The Ferns have beaten USA just once in nine attempts – that victory came almost 25 years ago – and, while they start at long odds to get a result against a team that has never been outside the top two since FIFA started publishing rankings, Hearn says that is exactly what they are targeting.
“For us it’s the best game we could play,” she says.
“Playing the top team in the world six months out from the Olympics will let us know exactly where we are and where we need to be against tier one nations. That benchmark is what we are focussed on now but we also need to be able to maintain winning performances and get results, including against the big nations. We’re not the sort of team that will go into a match not believing we can get a result.”
Now based in Germany, where the USV Jena forward is one of six Ferns playing in the fully-professional Frauen Bundesliga, Hearn has provided the main supply of goals for the national team since returning from a self-enforced three-year absence in 2008.
She has notched 23 goals in 41 internationals since ending her exile – a healthy rate which compares favourable globally even though she is now sometimes employed as an attacking midfielder.
While rampant form in the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in 2010 – where the former Arsenal and Lynn Avon United striker notched 12 in five games – boosted her career tally, she is no flat-track bully as vital goals against more vaunted opposition like Argentina, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Japan, Russia and Wales testify.
But Hearn knows she faces an even tougher test against a USA side that, since losing last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup final on penalties to Japan, has conceded just two goals in eight games – a run that included an unblemished defensive record during recent Olympic qualifiers.
“We’re certainly aware of their record and know they haven’t been scored against in a while, so obviously breaching that defence is something we’re definitely keen on doing,” Hearn says.
“Tony [newly-appointed head coach Tony Readings] has given us licence to let go of some restrictions that may have been in place before and you can see it at training already.”
The match in Frisco, which will be streamed live on www.ussoccer.com, is the first for New Zealand post a World Cup that saw the team’s overseas stocks swell from a handful to over a dozen professional and semi-pro players but also saw rivals Canada recruit five of their World Cup staff.
Readings has stepped up from assistant to head coach while Gordon Forrest has joined as Readings’ number two.
Hearn says the players have less time together as a group nowadays but says they have picked up where they left off since assembling in Dallas.
“A lot has gone on behind the scenes that many of us weren’t around for but it’s been quite reassuring and refreshing to come back into the environment. We’re not picking up the pieces – we’re progressing rather than starting from scratch.
“We had our first training since the World Cup this morning and it was a great session. We’re changing things, doing things differently but they are just little changes. As individuals and as a group we are a lot more experienced now. We all know what we need to do and the girls are really hungry.”
The match kicks off at 10am on Sunday (NZT).
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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