Football Ferns vs USA: Squad Yarns & Preview
It’s kinda strange that this tour is even happening. It’s not a FIFA window and therefore the Football Ferns have their hands tied as to which players they can select however the USA team wants a dummy run through some Aotearoa facilities ahead of the World Cup. All their domestic based players are out of season anyway and it wouldn’t have been very American to even consider whether this was the ideal time for their opponents to be hosting them.
They’re coming either way... and, like, what are you gonna do? Not play the USA in a couple friendlies while they’re in your country? People will be going to watch the reigning world champs in action at Sky Stadium and Eden Park regardless of what line-ups the Ferns are able to muster. If they lose by double figures then hey at least you got to see Alex Morgan score a hatty in the flesh, right?
Best to think of these games as glorified reserve fixtures because these games are not going to aid the Football Ferns in achieving their World Cup targets, at least not directly. The Fernies have played the Americans as much as anyone in recent years and it’s never gone well. This two-game tour (Wednesday 18th in Wellington then Saturday 21st in Auckland) is unique in that it’s in New Zealand – first time USA have ever played a senior international in this country - but the state of the Ferns squad means that the results won’t be any better than when they lost 5-0 to them at the SheBelieves Cup a year ago... or when they were pumped 6-1 at the Olympics in 2021... or when they lost 5-0 a month out from the 2019 World Cup... or the 3-1 and 5-0 defeats they suffered over there in 2017.
Games against teams like the USA are not the ones that the Ferns need to target. Their ongoing (some may say eternal) struggle has been trying to consistently challenge, and occasionally beat, teams ranked within around ten spots of them in either direction. They’re really good against lower ranked nations. Don’t score too many goals even then but a strong defensive identity usually sees them right. Jitka Klimková is yet to lose to a team ranked below her Ferns.
But even if they do reach that level in time for the World Cup then they’re still not going to be able to topple the USA in anything other than a gargantuan upset. Spending 180 minutes in a low block with only a few spare counter attacks to speak of over the next week is not going to help them beat Switzerland or Denmark or even the Philippines later in the year. They need games in which they can keep possession and create things. This ain’t that, mate.
Although perhaps the mix-and-match nature of the squad they’ve selected actually makes this a more useful tour than if they’d been at full strength? They’re losing either way but in this version a few uncapped players get a chance to throw their hats in the ring. There’ll be game time for backups competing for squad places. Plus any chance to hit the training paddock is a chance worth taking in international football.
Now, could this game simply have taken place in a few months when the Ferns could have picked their best team? Not really. As they always do, USA are hosting the SheBelieves Cup in February (still not sure why SheBelieves needs to be one word) where they’ll face Canada, Japan, and Brazil. Other than that there’s nothing official booked until the World Cup though obviously they’ll have more fixtures defrosting on the counter while the oven preheats. Thing is, the NWSL starts up against in March which is crucial for the majority of their players in terms of match fitness and form. You do see top American players occasionally dipping into the European stuff but usually only at the start of a World Cup cycle. At this point in the race they’re all back Stateside where they’re contracted to USA Soccer as international players, meaning they’re then expected to play NWSL (think Blackcaps contracts and domestic cricket).
So the question isn’t whether USA would have moved the tour, it’s whether we wanted to play them or not while they’re here. Might as well, right?
Officially, the USA are coming to town for a training camp – the games are just a nice bonus. Not just any training camp, but the January Biosteel Training Camp. Even their training camps are sponsored! The team known as the excessively alphabetised USWNT are beginning those sessions today (Thursday 12th – six days prior to game one) with friendlies to follow at each of the two venues (Sky Stadium and Eden Park) where they’re scheduled to play World Cup group stage games. It’s the first time that USA have ever played in Aotearoa. It’s actually going to be the first women’s international ever held at Eden Park too. The games are to be shown back in the States by their new exclusive broadcast partner Discovery Sports. Plus of course they get to acclimatise themselves with their accommodation and training facilities ahead of the World Cup itself.
In other words, everything about this tour is moulded to help the Americans with their World Cup preparation and the fact that the Football Ferns have had to scramble to put a team together... they don’t really care. It’s not about that. Hence why this is an oddly conflicting series to approach as a kiwi supporter. Hopefully the Yanks are chipping in towards the costs since they’re chocked up with sponsors and this tour is really all about them.
To be fair, the squad that Klimková has mustered up is better than it might’ve been expected. There are 26 players called up overall and some will only be available for one or the other match. The Wellington Phoenix crew, for example. Betsy Hassett is playing game one but only game one while the rest of them are most likely joining up after they get back from playing in Perth on the weekend which likely means limited minutes, if anything at all, in that first match. That could be the case for a few players given some of the travel. Grace Neville is the other player officially listed as only being available for the first game.
Three players have been called up from the NZ National League. Three of the very best players, naturally. More on the individuals later on but note that while it’s a big step up from amateur to internationals, we have seen a solid record of players who’ve dominated at that level being able to settle nicely into the A-League (where a large chunk of Ferns squads are drawn from these days). Claudia Bunge. Malia Steinmetz. Michaela Foster. Chloe Knott. Grace Jale. A lot of the Nix players are younger and have been boosted with a developmental purpose (and we’re seeing the steep learning curve that entails) but those with several years of top performances at the NZ domestic level have tended to make that leap quite well. Tayla O’Brien, Deven Jackson, and Rebecca Lake are absolutely of that ilk.
Also got five players based at USA universities. All currently in their offseasons – although as amateurs their schools probably couldn’t have held them back if they wanted to. One of them is Hannah Blake who has just finished her tenure at Michigan and is the lone kiwi to declare for Friday’s NWSL college draft. Not had much luck in that one lately, Jacqui Hand and Daisy Cleverley both got snubbed last year. However that was possibly a blessing in disguise as the pair immediately went on to find impressive pro gigs in Europe instead... so keep an eye on what Blakey gets up to over the upcoming days and weeks.
But as far as professional players go... yeah it’s been tricky. Only a couple of the top pros are here. Celtic must be absolute champions to allow Liv Chance to step away for Fernies duty... although it does help that they’re playing the bottom team in the league this week and will smoke Glasgow Women to nil whether Chance plays or not, let’s be honest.
Daisy Cleverley is also here as her winter break in Denmark is due to linger on into March (it gets chilly in Scandinavia, mate). No Indi Riley though. She made a surprise return move to Brisbane Roar this week as an injury replacement for Mariel Hecher. The circumstances haven’t been entirely clear but it does sound like a permanent move (albeit until the end of the season), even though by the time she finishes up with Brizzy she could get back in time for the rest of the Fortuna Hjørring season without missing more than a couple games. Then again, staying close and available for World Cup preparation in those months isn’t the worst idea. She’s not alone either – FH have also released Aussie international Angie Beard who has joined Western United.
Indi Riley might have been available for this squad had she remained in the Danish Kvindaligaen. Instead she’s an ALW player again and it’s been tough mahi getting any of that lot released. No Claudia Bunge from Melbourne Victory. No Malia Steinmetz from Western Sydney. No Hannah Wilkinson or Katie Bowen from Melbourne City. They have managed to wrangle Liz Anton (Perth), Grace Jale (Canberra), and Anna Green (Sydney) at least. Better success rate than it could have been. Also wonder if there wouldn’t have been a couple other Phoenix players in the mix had that not run the risk of entirely crippling their squad. Michaela Foster and Marisa van der Meer would be the most deserving. There are six Nix players here as it is.
Erin Nayler, Ally Green, and Jacqui Hand are in their Scandinavian offseasons, hence they’re available. Same deal with captain Ali Riley as an NWSL comrade – though zero of her Angel City teammates made the American team. There’s a recall for Jana Radosavljević for the first time since November 2021... she’s dropped down a couple divisions in Germany since her knee injury which brings her into the picture. A Bundesliga club may not have been so accommodating. And Grace Neville and Ashleigh Ward both play second tier in England, again meaning their clubs were more helpful in these matters – though Neville’s leaving after the first game. As far as in-season overseas pros at top flight clubs go... Olivia Chance is the only one who managed to wriggle free (unless you count Daisy Cleverley on her winter break).
Beyond that there’s been confirmation of a couple things we already knew: both Abby Erceg and Rosie White are confirmed to be retired. Erceg from internationals, White from all footy. White’s been out of the game for more than a year and only played sparingly after some health issues flared up in 2021. She’s actually getting married next week, happy days. Meanwhile Erceg must have lost the fizz for long distance travel and hectic national team games, these days preferring the simple life of club footy. Still wish that whole situation had been far better handled by NZF in particular (and Erceg too) so that it didn’t fall upon Katie Bowen to have to break that news on a radio interview... but at least now there’s clarity. After 146 international caps, many of them as captain, Erceg is free to do whatever she feels most comfortable with. No dramas.
Here’s the list of major players who were unable to be selected for this squad: Katie Bowen, Meikayla Moore, Vic Esson, CJ Bott, Ria Percival, Rebekah Stott, Annalie Longo, Hannah Wilkinson, Anna Leat, Malia Steinmetz, Claudia Bunge, Kate Taylor
Roughly half of a World Cup squad including at least six expected starters. It ain’t the A-Team, that’s for sure.
But you know what? The USA are missing a few key players themselves. It’d be rude not to point that out. While Lynn Williams and Emily Sonnet are back from injury for this 24-woman selection, they won’t have the services of Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press, Sophia Smith, Tobin Heath, Kelley O’Hara, Tierna Davidson, Sam Mewis, Catarina Macario, and probably certain others too. Mostly due to injuries although coach Vlatko Andonovski has shaken things up for a few of the older crew since he took over.
GOALKEEPERS
Lily Alfeld - Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (0/0)
Erin Nayler - IFK Norrköping, SWE (78/0)
Murphy Sheaff - Jacksonville University, USA (0/0)
With that all sorted, now we get to look at the players who are here... and this goalkeeping situation is a sneaky one. Vic Esson has emerged as the number one under Klimková. Anna Leat is playing at the highest level and has the most upside. They’ll both be at the World Cup and Erin Nayler, for so long the undoubted gloveswoman for this team, will surely join them as the third choice.
Nayler is stacked with experience and just signed with newly promoted Norrköping to book a second year in Sweden. More on that move in the latest Flying Kiwis. With those other two keepers held back by their clubs, Nayler has an opportunity to plead a case for some World Cup game time. Might be the last chance she gets to do so and, hate to say it, against the USA she’ll probably have plenty of saves to make. Good for the highlight reel, at least.
Elsewhere Lily Alfeld has missed the whole A-League season to this point, including the trip to Perth this weekend, yet she’s still been selected here. Despite some positive showings from Bri Edwards, the Welly Nix have clearly missed Alfeld’s leadership, reliability, and most of all her organisational skills. Alfeld is the other keeper to have gotten regular Ferns call-ups under JK, summoned whenever one of the top three are unavailable. And when two of the top three are missing... apparently that’s Murphy Sheaff territory. Edwards might have been also gone close but know that Sheaff did start ahead of BE at the U20 World Cup last year. This is Sheaff’s first Ferns call-up.
Sheaff was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast in Oz, coming up through the Aussie pathways same as Edwards did. We’ve only really got the four main keepers playing professionally at any level conducive to an international consideration and it’s curious that the two next in line came up via Australia. There are some pretty wicked kiwi keeper prospects below that though. Give it a few more years.
DEFENDERS
Elizabeth Anton - Perth Glory, AUS (15/0)
Mackenzie Barry - Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (3/0)
Anna Green - Sydney FC, AUS (80/8)
Ally Green - Vålerenga, NOR (2/0)
Rebecca Lake - Canterbury United Pride, NZ (0/0)
Grace Neville - London City Lionesses, ENG (0/0)
Ali Riley - Angel City FC, USA (147/2)
Ashleigh Ward - Southampton, ENG (2/0)
Normally the Ferns pick way too many defenders (probably since that’s where most of our best players operate). We’ve still got an abundance of fullbacks in this crew but jeepers the CBs are going to be in for a torrid time. Liz Anton and Mack Barry are central defenders in the ALW but have mostly been used as wide defence depth by Klimková. We’re talking minimal international experience in that position and now here comes Mallory Swanson and Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman.
Anna Green can play CB, of course. She’s only appeared in two of Sydney FC’s eight games so far this A-League term though. Barry and Anton should start and it’ll be a nice milestone for them in their careers... yet they’re also playing against each other in Perth on Sunday night so there’s no guarantee they’re ready to roll for the Wednesday game.
Well, damn, if they can’t go then who can? Anna Green and... Ali Riley, perhaps? There isn’t even an obvious midfield candidate to do a job there... maybe Daisy Cleverley at a stretch but only if she spends a few hours on a video call with Katie Bowen collecting tips and advice beforehand.
That means there’s a more than decent chance that Canterbury United Pride captain Rebecca Lake gets a convenient international debut. Lake is 23 years old and this is her first Ferns nod... though she’s no stranger to rep footy having played age grade for NZ as well as being a futsal international. A super impressive character with a great feel for the game, she was a second teamer in TNC’s National League Team of the Season with Lily Jervis (Western Springs) and Rebekah van Dort (Eastern Suburbs) getting the first team CB spots. Would suggest that Lake profiles better at the highest level though.
She’s consistently been one of the very best defenders in the local leagues for a very good Cantabs team and is still young enough that this opportunity could leverage her into a pro deal overseas (particularly in the A-League). In fact she’d surely have gotten an ALW contract already had the Welly Nix gone in a different direction and simply picked the best domestic players without any consideration for potential or development. Still, it’s a massive leap to go from playing Northern Rovers to suddenly be facing the USA team in World Cup preparation mode.
Interesting to see Grace Neville here. The former England youth international, who came up at the Arsenal academy though her first team footy’s all been at London City Lionesses, has linked up with the Ferns once before though it was as a training player to see if she wanted to commit to a change in allegiances. We then didn’t hear about her for ages but now here we are. Must have gotten the paperwork done (can’t be too sure with NZT though). Plus she’s playing a little more regularly for LCL now that she’s fully fit again after some injuries. Curious to see what she can offer.
Neville is a right back and that’s a helpful thing in a squad with five left-backs - including Anton who has started at LB in each of the last three matches. Ali Riley’s gonna have zero match fitness (and is apparently carrying an injury) so don’t be surprised if they balance her minutes despite being the only first choice defender amongst them. Also Anna Green is surely there as more of a CB given the dearth in that area. Ally Green is also out of season and didn’t play much at all in Norway last year, while Ashleigh Ward has missed time with injury in recent months herself. In other words... typical Ferns squad areas. Ali Riley at right back feels like the way to go.
MIDFIELDERS
Hannah Blake - University of Michigan, USA (6/0)
Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge, DEN (24/2)
Betsy Hassett - Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (137/14)
Aniela Jensen - University of the Pacific, USA (0/0)
Tayla O’Brien - Eastern Suburbs AFC, NZ (0/0)
Grace Wisnewski - Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (0/0)
Don’t love it... but a 4-4-2 formation has been the tendency for the Ferns lately and none of these players are probably in line for wide attacker spots. Maybe Blake or TOB off the bench... although the large proportion of forwards selected suggests otherwise. Nah, these six players are likely to be playing musical chairs with the two central midfield positions. Betsy Hassett and Daisy Cleverley are the two experienced options, however Hassett is only playing game one. Thus opportunities shall arise.
No need to discuss Hassett or Cleverley. But what have we got in the other four?
Hannah Blake has been capped six times so far, four of those under Klimková including against Japan back in October. All of those games have been as a substitute. Blake was a star in the youth grades as more of an attacker though her uni days have seen her settle into the midfield. As mentioned earlier, there’s a chance she’ll have been drafted to the NWSL by the time she joins the squad which could mean going up against a few of her new teammates for the USA... and if she doesn’t get drafted (the more likely outcome) then professional options should still emerge. It’ll be tough to make the World Cup squad as a midfielder once everyone else returns but Blake is someone whose career could accelerate very quickly over the next six months.
Aniela Jensen hasn’t been capped but this is her third senior call-up and the Palmerston North native was one of the most impressive performers at the last U20 World Cup where she and Grace Wisnewski forged an energetic and combative midfield duo. This is Wisnewski’s second call-up however she picked up a calf injury last time which not only ruled her out of a possible debut but also cost her the first few games of the ALW season. At those U20s, Wiz’s dynamic running and strong tackling complimented beautifully with Jensen’s technical passing prowess (AJ can also tackle hard, don’t worry).
Tayla O’Brien was the standout player of the last National League. She won the Golden Boot despite operating in the midfield for half the time, scoring 17 goals with 9 assists in 13 games. Strong and skilled, super fit, very creative... if anybody was going to be summoned from the NZ NL then TOB deserved it most. At 28 years of age she’s a lot more experienced than most fresh additions but to be honest that might be the kind of player that the Ferns need more of. Don’t normally love seeing non-pros in All Whites/Football Ferns squads but in this case... absolutely stoked.
FORWARDS
Olivia Chance - Celtic, SCO (37/2)
Ava Collins - St John's University, USA (7/0)
Jacqui Hand - Åland United, FIN (10/1)
Deven Jackson - Eastern Suburbs, NZ (0/0)
Grace Jale - Canberra United, AUS (10/2)
Jana Radosavljević - Arminia Bielefeld, GER (3/0)
Gabi Rennie - Arizona State University, USA (18/2)
Emma Rolston - Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (14/6)
Paige Satchell - Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (35/2)
Finally, some attackers. Pick yourself a couple wide mids and two strikers out of this lot, you’ve got plenty of options. Liv Chance and Paige Satchell are the two regular starters. Note the four combined career goals, illustrating the team’s biggest problem (although Chance scored last time out and a lot of those caps were earned as a central midfielder). Chance is the team’s main creative force. She’s managed to convince Celtic to let her travel halfway around the globe for these fixtures. In case you didn’t already think she was top three on the Footy Ferns power rankings then you’d better think so now (it’s Chance, Percival & A.Riley in some order – no arguments will be accepted).
Jacqui Hand missed the last three game with injury and she’s back after a brilliant first year as a professional. Ava Collins and Gabi Rennie are regulars despite still being college students, Rennie in particular having showed some nice signs in scoring twice already including on debut vs Australia. We’ve got Emma Rolston and Paige Satchell from the Welly Nix. Rollo’s been injured most of the ALW term while Satchell is yet to provide the goal bonus that it was hoped for when the Nix signed her. Hard thing to do for a team that hasn’t figured out how it’s going to break teams down yet – those two should feel well at home if this games ends up being the expected affair where the Ferns forwards are left to feed on scraps.
Love that Deven Jackson has been recognised too. If O’Brien was the best player of that National League season then her Eastern Suburbs teammate Jackson was second on the list. 12 goals and 7 assists in only 10 games. Her movement off the ball is immense. Great finisher, great dribbler. Got that same creative eye as O’Brien. Jackson’s is an impressive story as the 23yo has had to overcome some very pesky injuries to get to where she did in the 2022 Natty League... which ended with her contributing two goals and two assists in a 4-0 grand final win (and that’s on top of those season stats, didn’t count the final in those tallies). O’Brien and Lake have been bossing domestic things for years. Deven Jackson though? There was absolutely no inclination that she could be anywhere near this position a year ago. It’s been an incredible rise and hopefully one with much further to go.
It’s a major worry with the Ferns attack that they lack experienced, fully-formed players in these positions and game time alone won’t solve that. Experience is about more than pure minutes (though that obviously does help). Players like Satchell and Rennie and Rolston and Hand will all have things they’re working on. It will be interesting to see how much Jana Radosavlević features in this context and how sharp she looks. Don’t forget that with all those unavailable players to return there are World Cup squad places on the line.
However the player to watch closest from this crew is Grace Jale. She hasn’t been utilised enough by the Ferns yet but that’s starting to change and this tour should give her a clear path to continue on from the quality form she’s been displaying for Canberra United – where she’s already added two goals and two assists in seven games.
The Wellington Phoenix are missing her massively, no doubt about that – you remember how they finished last season with two wins from their last four games? Yeah well Grace Jale scored in all four of those games. She’s fast, tall, strong, and has good technique. Already that puts her in a rare spot as a Ferns forward. Probably ought to be playing as a striker but since Wilkinson/Satchell are clearly the preferred duo there these two games could be the ones which hammer home GJ’s candidacy for the starting right wing gig. Indi Riley will have something to say about that and Jacqui Hand could always switch flanks but Katie Bowen is now being prioritised as a defender so unless someone locks down the right back spot to allow CJ Bott to move forward... Grace Jale is shaping up as the premier option.
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