Kiwis name experienced squad for Canada charge - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
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| New Zeland line-up |
New Zealand will take an experienced squad to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ with coach Tony Readings naming his 23-strong roster on Thursday.
Leading the way in terms of experience are three players with a century of caps; captain Abby Erceg, fullback Ria Percival and Katie Duncan (nee Hoyle). The trio are part of a dozen players in the squad with over 50 caps, led by the likes of Germany-based Amber Hearn and Ali Riley of Swedish powerhouse Rosengard.
Returning to bolster the squad are two more experienced international veterans in fullback Anna Green and striker Emma Kete.
The squad includes 15 players who featured at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and five of those players were also part of the team which contested the 2007 tournament in China.
“Raising the experience of the players has been a massive part of our planning,” said Readings. “It’s all been about increasing the number of caps, increasing the amount of FIFA tournament experience and also increasing the quality of the caps as well.
“Almost all of the squad have been to youth World Cups as well so we’ve got that experience to fall back on. It also shows the pathway we’ve been putting the players through during this time is seeing some benefits and rewards.
“We’ve had a goal ever since we started this programme about being a team capable of winning the World Cup.”
New Zealand will open their campaign against the Netherlands in Edmonton on June 6, before further Group A outings against hosts Canada and China PR.
New Zealand squad
Goalkeepers: Cushla Lichtwark (Upper Hutt City), Erin Nayler (Norwest Utd), Rebecca Rolls (Three Kings Utd)
Defenders: Catherine Bott (Forrest Hill Milford Utd), Abby Erceg (Chicago Red Stars/USA), Anna Green (Fencibles Utd), Meikayla Moore (Eastern Suburbs), Ria Percival (USV Jena/Germany), Ali Riley (Rosengard/Sweden), Rebekah Stott (Claudelands Rovers)
Midfielders: Katie Bowen (University of North Carolina/USA), Daisy Cleverley (Forrest Hill Milford Utd), Katie Duncan (FC Zurich/Switzerland), Betsy Hassett (Fencibles Utd), Annalie Longo (Coastal Spirit), Evie Millynn (Western Springs), Kirsty Yallop (Vittsjo/Sweden)
Forwards: Sarah Gregorius (Elfen Saitama/Japan), Amber Hearn (USV Jena/Germany), Emma Kete (Fencibles Utd), Jasmine Pereira (Three Kings Utd), Rosie White (Fencibles Utd), Hannah Wilkinson (University of Tennessee/USA)
*Squad lists are only official once they have been confirmed and published by FIFA.