Defenders Rebekah Stott and CJ Bott are in line to make their first international appearances in New Zealand for five years after being named in the Football Ferns squad to face Portugal and Argentina.
Head coach Jitka Klimková has named a 23-player squad for the games which could also see captain Ali Riley earn her 150th cap for her country, only the second player to do so after Ria Percival.
Stott and CJ Bott both play in the UK and were unavailable for last year’s games on home soil against South Korea and for last month’s two-match series against the United States.
Main photo: Rebekah Stott … ready to return to international football.
READ MORE: Ferns defender Rebekah Stott makes dream return after injury setback >>>>
READ MORE: Football Fern CJ Bott signs for English Super League club Leicester City >>>>
The Ferns will play Portugal (ranked 22 by FIFA) on February 17 at Waikato Stadium and Argentina (ranked 29) on February 20 at Waikato Stadium and February 23 at North Harbour Stadium.
All three games are being played alongside the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament, a competition which will decide the final three qualifiers and act as a test event for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
READ MORE: Ferns to play two games against Argentina in build-up to FIFA Women’s World Cup >>>>
Ferns squad
The full 23-person squad is (caps/goals), club:
Elizabeth Anton (16/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Mackenzie Barry (5/0) Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ
CJ Bott (36/2) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (87/3) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Claudia Bunge (16/0) Melbourne Victory FC, Australia
Olivia Chance (40/2) Celtic FC, Scotland
Daisy Cleverley (27/2) HB Køge, Denmark
Ava Collins (9/0) St John’s University, USA
Victoria Esson (12/0) Rangers FC, Scotland
Betsy Hassett (138/13) Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ
Grace Jale (12/2) Canberra United, Australia
Anna Leat (9/0) Aston Villa FC, England
Meikayla Moore (60/4) Glasgow City FC, Scotland
Erin Nayler (81/0) IFK Norrköping, Sweden
Grace Neville (1/0) London City Lionesses, England
Gabi Rennie (20/2) Arizona State University, USA
Ali Riley (149/2) Angel City FC, USA
Indiah-Paige Riley (6/0) Brisbane Roar FC, Australia
Paige Satchell (37/2) Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ
Malia Steinmetz (13/0) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia
Rebekah Stott (87/4) Brighton & Hove Albion, England
Kate Taylor (6/0) Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ
Hannah Wilkinson (108/27) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Wellington Phoenix’s Grace Wisnewski will also join the tour to train with the squad.
Fixtures
Game to be played on Friday February 17, 2023
Football Ferns v Portugal
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 7pm
Game to be played on Monday February 20, 2023
Football Ferns v Argentina
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, 7pm
Game to be played on Thursday February 23, 2023
Football Ferns v Argentina
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, 7pm
Coach Jitka Klimková: ‘This is extra special for some of our players’
Ford Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková sees the three games as a good test for the team building into the FIFA Women’s World Cup:
“It is exciting and inspiring for the whole team to play another three games at home in a FIFA run event.
“These games are as close to a FIFA Women’s World Cup group play environment as we are going to get before the tournament and we will be using it as a simulation to trial everything before July.
“Last month against the USA we were able to play in the world cup stadiums and test some members of our wider squad.
“For these matches we are eager to take the next step in building on our preparations leading into the tournament, continuing to focus on our performance goals on the pitch to compete for positive results.
“It will be extra special for some of our players who were not able to join us in January. They are all excited to be part of the team, wear the Fern and represent Aotearoa front of our home fans.”
How to buy tickets
Tickets for all three Ford Football Ferns games, as well as for all FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off tournament matches, can be booked here >>>>
Single match passes for all fixtures start at $10 for adults and $5 for children, however if fans use code FERNSB1G2 on any of the three Ford Football Ferns games they can get two free children’s tickets with each adult ticket purchased.
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