Soccer: Football Ferns hope experience will tell

Hayley Moorwood, Rosie White, Kirsty Yallop and captain Rebecca Smith are among the 21 Football Ferns going to Germany for the Women's World Cup. Photo / Greg Bowker

With half his team having played Fifa tournaments at under-17 and under-20 along with World Cup and Olympic appearances, Football Ferns coach John Herdman will not be able to blame lack of experience for a substandard effort at the Women's World Cup in Germany.

"I have worked with more than two-thirds of this group for five or six years so we understand each other pretty well," he said in announcing the squad of 21 for the sixth World Cup.

"They know what this World Cup is about and I know when times get tough - and they will - they will come forward together and pull together. Without doubt this is the best-prepared team we have been able to put out."

Yet, Herdman admits, while success is obviously foremost in his and the players' minds, next year's London Olympics are the bigger goal.

"The aim has already been the Olympic Games. I'm contracted [by New Zealand Football] until then and I see that as a more realistic goal, especially when you consider the 18 players to go to London are almost certain to come from this group."

Beyond that, he sees many of this year's squad being available for the 2015 World Cup - when the number of teams will increase from 16 to 24 - such is the emergence of young talent.

He fully backs New Zealand's stance in sticking with the Oceania Confederation and the opportunities that has given players here.

"I don't think you want to give up the Oceania route. You only have to look across the Tasman and see how hard it is for the Australians. Moving to Asia is costing them millions."

Of the team he has selected, Ali Riley, captain Rebecca Smith, Hayley Moorwood and Betsy Hassett bring the experience of playing professionally overseas as an added bonus.

"When we put out our best XI we can be very competitive against any team in the world and that has to be our approach."

Only Riley (hamstring) and defender Abby Erceg (calf) are under any injury cloud but Herdman remains confident they will be 100 per cent ready when the first game against Japan kicks off in Bochum on June 28. They might, however, bypass warm-up games against Wales, Colombia and Denmark at a mini-tournament in Switzerland before Germany.

Smith, who plays at German club Afl Wolfsburg, is looking forward to "returning home" to play her second World Cup.

"I went there two years ago with this World Cup in mind," said Smith, who turns 30 in 10 days. "It will be a huge event. There is a lot of interest. At a recent game between Germany and Canada in Dresden 20,000 turned up.

"There is a huge expectation that Germany will win," she added. "They compacted the domestic season to help them prepare."

Of the chances of taking points from Japan, England or Mexico, Smith remains upbeat.

"I think in all three games we have the chance of getting a result."

NZ TEAM GERMANY-BOUND

NZ at Fifa Women's World Cup, Germany:

* June 28: v Japan, Bochum 1am (live SS).

* July 1: v Germany, Dresden 4.15am (live SS).

* July 5: v Mexico, Sinsheim 4.15am (live SS).

FOOTBALL FERNS

* Goalkeepers: Jenny Bindon (Hibiscus Coast), Aroon Clansey (Three Kings), Erin Nayler (Eastern Suburbs).

* Defenders: Katie Bowen (Glenfield), Abby Erceg (Fencibles), Ann Green (Three Kings), Kristy Hill (Three Kings), Ria Percival (Lynn Avon), Ali Riley (US), Rebecca Smith (Germany) captain.

* Midfielders: Betsy Hassett (US), Katie Hoyle (Glenfield), Annalie Longo (Three Kings), Hayley Moorwood (England), Kirsty Yallop (Fencibles).

* Strikers: Sarah Gregorius (Eastern Suburbs), Amber Hearn (Lynn Avon), Emma Kete (Three Kings), Sarah McLaughlin (Claudelands), Rosie White (Three Kings), Hannah Wilkinson (Glenfield).