Soccer: Ferns on World Cup stage

Ali Riley plays professionally in the US. Photo / Getty Images

Michael Brown produces a beginner's guide to the Women's World Cup, which starts next weekend, and NZ's chances.

THE TOURNAMENT

The Women's World Cup was first held in China in 1991 when the US prevailed but the tournament really came to prominence in 1999 when it was hosted and won by the US. Nearly 1.2 million spectators attended games, including 90,185 for the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena - a world record for a women's sporting event. China was supposed to host the 2003 event (won by Germany) but it was moved to the US because of the threat of SARS. In return, China hosted in 2007 when Germany won consecutive titles. New Zealand will be one of 16 teams distilled from 122 countries who entered qualifying.

THE TEAM

The Football Ferns have bounced around between a ranking of 20 (2005) and their present position of 24 over the past decade but they are a rapidly improving outfit. In just over two years, they have beaten Italy (ranked 12th) and the Netherlands (14), drawn with England (10), France (7) and Canada (6) and were runners-up at last year's Cyprus Cup. They also troubled Australia (11) in a recent World Cup warm-up.

Coach John Herdman has put together a young but experienced group, with five players with more than 50 caps and others closing in on the mark. There are also four fully professional players - captain Rebecca Smith (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany), Hayley Morwood (Chelsea), Ali Riley (Western New York Flash, US) and Kirsty Yallop (Vittsjo, Sweden), while Emma Kete will join Lincoln Ladies (England) after the Cup.

Results have improved over the past couple of years along with the style of game the Ferns play. In the past they relied on the counter-attack in the hope of nicking a goal but they now possess more ball players and can build from the back.

THE QUALIFICATION

No team breezed through qualifying quite like New Zealand. The Football Ferns were on a different planet to their opposition, slamming in 50 goals in five games while conceding none - they beat Papua New Guinea 11-0 in the Oceania final. Striker Amber Hearn, who previously played for Arsenal, helped herself to a dozen goals in the tournament. New Zealand have little opposition at all levels of women's football in Oceania since Australia joined Asia in 2006.

THE STAR PLAYER

Ali Riley makes an impact wherever she plays. The American-born fullback was Oceania Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010, New Zealand Player of the Year in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010; and Rookie of the Year in her first season in the American Women's Professional Soccer league for FC Gold Pride. She's since teamed up with the world's best player, Marta, at the league-leading Western New York Flash. The 23-year-old is a quick and skilful player who likes to get up and down the right flank and is rapidly closing in on 50 caps since her debut in 2007. Rebecca Smith, a nominee for the 2007 World Player of the Year, remains a big influence in the centre of defence.

THE HISTORY

This will be New Zealand's third World Cup. They played in the inaugural tournament in China in 1991, when they were outclassed by Denmark 3-0, Norway 4-0 and China 4-1. In 2007, they came unstuck against Brazil 5-0, Denmark 2-0 and China 2-0.

THE OPPOSITION

Japan are the highest-ranked team in Group B at No 4 but have reached the knockout stages just once (1995). They have won three of their 16 matches at the past five World Cups. The Nadeshiko, however, are a team on the rise and Japan's junior sides have been consistently good in recent years (the under-17s were beaten in their World Cup final on penalties). They will be fast and technically sound.

Like the men's side, there's every confidence England (10) will win the World Cup but, again like the men, it seems a tall order. They are certainly on a good run; unbeaten in their last 10 games stretching back to February 2010. They were runners-up at the 2009 European Championships and romped through qualifying, when they conceded only four goals in 10 matches.Mexico (22) will be appearing at the World Cup for the second time but they pulled off a momentous result on the way to qualifying when they beat two-time winners and No 1-ranked side the United States 2-1.

THE OBJECTIVE

New Zealand have targeted progress to the second round as the minimum goal and, while they are the lowest-ranked team in the group, it's not out of the question.

Group B lacks one of the Big Three - the US, Germany and Brazil - which leaves it wide open. Neither Japan nor England, the two most likely to progress, have much World Cup pedigree.

The Football Ferns will probably need at least four points to get out of their group and see a win over Mexico as their best chance, even though Las Tricolores beat them 5-0 last time they met at March's Cyprus Cup (New Zealand put out an experimental side).

They drew with England 0-0 late last year at the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea and drew 2-2 with Japan at the 2008 Beijing Olympics - Japan went on to finish fourth.

THE FAVOURITES

Most expect the title to go to one of the Big Three. Germany go in as two-time defending champions - they won the 2007 tournament without conceding a goal - and are playing on home turf.

They are, however, ranked behind the US, who won gold at Beijing and went through 2010 undefeated. In fact, the Americans have lost only two of their 66 games since the last World Cup.

Brazil have the chance finally to fulfil their potential, having finished runners-up in 2007. They possess the immensely talented Marta, World Player of the Year for the past four years. Canada, Sweden and Japan loom as the best of the rest.