The side departed Monday for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and for the majority of the squad it’s their first taste of a FIFA tournament.
Speaking after the team’s final training session and shirt presentation ceremony held at Ellerslie AFC’s Michaels Avenue Reserve on Sunday, coach Jitka Klimkova described a team keyed up and relishing the challenge lying ahead.
“We’re so excited,” Klimkova said, “training today was the last one in New Zealand and we had a little competition and music for training. Everyone is so excited to go.
“Right now it’s all about excitement and all about emotions. I think we all will realise when we get there what it actually means and we will understand how responsible and how professional we have to be.”
When the team does arrive in Costa Rica, Klimkova says the first challenge will be dealing quickly with the different challenges provided by their group opponents.
“The biggest learning is going to be adjusting to the different styles of football,” Klimkova said.
“Having Paraguay, Spain and Japan in our group will mean we are facing different styles of football than we usually experience and we have to be able to adapt.”
Earlier this year the team travelled to the United States for a four-team tournament which replicated some of the experience the team will face and Klimkova says the group have benefitted greatly from that preparation.
“We realise how much quicker we have to play at international level and when we are defending we have to be compact, together and aggressive.
“After our experience in the USA, we know if we are mentally strong then we can be successful.”
In a change to the squad initially named, Deven Jackson has been ruled out of the tournament through injury with Whitney Heburn added to the side.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2014
Match Schedule – Group C
New Zealand v Paraguay
Sunday 16 March, 11am (Monday 17 March, 6am NZ time)
Tibas, Ricardo Saprissa Ayma Stadium
New Zealand v Spain
Wednesday 19 March, 5pm (Thursday 20 March, 12 noon NZ time)
Tibas, Ricardo Saprissa Ayma Stadium
New Zealand v Japan
Sunday 23 March, 5pm (Monday 24 March, 12 noon NZ time)
San Jose, National Stadium of Costa Rica
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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