Ford Football Ferns vs Colombia

Saturday 2 December KO 4pm [local] / Sunday 3 December KO 10am [NZT]

Estadio El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia. 

The Ford Football Ferns finish a ground-breaking 2023 with two games against FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia in Bogotá. But while it may be the end of the year, it is the start of a new cycle for the team as they look forward to Olympic qualifying in February 2024. 

The squad for the tour also has a new look to it with 10 players included who weren’t part of the 23 selected for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July, including three called up for the first time in Wellington Phoenix’s Manaia Elliott, Sunderland AFC’s Katie Kitching and Canberra United’s Ruby Nathan. 

What head coach Jitka Klimková said about her team’s preparation: 

“This team is working really, really hard to be prepared for the game. We are working hard on the field, off the field, we are learning how to deal with the altitude here in Columbia. 

It's 2,600 meters above sea level so everybody's responding a little bit differently. It depends on the individuals. We know how important it is to hydrate, to have proper recovery, to have good nutrition and good sleep hygiene. So all those little details are helping us to be prepared. 

But I would say again, I have never seen this team, players and staff working so hard to be prepared for these two games against Columbia.” 

 

Likely Team:

With the OFC Olympic qualifiers only a few months away, and a large number of fresh faces in the squad, Jitka Klimková will likely be keen to test out how her new players cope with the step up to senior international football. 

The added challenge of playing at altitude (2,600 metres) could mean that the subs bench will be important. 

At the pre-match press conference both Klimková and Rebekah Stott praised Wellington Phoenix winger Manaia Elliott so she could be one of the five players who could potentially make their Ford Football Ferns debut in Bogotá. 


Player to Watch: Catalina Usme

With Real Madrid superstar Linda Caicedo not part of the squad for this tour, forward Catalina Usme will likely be one of the key threats in a dangerous Colombian team. 

The team’s all-time leading goalscorer, Usme averages a goal every other game for the national side, including seven goals in 2023, most notably the winner over Jamacia in the FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16. 


Where to Watch: 

The match will be available live and free on FIFA+ and TVNZ Duke / TVNZ+ from 10am NZT.  

Stream live on FIFA+

Article added: Saturday 02 December 2023