Soccer: Football Ferns' hopes dashed

England's ended the Football Ferns' hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup in Germany.

The New Zealand team has given up a one-nil halftime lead to lose 2-1 to the English in their second group match in Dresden.

Football Ferns coach John Herdman is finding it a difficult result to accept.

"It's a tough way to go out of the tournament, I'm proud of the girls, we just fell short at the end," he says.

The Football Ferns remain bottom of group B, while Japan has secured a place in the last eight with a four-nil win over Mexico.

New Zealand will play Mexico in their final group match on Wednesday morning.

- Newstalk ZB