Football Ferns coach Andreas Heraf knows just how hard it will be to match a world-class Japan side at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Sunday but wouldn’t have it any other way. He wants his team to get used to facing opposition of such high quality as they have some lofty goals in mind.

The Ferns are taking their first steps on a path they hope will end in glory at both the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and must break new ground to successfully do so.

Despite steadily climbing the FIFA world rankings in recent years and establishing themselves as a top 20 team, the Ferns are yet to win a game at a FIFA Women’s World Cup and Heraf is looking to do all he can to change that in France next year.

“New Zealand have never gone through the pool stage and we have that goal, which will be really, really difficult,” he says.

“If we want to achieve that goal, we know we have to win at least one game in the pool stage, which we have never done before. It will be really tough and we have to work step-by-step towards that. This tour and the three training days we have had are steps in that direction. We know that at the moment there is quite a big distance to go until we are where we want to be. But we have made good improvements and have seen a lot in these days to make us happy.”

There is no doubt Japan fit the bill in terms of providing the sort of challenging opposition New Zealand are likely to face at the World Cup and Olympics, provided they come through Oceania qualifying as expected.

The Nadeshiko are currently ranked just outside the top ten in 11^th and won the FIFA Women’s World Cup as recently as 2011 before finishing runners-up four years later. The Football Ferns have played them on eight previous occasions and never been victorious, claiming just two draws from those encounters. Aside from a 6-0 blowout in 2005, they have regularly come close though, losing the other matches by no more than a goal.

They can therefore take plenty of hope into tomorrow’s clash, especially with the backing of what is likely to be a record-breaking crowd. Their chances have suffered a blow in the lead-up to the game though with captain Ali Riley being ruled out of a starting berth due to injury.

Amber Hearn – the top scorer in Football Ferns history with 54 goals – will skipper the side in her absence and, while proud to accept the honour, says the added responsibility will not affect her approach.

“It doesn’t really change anything for me, I’ll be going about things the same way I always would,” she says.

The striker is also not letting the excitement of being back on home soil and the Ferns playing in the nation’s capital for the first time in 27 years get to her.

“I’ve never played at Westpac Stadium before, I haven’t even watched a rugby game there,” she jokes.

“For the girls, it will be great to play there but, for me, it’s just another stadium and another game. The main thing for me is that it’s in front of all our families and friends so I’m sure everyone will want to play well and play to win and hopefully that’s what we go out and do.”

With nothing riding on the outcome from a result point of view, the friendly match gives both sides the chance to focus on taking steps towards their longer-term goals.

But Hearn says the New Zealand players certainly have the prospect of a first-ever win over the Nadeshiko at the forefront of their minds.

“No game is ever a friendly, I guess that’s how I see things. If you approach it that way then the results will show,” she says.

“Yes, Japan are a quality team and are technically fantastic but we’ve got a few things up our sleeve so I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a great game to watch.”

Match Details

Football Ferns vs Japan
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sunday 10 June, 3pm
Tickets: Adults $15, children $5 (plus booking and credit card fees)
Tickets available through Ticketek by clicking here

New Zealand: 1. Erin Nayler (GK), 3. Anna Green, 4. CJ Bott, 5. Meikayla Moore, 6. Rebekah Stott, 7. Ali Riley, 9. Amber Hearn, 10. Annalie Longo, 11. Sarah Gregorius, 12. Betsy Hassett, 13. Rosie White, 14. Katie Bowen, 17. Hannah Wilkinson, 19. Paige Satchell, 20. Malia Steinmetz, 21. Anna Leat (GK), 23. Nadia Olla (GK), 25. Liz Anton, 26. Sarah Morton, 27. Stephanie Skilton, 29. Emma Rolston
Coach: Andreas Heraf

Japan: 1. Sakiko Ikeda (GK), 2. Rumi Utsugi, 3. Aya Sameshima, 4. Saki Kumagai, 5. Nana Ichise, 6. Saori Ariyoshi, 7. Emi Nakajima, 8. Yu Nakasato, 9. Nahomi Kawasumi, 11. Mina Tanaka, 12. Narumi Miura, 13. Yuika Sugasawa, 14. Yui Hasegawa, 15. Moeno Sakaguchi, 16. Rin Sumida, 17. Hikari Takagi, 18. Ayaka Yamashita (GK), 19. Rika Masuya, 20. Madoka Haji, 21. Chika Hirao, 22. Risa Shimizu, 23. Shiori Miyake, 24. Fuka Nagano
Coach: Asako Takakura