The mission for the Football Ferns is as simple as playing as many games as possible, ideally against teams of a similar and competitive standard, giving themselves maximum room for growth before the World Cup next year. Results have been tough. They’ve won once and drawn twice from their last 21 fixtures. We saw some good signs and some bad ones in the two-game series against Australia in April. But this is all part of that growth.

The most important thing is that Jitka Klimková and the team are being given every chance to develop themselves tactically and technically and so far that’s been happening. These two upcoming fixtures against Norway and Wales will make it 11 matches over the last eight months or so. Filling out the international breaks whenever possible. This is what this team needs to do. Keep at it with the grind.

Are these winnable games? More winnable than Australia in Australia, to be fair. The Ferns played both of these nations in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup, beating Norway 1-0 thanks to a Rosie White goal and losing 1-0 to Wales despite arguably being the better team. They also lost 2-1 to Norway at the Algarve Cup in 2020.

Norway are significantly improved since then thanks to the return of 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg while Wales are certainly no easy beats. But these are the types of games that the Ferns need: games where both teams can rock up feeling like they have a genuine chance of victory if they play to their potential. Too often they find themselves playing as major underdogs or major favourites (the latter mostly in Oceania games). So this is good, these are solid fixtures.

It’s a 24-woman squad that’s been picked but the timing of these matches is a little frisky. A lot of players are in their offseasons, several more are unavailable for various reasons. The Fernies aren’t a team that can handle too many setbacks given their standing within world footy, that’s just the way it is. We’re a small nation with only one professional team (which has only existed for one year) and when players are rusty or injured it gets tough really fast. But the depth is growing. Klimková is trying to implement the kind of tactical base that can better handle players coming in and out. Hence why they need as many of these tours as possible.

However the list of those who are missing is kinda daunting. Neither Abby Erceg nor Anna Leat are there after both missing the Aussie games for personal reasons. CJ Bott is still recovering from injury, not a hundy percent despite returning for Leicester City in the final game of their season. Ria Percival is obviously out long term following her ACL injury (she remains under contract with Spurs, which is helpful). No Anna Green. No Rosie White. Katie Rood has been left out again. Ava Collins drops out having been in the previous four squads.

How’s this for a starting line-up:

Anna Leat | CJ Bott, Abby Erceg, Anna Green, Marisa van der Meer | Ria Percival, Rosie Missen, Alyssa Whinham | Rosie White, Katie Rood, Ava Collins

Yeah, well, none of them are playing. All for their own reasons, much of it out of their personal control, no dramas or anything. That’s just a big part of the context of this squad.

Also due to that frisky timing there are actually only five players our of 24 who have played more than once at a professional level this past month. Quite a few of the NZ/Aus based girls are playing amateur stuff or training regularly with the A-League Off-Season Programme in Aotearoa (plus Kate Taylor shone for the U20s last week) but that’s not the same thing. Ah well, so it goes. It’s all part of the journey.

GOALKEEPERS

Lily Alfeld – Wellington Phoenix, NZ (0 caps/0 goals)

Victoria Esson – Unattached (6/0)

Erin Nayler - Umeå IK, SWE (77/0)

First things first, some of these current club things get quite odd. A-League players are mostly either playing for NPL clubs or they’re in the A-League Off Season Programme so just to keep things tidy we’ll list them at their most recent ALW club. Keep that in mind though: not all of them will be back with those teams next term and also the ALW finished up in late March so it’s been a minute.

No Anna Leat again. That’s three straight tours that she’s missed which is a bit of a frustration because while Abby Erceg’s long established mana and prowess means she can sorta drop in and out, Anna Leat is a young player who has just 7 caps to her name. She’s also probably now the best option that the Ferns have at goalkeeper so the more games she plays, building connections with the defenders in front of her, the better. But we never get the full story on these absences so point in worrying. Leat’s very young for a goalie and the future is immensely bright. She’s currently without a club after leaving West Ham but there’s been chat of other WSL interest so she’ll be sweet. Time is on her side.

In the meantime it’s another chance for Vic Esson and Erin Nayler to scrap it out for the starting gig. Each has played three games out of the last six and Esson, with two clean sheets and also the stoppage time loss to Aussie, has quite clearly had more success than the long-term incumbent Nayler in that time. But Nayler’s finally back playing regularly at club level after a tough couple years. Week in, week out for Umeå IK in Sweden. Just what the doctor ordered.

As for Vic Esson, she had some good moments with SC Sand on a half-year deal in Germany. Not enough to keep them from relegation but the damage there was done before she arrived. Esson has since left and is now a free agent awaiting her next move. Chances are we see this pair split the two starts again.

Which may keep Lily Alfeld waiting even longer for an international debut, such is the life of a third-string goalie. She’s one of four uncapped players in this squad but is the only one of those rookies who has been picked previously. Maybe she’ll get a nudge off the bench at some point. Stranger things have happened.

DEFENDERS

Elizabeth Anton – Perth Glory, AUS (8/0)

Mackenzie Barry – Wellington Phoenix, NZ (0/0)

Claudia Bunge – Melbourne Victory, AUS (9/0)

Ally Green – Vålerenga, NOR (0/0)

Meikayla Moore – Unattached (53/3)

Ali Riley – Angel City FC, USA (145/1)

Kate Taylor – Wellington Phoenix, NZ (0/0)

Ashleigh Ward – Actonians, ENG (2/0)

Three possible debutants here, damn. Ally Green was with the group last time but that was only as a training player as she awaited confirmation of her allegiancy switch. From Australia to Aotearoa, the nation of her mother. That’s all done now. Paperwork sorted. Greeny also had to deal with excessive paperwork after joining Vålerenga at the end of the A-League season where visa complications meant she had to wait a month before she could make her debut. But that’s all sorted now too and she made that long-awaited debut last week (covered in Flying Kiwis, as per).

Ally Green is a very solid left-back with quality passing and crossing abilities. As it happens the captain of the team is also a left-back... but with CJ Bott missing last tour Ali Riley played both matches on the right side with Anna Green on the left. One A.Green has seemingly been replaced by another A.Green, although don’t discount Ashleigh Ward who impressed on debut against South Korea late last year and with a bit of luck could find herself with a transfer up a division or two in the English leagues soon. At least, she spent some time training with a Championship team during the last season so it’s feasible.

No doubt that Ali Riley and CJ Bott are the first choice starters... but this is a nice opportunity to build up a bit more depth in those wide defensive areas. There actually isn’t a specialist right back in this group although if Riley doesn’t play there, there are plenty of part-timers available. Katie Bowen of course. Rebekah Stott maybe. Liz Anton has played RB off the bench for the Ferns in recent times while Mackenzie Barry can do a job there if necessary.

Central defence is also an area that needs stocking up, hence Kate Taylor and Mackenzie Barry have been swooped into the squad after impressive debut pro campaigns with the Welly Nix. It’s not just the defensive stuff with these two. Both are excellent tacklers who read the game nicely. Still got things to iron out positionally but of course they do. It’s early days. But what really stood out most was how good and confident they already are at passing the ball out from the back. And that’s the beauty of the Wellington Phoenix. Taylor and Barry would have gotten here eventually but there’s no doubt that their development has been accelerated by the WahiNix.

Abby Erceg isn’t here. Katie Bowen has started more games at CB under Klimková than at CM but with Ria Percival injured she’s needed in her natural spot more than ever. Rebekah Stott doesn’t play in the backline for Melly City any more. Meaning that JK had to fill out those CB stocks, hence why Taylor and Barry have been selected now. Meikayla Moore and Claudia Bunge are the top options here but it’s a great chance to get a few others involved. Especially Liz Anton who had a wonderful campaign with Perth Glory – seven of her eight caps have been substitute appearances so the door is now open.

MIDFIELDERS

Katie Bowen – North Carolina Courage, USA (82/3)

Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge, DEN (21/2)

Betsy Hassett – Stjarnan, ISL (130/14)

Annalie Longo – Christchurch United, NZ (124/15)

Malia Steinmetz – Western Sydney Wanderers, AUS (7/0)

Rebekah Stott – Melbourne City, AUS (85/4)

This midfield is going to be quite a trip. Prior to the second game against Australia, Ria Percival had not missed a start for the Ferns since 2018. Without her things reverted on the fly to a Cleverley/Bowen/Hassett combo which is still pretty decent but definitely lacks the punch that Percival brings. On that note, you’ve gotta wonder if maybe Malia Steinmetz gets a go. It’d be promoting her above her level given some of the experienced pros around her but Steinmetz is the only true CDM in the group and has impressed in her spare opportunities over the last couple tours. Let her loose. See what happens.

An enforcer in the midfield would allow a bit more freedom for passers like Katie Bowen, Betsy Hassett, Rebekah Stott, and Daisy Cleverley to do what they do best. Maybe Olivia Chance too although she’s almost always used as a left winger these days (despite playing CM for Celtic). Annalie Longo as well, of course. Plenty of options though a lot of them are quite similar. Not sure if that makes it easier or harder to split them.

Daisy Cleverley recently signed with Danish champs HB Køge with the potential to play Champions League next season. An amazing transfer but their offseason has only just started. DC has basically only had international games since finishing university in the USA. Katie Bowen is also short on match fitness. She’s made almost every matchday squad for North Carolina Courage after signing with them for 2022 but has only appeared once off the bench. Still, she’s training hard every day with a superb bunch of footballers so that’s not quite so bad.

Betsy Hassett’s in good touch for Stjarnan. They’ve been on a great run of results lately and she’s played a big part in that – as far as the form guide goes, Hassett’s a lock for a starting spot... though the form guide is never the only factor. Rebekah Stott and Malia Steinmetz are in their A-League offseasons but are staying busy at NPL level. Stott with Bulleen Lions in Queensland, Steinmetz with Northern Tigers in New South Wales. Steinmetz is actually Tigers teammates with Claudia Bunge. In fact they both scored in a recent win.

And then of course we’ve also for the return of Annalie Longo. Haven’t seen her since the Olympics as she’s taken a step back to focus on her role as the big boss of Girls & Womens Football Development with NZ Football. Didn’t play A-League last season after a couple years with Melbourne Victory previously (including a championship). However she’s kept busy at domestic level including being the MVP of the South Central Series with Canterbury United Pride and here’s her first opportunity to flex under Jitka Klimková’s guidance. Flea’s only 30 years old. She’s got plenty left in the tank, although being based domestically does limit her chances.

FORWARDS

Olivia Chance – Celtic, SCO (30/1)

Jacqui Hand - Åland United, FIN (6/1)

Grace Jale – Wellington Phoenix, NZ (6/2)

Gabi Rennie – Arizona State University, USA (12/2)

Emma Rolston – Avaldsnes, NOR (11/6)

Paige Satchell – Sydney FC, AUS (28/2)

Hannah Wilkinson – Melbourne City, AUS (105/27)

And now for the problem area: the attacking spots. Hannah Wilkinson’s experience casts a long shadow over all of the rest of them. Not been up to heaps since a fantastic ALW campaign with Melbourne City but she did score in the second Aussie fixture in April – her first international goal for two years. The Ferns have scored 15 goals in their last 27 games going back to the start of 2019. Wilkinson and Gabi Rennie are the only players with multiple goals in that stretch (two apiece).

So, yeah, gotta figure something out there. Wilkinson is the key. The most established player by far and finding a way to get her the best service possible, and to make the most of what she’s capable of, is the main riddle for Klimková. Discovering how to make Wilkie the focal point in the way that Chris Wood is for the men’s team.

Liv Chance has straight up been the best creative player for this team across the last couple years. Her clever vision for a pass. Her ability to pop up in dangerous areas. There’s a reason she features that much further forward for country compared to club. Ideally there’d be a central playmaking role for her but that’s not really the case in a 4-3-3 so you make it work some other way. You certainly can’t complain about what Chance has been producing at LW.

Then around Wilkie and Chance there’s a sturdy cast of younger players who are steadily beginning to rack up international caps. All with the versatility to play anywhere across the front three. Jacqui Hand is one who’s starting to get some real momentum in her career having hit the ground running at Åland United in Finland. Emma Rolston is getting games in the Norwegian top flight with Avaldsnes (her manager is John Arne Riise). Grace Jale was huge for the Welly Nix and her strength and athleticism up front makes her an exciting prospect. Gabi Rennie’s already got goals against Australia and South Korea in her nascent Ferns career. Paige Satchell has improved massively over a couple years in the A-League.

Will any of them be able to spark the kind of creativity that this team needs? Will the midfield be able to move the ball around smoothly enough to supply them? Can the defence keep the goals out? How much will the team suffer from some of those key players who are missing?

All of that remains to be seen. Don’t fret. We’re through the introductory days of Jitka Klimková’s Football Ferns and into the nitty gritty stages of trying to set things up for success at the World Cup in a year’s time. That’s the one. Every game prior to then is preparation and the more of that the merrier.

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