Soccer: Japan tough first test for Ferns

Hayley Moorwood is one of the Ferns that will be kicking off their World Cup campaign tomorrow. Photo / Natalie Slade

The might of Japan will run out against two New Zealand soccer teams in the space of two and a bit days at Fifa tournaments this week.

Early tomorrow morning the New Zealand women kick-off their World Cup campaign in Germany against world number four Japan while a little over 48 hours later the two countries will battle for a place in the quarter-finals at Fifa's Under-17 men's World Cup in Mexico.

Like Young All Whites coach Aaron McFarland, Football Ferns boss John Herdman has his sights on a place in post-section play but with only the top two teams in each pool to progress, it is a tougher road for his women.

Japan will be a real test first-up for the Ferns who go into the 16-team tournament ranked 24 with only Nigeria (27), Colombia (31) and Equatorial Guinea (61) ranked lower. The only Asian team to have played at all six Women's World Cups, Japan have the experience but have yet to carry encouraging results at age group level on to the big stage having won only three of 16 matches at this level and reaching the quarter-finals only in 1995.

The fast and technical Japanese lost only to Australia in qualifying from the competitive Asian Confederation.

Led by midfield veteran Homare Sawa - playing her fifth World Cup, the Norio Sasaki-coached Japanese will test the Football Ferns. Herdman has described Japan as "the Barcelona of women's football".

"It's going to be really difficult - it's arguably our toughest game," Herdman said. "The players are well aware that they have to bring their 'A' game and if any one player drops below the required standard we could be in trouble.

"But, generally, if people stick to their task for the full 90 minutes we could get a result like we did at the Olympics [where the two teams drew 2-2 in Beijing].

"They play a fantastic pass and move game. They will have the majority of possession and New Zealand will be fighting and scrapping to stay in the game but hopefully a bit of our quality will come through to take a result."

Herdman and his coaching staff have concerns on the fitness of midfielder Betsy Hassett and striker Sarah Gregorius.

WORLD CUP

* New Zealand v Japan
* Bochum, Germany
* Tomorrow 1am (NZ time) live SS1 (replay 9am SS1)