KEY POINTS:
Lack of genuine pace and athleticism and the inability to score goals - long-time shortcomings in New Zealand soccer - were again exposed as the Young Ferns bowed out of Fifa's inaugural Under-17 Women's World Cup.
The failure/inability to take their chances cost the Bri Fisher-led team dearly as they slumped to their second one-goal loss, going down 2-1 to Denmark at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday. That followed a 1-0 loss to Canada in the tournament opener.
In 21 matches through the build-up goals have been at a premium. They managed just 24, eight of which were scored over Australia.
On the stats sheet against Denmark the home team were ahead in possession, shots on goal and the corner count. In the end those advantages counted for nothing.
Forget about the failure to progress beyond pool play and consider the positives. How many New Zealand women's teams can boast that in two games they played before collective crowds of almost 25,000? None.
In attracting such crowds, the tournament has introduced the world's most popular sport to a new breed of supporters.
The challenge now is for New Zealand Football to do everything to ensure these players are given every chance to build from their encouraging start.
The world is their oyster.
Rosie White and Katie Bowen are young enough to play in the next Under-17 Cup.
Paul Temple's squad of 21 will be eligible for the 2010 Under-20 Women's World Cup. Nine of those players will by then have had the experience of playing at that level in this month's under-20 tournament in Chile.
Looking further ahead, the players Fisher led so admirably will be around 23-24 years at the time of the 2015 Women's World Cup.
There is, a long shot perhaps, a chance the 2015 Women's World Cup might be played in New Zealand.
Any bid by New Zealand Football would, surely, find support in high places given the huge tick of approval Fifa bosses are set to give the under-17 showpiece.
