Soccer: Confident squad for maiden World Cup bid

Three 15-year-olds have been named in the New Zealand team for the women's under-20 World Cup in Russia next month.

Midfielders Annalie Longo and Caitlin Campbell and striker Merissa Smith are among nine players who will be eligible for the 2008 World Cup and with an average age of 16.6 years, coach John Herdman's squad is an encouraging pointer to the future.

Waitakere's Kirsty Yallop will captain the side, who have been grouped with Australia, European champions Russia and Brazil in group A for the tournament next month.

New Zealand will be a well-prepared squad. They have lived and trained together in Auckland since January, made tours to Australia and Argentina and have two matches in the Netherlands en route to Russia.

Four players who did not appear in the Oceania qualifying series in Apia have won their way into the squad - Auckland goalkeeper Biana Mori, Tauranga midfielder Maggie Lankshear and Auckland forwards Smith and Emma Kete.

"There is not one of them that doesn't think beating Australia, Russia or Brazil is not achievable," Herdman said.

New Zealand's first two games are in St Petersburg before moving to Moscow to face Brazil. It is the first time New Zealand have qualified for a women's age group World Cup.

The squad leave on August 6. They play Australia on August 17, Russia on August 20 and Brazil on August 23.

New Zealand Team

Goalkeepers: Aroon Clansey (Wellington), Bianca Mori (Auckland)

Defenders: Julia Baldwin (Wellington), Hannah Bromley (Taranaki), Abby Erceg (Auckland), Emma Harrison (Canterbury), Hannah Rishworth (Auckland), Petria Rennie (Auckland).

Midfielders: Caitlin Campbell (Waitakere), Katie Hoyle (Hamilton), Maggie Lankshear (Tauranga), Annalie Longo (Auckland), Ria Percival (Waitakere), Ali Riley (Los Angeles), Kirsty Yallop (c, Waitakere).

Forwards: Helen Collins (Whitianga), Sarah Gregorius (Wellington), Emma Humphries (Wellington), Emma Kete (Auckland), Renee Leota (Wellington), Merissa Smith (Auckland).