZ, 7-Paola VILLAMIZAR, 8-Maria CARRERO, 9-Ysaura VISO, 10-Marialba ZAMBRANO, 11-Michelle CLEMENTE, 12-Nathaly NATERA (GK), 13-Orliany MARCANO (GK), 14-Natasha ROSAS, 15-Anna ALVARADO, 16-Genesis MONCADA, 17-Maryeling MARTINEZ, 18-Joemar GUARECUCO, 19-Silvana ARON, 20-Jessyca MONTES, 21-Wendy PADILLA.
Head Coach: Kenneth ZSEREMETA
Young Football Ferns Schedule
New Zealand v Venezuela
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 6, 7pm (11am, Sept 7 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 10:45am
New Zealand v Spain
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 9, 4pm (8am, Sept 10 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 3 from 7:45am
New Zealand v Japan
Scarbrough, Tobago
Sept 13, 4pm (8am, Sept 14 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 7:45am
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
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