More than 5,000 spectators have already booked their seats for Monday’s women’s international in Napier between the Football Ferns and Vietnam.
Organisers are expecting more to walk up at McLean Park on matchday for the 5.30pm game that will act as a final workout for the teams as they prepare for the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Thursday July 20.
The match gives New Zealand’s 23-player World Cup squad the chance to find some winning momentum as they look to end their 10-match winless streak that goes back to last September when they beat the Philippines.
Main photo: The New Zealand team have a training session at Napier’s McLean Park.
Ferns co-captain Ali Riley told 1News:
“Monday will be super important; we absolutely want momentum going into July 20th, but we also know this is a time to nail down some things. It won’t be perfect, but we want to make sure we have the right mentality and we do put on a good performance.
“We had a player meeting last night talking about feelings, goals, and dreams and I guess just what it means to be here it’s finally hitting us it’s our last run out, and just excited to get the cohesion.”
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New Zealand go into this match 26th in the FIFA women’s world rankings, while Vietnam are ranked 33rd.
The Vietnam coach is Mai Duc Chung who played five internationals for Vietnam’s men’s team.
He has coached the men’s U-19 and U-22 teams, and has been an assistant and caretaker coach for the full international side.
This is his fourth term as the women’s national coach.
Fixture
Game to be played on Monday July 10, 2023
New Zealand v Vietnam
McLean Park, Napier, 5.30pm
How to watch
The game will be broadcast live on the Sky Sport 1 channel. The broadcast starts at 5pm.
Squads
The New Zealand squad has already been pruned to the 23-player limit allowed for the World Cup tournament, though changes can be made till July 19.
However, Vietnam will announce their 23-strong squad on the day of their friendly against New Zealand, whittling it back from the 30 players who have been in training camp.
The following squad includes all those in contention for selection for Vietnam.
New Zealand
Goalkeepers
Victoria Esson (14/0) Rangers, Scotland
Anna Leat (9/0) Aston Villa, England*
Erin Nayler (84/0) IFK Norrköping, Sweden
Defenders
Elizabeth Anton (18/0) Perth Glory, Australia*’
CJ Bott (37/2) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (92/3) Unattached
Claudia Bunge (20/0) Melbourne Victory, Australia*
Michaela Foster (4/0) Unattached*
Ali Riley (152/2) Angel City, USA
Rebekah Stott (89/4) Brighton & Hove Albion, England
Midfielders
Olivia Chance (43/2) Celtic, Scotland
Daisy Cleverley (31/2) HB Køge, Denmark
Betsy Hassett (143/13) Stjarnan, Iceland
Annalie Longo (127/15) Unattached
Ria Percival (161/15) Tottenham Hotspur, England
Paige Satchell (42/2) Unattached
Malia Steinmetz (18/0) Unattached*
Forwards
Milly Clegg (2/0) Unattached*
Jacqui Hand (12/1) Åland United, Finland*
Grace Jale (17/2) Unattached*
Gabi Rennie (24/2) Arizona State University, USA*
Indiah-Paige Riley (7/0) Unattached*
Hannah Wilkinson (113/28) Melbourne City, Australia
*FIFA Women’s World Cup debut
Training players
Ava Collins (St John’s University, United States)
Kate Taylor (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
Grace Wisnewski (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
Vietnam
Goalkeepers
Tran Thi Kim Thanh (Ho Chi Minh City)
Khong Thi Hang (Than KSVN)
Dao Thi Kieu Oanh (Hanoi)
Doan Thi Ngoc Phurong (Ho Chi Minh City)
Defenders
Churong Thi Kieu (Ho Chi Minh City)
Luong Thi Thu Thuong (Than KSVN)
Tran Thi Thu (Ho Chi Minh City)
Hoang Thi Loan (Hanoi)
Tran Thi Thuy Nga (Thai Nguyen T&T)
Le Thi Diem My (Than KSVN)
Tran Thi Thu Thao (Ho Chi Minh City)
Nguyen Thi My Anh (Thai Nguyen T&T)
Tran Thi Hai Linh (Hanoi)
Tran Thi Thuy Nga (Thai Nguyen T&T)
Ha Thi Ngoc Uyen (Phong Phu Ha Nam)
Midfielders
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung (Phong Phu Ha Nam)
Tran Thi Thuy Trang (Ho Chi Minh City)
Thai Thi Thao (Hanoi)
Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (Ho Chi Minh City)
Duong Thi Van (Than KSVN)
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (Hanoi)
Nguyen Thi Truc Huong (Than KSVN)
Tran Nguyen Bao Chau (Ho Chi Minh City)
Vu Thi Hoa (Ho Chi Minh City)
Forwards
Huynh Nhu (Lank Vilaverdense)
Pham Hai Yen (Hanoi)
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (Hanoi)
Ngan Thi Van Su (Hanoi)
Vu Thi Hoa (Ho Chi Minh City)
