Football Ferns in Rio: Game Three vs France/Dark Horse Obituary
The Ferns were pretty damn good at slide tackles though so shout outz
Another major football tournament, another fumbling attacking display from our Football Ferns. Everything was laid down in the 3-0 loss to France, with France showcasing their slick attacking ability while the Ferns tended to do what they've done for a while now in struggling to combine with any great potency moving forward.
As always, we saw a gritty Ferns defensive effort led by the usual suspects; Abby Erceg, Rebekah Stott and Kate Duncan were busy in the middle of the field and did their best to counter the barrage of French footballin' craft. The movement, the combinations and the ability of the French players to take defenders on meant that our kiwi defenders were always on the back-footy, trying to slow France down.
The second goal really stood out for me as an example of what the Ferns were dealing with as Louisa Cadamuro scored, nodding home a free header in the box. France had ripped the Ferns to shreds down their right, forcing Erceg to push out wide and track Elodie Thomis before Thomis whipped in a beauty of a cross. Erceg obviously wasn't in the box and the Ferns were unable to keep tabs on Cadamuro storming forward, gifting her with a simple header. This isn't overly negative as Erceg was doing her job in putting pressure on the ball outside the box and while she may have left her post in the middle of the field, France had eliminated kiwi defenders with their intricate passing which meant Erceg had no choice.
Grit, determination and effort all exist in abundance within the defensive heart of the Ferns, up against France - who do everything that we kinda want the Ferns do - this just wasn't good enough. France were better at playing football and much like the Women's Sevens result which saw our kiwi ladies lose to Australia, you can't hate on the better team winning.
What sucks though is that on the back of the World Cup last year, the Ferns showed many of the same problems in the Olympics as they did in Canada. Sure, the defensive starch is still there but so is the lack of penetrative skill, so are the constant turnovers and the general inability to string a decent combination of passes together, working their way into threatening areas of the field, holds this team back.
The Ferns have rolled out a striking combination of Hannah Wilkinson and Amber Hearn, playing with two strikers should be exciting right? Off the top of my head, I'm struggling to remember Wilkinson bringing the ball down as the target-women that she apparently is and linking up with the more agile Hearn. It always felt as though these two were too far apart and any time either of them had the ball, they were pretty much on their own - especially Wilkinson.
I say that Wilkinson was 'apparently' the target up front because the Ferns persisted with long-balls through the middle, clearly using her as a target. However, nothing really came of this which stems from Wilkinson rarely then combining with Hearn. It smacked you in the face as a tactic to get the ball up to Wilkinson and why wouldn't you? In another tactical flaw though, the Ferns never opted to attack wide and then cross it in to Wilkinson for her to use her strength and head a few at the goal. Even free-kicks that were in wide areas were often passed into the middle of the field before a long ball was hit into the box; it's not the best use of a striker like Wilkinson.
Understandable as the Ferns didn't have the attacking artillery out wide to pose those sorts of problems, similar problems that France posed. Speed, skill and general razzle dazzle ability in the wide channels is non-existent for the Ferns which isn't so much a tactical issue, more a lack of resource. Maybe coach Tony Readings could have tried Rosie White a few more times up front or maybe he could have put more faith in the livewire Jasmine Perreira?
Regardless, the Ferns had no one in their team who you would back to take on a defender, skin them and then fire a cross into Wilkinson or Hearn. Which is probably why it ended up being a bit long-ballish. A cluster of centre-midfielders probably didn't help either as they all buzzed around the middle of the field without sliding out into wide areas - if they did then the likes of Duncan, Betsy Hassett and Annalie Longo aren't suited to offering flair down the flanks.
The wounds of another disappointing major tournament are still fresh, so it's best to let some dust settle before we take a broader look at the Football Ferns and their future. This Rio Olympics result definitely reflects the Ferns standing in women's football as they lost to USA and France who are both better than them (and better than most teams), while they beat Colombia. I was hopeful that they could make some waves, yet they lost to better teams so it is, what it is.
My disappointment though comes from seeing the same problems hold the Ferns back. Apparently insanity is the repetition of actions that lead to the same negative result, so let's consider this insanity. This is a young group and there's plenty of room for them to grow into, developing a style of footy that sees them create more chances, score more goals and just play a more exciting style of football.
Where's Brendon McCullum at? Does he know how to play/coach/talk football?
Grit, defensive nous, effort ... all those sorts of elements are good when they help you win. They form the foundation of the Football Ferns at the moment but they don't help the Ferns win big games. If we are content with the Ferns being a decent international side, then let the status-quo remain. If we want our Ferns to cash in on a young but experienced squad that has been together for a while and oozes potential, then change is need to take them to a new level.
Change is only required because the foundation has been laid; it's time to build.