New Zealand will begin their search for a maiden win at the Women's World Cup with a clash against the Netherlands tomorrow afternoon (NZT).
The Football Ferns will be playing in their third consecutive World Cup when the tournament in Canada kicks off, having picked up their first point duringthe 2011 edition.
In a bid to go one better this year, coach Tony Readings has called upon his players to hold nothing back in what he is predicting to be a tight encounter against the Dutch debutants at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
The Netherlands clinched their first finals berth in an expanded 24-team tournament after beating Scotland and Italy in a pair of two-legged playoffs but, despite their lack of experience at Fifa events, the Dutch have regular exposure to high level opposition. And, having been regularly tested in World Cup qualification and the European Championships, Readings isn't expecting the Oranje to be green.
"We know that every single game in our group is going to be tight," he said. "The difference between the top-ranked team, Canada, and every game will be close, and this one against the Netherlands will be no different.
"They are ranked 12th in the world for a reason, and that's because they are a very good team. Among all the teams I've seen recently, they are the ones who embrace the possession-based style the most."
Readings saw similarities between the Netherlands and his side, ranked 17th in the world, expecting the game to be determined by who manages to play to their full potential in the tournament opener.
"On our day, our players can out-perform their opposite number and, when we do that collectively, we can out-perform any opposition. When you're playing the best teams in the world - and we've got three of them in our group - there's just no room to hold anything back."
Despite having yet to taste victory at previous World Cups, Football Ferns captain Abby Erceg summed up the team's desire to be contenders in simple terms.
"We want to be a threat at this World Cup," said the 113-cap veteran. "We want to be a team that others are forced to change their game and deal with what we bring and how we can hurt them. We don't fear anyone anymore."
Erceg is set to be joined in New Zealand's 100-cap club by talismanic striker Amber Hearn, New Zealand's all-time top scorer with 45 international goals.
