Soccer: Football Ferns Cup squad named

New Zealand keeper Jenny Bindon. Photo / Getty Images

Teenagers Katie Bowen and Erin Nayler have forced their way into the 21 strong Football Ferns squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, beginning later this month.

Bowen, 17, who represented New Zealand at U-17 Women's World Cups in 2008 and 2010 makes the squad as fullback and midfield cover after making her debut against Australia last month.

Nayler, 19, was a standout performer for New Zealand at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany last year and boosts the goalkeeping stocks behind Jenny Bindon and Aroon Clansey.

Otherwise, the squad read out by New Zealand Football Chairman Frank van Hattum at an Auckland press conference is notable for continuity of selection and tournament experience. Every squad member has playing experience from at least one FIFA age-group or senior event including eight players returning from the 2007 Women's World Cup squad and 12 who featured at the 2008 Olympics.

"It's nice to go into a World Cup with that experience," said Football Ferns coach John Herdman.

"We haven't been fortunate enough to go into previous events with that so to have a strong core who have either been to a World Cup, Olympics or youth World Cup can make a difference.

"They know what to expect, and when you have a group that's been together for as long as they have, you get that level of understanding of what this competition means for women's football in New Zealand."

Germany 2011 will be New Zealand's third Women's World Cup, and second in succession. Herdman believes a lot has changed since the 2007 in China.

New Zealand open their World Cup against Group B seeds Japan in Bochum on June 27 before taking on England on July 1 in Dresden and completing pool play against Mexico in Sinsheim four days later.

The squad leave for Europe on June 12 and will complete the final leg of their build up Switzerland where they will take on Wales along with fellow World Cup finalists Colombia and Denmark in three warm up internationals.

New Zealand squad

Goalkeepers
Jenny Bindon (Hibiscus Coast - 54/0)
Aroon Clansey (Three Kings United - 5/0)
Erin Nayler (Eastern Suburbs - 0/0)

Defenders
Katie Bowen (Glenfield Rovers - 1/0)
Abby Erceg (Fencibles United - 56/4)
Anna Green (Three Kings United - 36/4)
Kristy Hill (Three Kings United - 17/0)
Ria Percival (Lynn Avon United - 53/7)
Ali Riley (Western New York Flash, USA - 46/1)
Rebecca Smith (VfL Wolfsburg / Captain - 52/2)

Midfielders
Betsy Hassett (UCAL Berkeley, USA - 22/2)
Katie Hoyle (Glenfield Rovers - 45/1)
Annalie Longo (Three Kings United - 29/0)
Hayley Moorwood (Chelsea, ENG - 63/7)
Kirsty Yallop (Fencibles United - 47/11)

Forwards
Sarah Gregorius (Eastern Suburbs - 12/8)
Amber Hearn (Lynn Avon United - 42/21)
Emma Kete (Three Kings United - 39/3)
Sarah McLaughlin (Claudelands Rovers - 8/0)
Rosie White (Three Kings United - 36/7)
Hannah Wilkinson (Glenfield Rovers - 18/8)

- HERALD ONLINE