One. Game. To go. Today the Ford Football Ferns play their final SheBelieves Cup game against the FIFA 24^th-ranked side Czech Republic.

And captain Ali Riley and the team are champing at the bit to get a result.

“It's very important,” she says.

“We came into this [tournament] wanting to simulate a world cup group situation, and here we are, where now we have to give everything we have.

“Everyone on the team really, really wants to show what we can do, show that we're not a team that is going to concede in the first minute, five minutes, 10 minutes of every game we play. That's not us.

“We all want to end this tournament on a high note both individually and as a team.”

Head coach Jitka Klimková, who played for the Czech Republic, has been watching her former team closely, having produced some eye-catching performances during both the SheBelieves Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifiers.

“You could see in their first game against the USA, they have compact block, which is hard to break,” she notes.

“They are very skilful on the ball, and we were aware even before the SheBelieves Cup that this team is getting better - in their World Cup qualification they’ve tied twice against the [FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 finalists] Netherlands. It's strong team that is improving very quickly with a lot of personalities.

“We could even see in the game against Iceland when they put the pressure on Iceland and created the chances in the last 20 minutes and were the better team and could at least tie that game. So it'll be tough game.”

“That's what we are always asking for. We want those games, we are still preparing for July 2023, when we step on our home field and we'll fight in that group play in the World Cup.

“This is our preparation and this is those games are really making us better.”

Czech Republic quick facts

• Czech Republic drew 0-0 against the USA in their opening SheBelieves Cup game, and lost 2-1 to Iceland in their second.
• This will be the first time the Ford Football Ferns have ever played Czech Republic
• Czech Republic are currently third in Group C of the UEFA qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the UEFA qualifiers, the group winners automatically qualify for the tournament while second place finishers go into the playoffs.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Olivie Lukasova, Alexandra Vanickova, Barbora Votikova.

Defenders: Petra Bertholdova, Anna Dlaskova, Jitka Chlastakova, Lucie Jelinkova, Michaela Khyrova, Katerina Kotrcova, Simona Necidova, Gabriela Slajsova.

Midfielders: Klara Cahynova, Franny Cerna, Kamila Dubcova, Tereza Krejcirikova, Aneta Pochmanova, Antoine Starova, Katerina Svitkova, Tereza Szewieczkova.

Forwards: Klara Cvrckova, Lucie Martinkova, Miroslava Mrazova, Andrea Staskova.

Who to watch out for: Rising star Andrea Staskova. She signed for Italian giants Juventus after a glut of goals for Sparta Prague. In her first season in Italy so far, the 21-year-old has notched up five goals and five assists.
 

Match details

Kick off 5pm 23 February / 12pm 24 February (CT/NZT), Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas. Watch live on Sky Sport

Article added: Thursday 24 February 2022