Junior Football Ferns eye upset over hosts

The Junior Football Ferns are heading into their top of the table clash against U-20 World Cup hosts and favourites Japan in Miyagi on Wednesday night without fear.

Hannah Wilkinson and Katie Bowen celebrate the win over Switzerland. FIFA via Getty

August 21, 2012

AUCKLAND – The Junior Football Ferns are heading into their top of the table clash against U-20 World Cup hosts and favourites Japan in Miyagi on Wednesday night without fear.

After a 2-1 win over Switzerland to open their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign on Sunday, New Zealand sit second in Group A behind the hosts who demolished Mexico 4-1 later the same night.

Based on the World Champion status of their senior side and their advantage as host nation Japan are among the favourites to claim a maiden youth title, but New Zealand coach Aaron McFarland says there will still be opportunities for his side to exploit.

“I think with the way Japan play, they have so much belief in what they do they always give the opposition chances to take advantage of when they are playing out,” McFarland said.

“So with our high pressure game and belief in our physical attributes we’ll create some opportunities. There’ll only be a handful of chances and we’ll have to make the most of them but they’ll be good ones. Every team that plays against them gets those chances.”

McFarland also believes his squad that boasts a healthy dose of age group experience and a sprinkling of senior international caps is versatile enough to keep Japan on their toes.

“On top of the traditional direct style, we’ve shown against Switzerland that we’ve got more to offer and can play when it’s on. We won’t have any trepidation in that respect – it’s just that Japan will give you less chance to play that way.

A second straight win would all but guarantee a place in the quarter finals but a point or close result would keep their hopes alive heading into Sunday’s final group match against Mexico.

With the threat of elimination not hanging over the team, McFarland says his team are full of positive focus.

“We’ve put ourselves in a great position and it’s the only position to be in when you’re the underdog. We can go in the match against Japan with every confidence in our ability to do well and not have any trepidation about playing. Often when you need a result you do have that worry hanging over you and that may affect performance.”

New Zealand have a fully fit squad to choose from with McFarland still considering a couple of changes to his starting line up.

In other results at the tournament Nigeria beat Korea Republic 2-0 to lead Group B ahead of Brazil and Italy who drew 1-1; Canada thumped Argentina 6-0 and Korea DPR beat Norway 4-2 in Group C and powerhouses Germany and USA each notched 4-0 wins over China and Ghana respectively to share the lead in Group D.

New Zealand’s match against Japan kicks off at 10.20pm on Wednesday (NZT) with live coverage on Sky Sport 1.

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012
New Zealand v Japan
Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi
August 22
7.20pm (10.20pm NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 10.05pm

New Zealand: (from) 1-Erin NAYLER (GK), 2-Bridgette ARMSTRONG, 3-Rebecca BURROWS, 4-Nadia PEARL, 5-Tayla O BRIEN, 6-Evie MILLYNN, 7-Holly PATTERSON, 8-Olivia CHANCE, 9-Georgia BROWN, 10-Kate LOYE, 11-Katie ROOD, 12-Steph SKILTON, 13-Rosie WHITE (captain), 14-Katie BOWEN, 15-Tessa BERGER, 16-Ashleigh WARD, 17-Hannah WILKINSON, 18-Caitlin SMALLFIELD, 19-Lucy CARTER, 20-Corina BROWN (GK), 21-Jess REDDAWAY (GK).
Coach: Aaron McFARLAND

Japan: (from) 1-Sakiko IKEDA (GK), 2-Chika KATO, 3-Shiori KINOSHITA, 4-Riho SAKAMOTO, 5-Haruka HAMADA, 6-Ayu NAKADA, 7-Nozomi FUJITA, 8-Hikaru NAOMOTO, 9-Yoko TANAKA, 10-Kumi YOKOYAMA, 11-Mina TANAKA, 12-Rei TAKENAKA (GK), 13-Ayaka MICHIGAMI, 14-Hanae SHIBATA, 15-Yushika NAKAMURA, 16-Naoko WADA, 17-Hikari TAKAGI, 18-Asuka NISHIKAWA, 19-Yu NAKASATO, 20-Mayo DOKO, 21-Arisa MOCHIZUKI (GK).
Coach: Hiroshi YOSHIDA

Group A Standings

New Zealand schedule
New Zealand v Japan
Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi
August 22
7.20pm (10.20pm NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 10.05pm

New Zealand v Mexico
Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium, Kobe
August 26
7.20pm (10.20pm NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 10.05pm