Coming off the back of a win and a draw with 16th-ranked Denmark this week – Tony Readings’ side – currently sitting at 18th in the world – will welcome world number seven Korea DPR and 10th-ranked Australia to Bill McKinlay Park in Auckland in early February as New Zealand and the Westfield Matildas continue their build-up to the World Cup in June in Canada.
The series will begin with the Football Ferns meeting Korea DPR on February 8 before the two visitors clash two days later. The series wraps up on February 12 with the trans-Tasman clash of New Zealand the Westfield Matildas.
New Zealand Football High Performance Director Fred de Jong said the series is the latest example of the implementation of the organisation’s Beyond Football High Performance strategy which aims to reposition the code in the Kiwi sporting landscape.
“The Beyond Football vision for our game sets out a plan to build the ability of our teams to not only qualify regularly for World Cups, but to excel once at those tournaments,” de Jong said.
“Securing this series, against the quality and level of opposition we have, as part of the Football Ferns’ World Cup build-up continues to demonstrate our strong commitment to deliver on that goal.
“The series also gives the New Zealand public a chance to see the players and the team in action in the flesh this year before they head away to continue their preparations for and compete at their third successive World Cup in June.”
Readings is delighted his side will be put through their paces against two of the world’s top 10 so close to the showcase event later in the year.
“It’s a massive coup to get these games,” Readings said.
“Not only because we are playing at home, which is always great for the public of New Zealand to see our team play – we’re always very proud to put on the New Zealand shirt at home.
“But also because of the calibre of the teams we’re bringing. These are two top 10 opposition teams that we’ve managed to lure to our shores and two teams who are going to be a massive test for us.
“This is what we need; consistent matches against quality opposition to keep testing every aspect of our game so when we get to the World Cup we’re battle-hardened and a lot more bullet proof in terms of the way we play.
“It also gives players more experience against the best players in the world and we’re really looking forward to that, especially being at home.”
Readings says the series gives the players another opportunity to continue to cement their places for Canada while also sending a signal to other teams at the World Cup, including their opposition in Group A of the event.
“I’m sure the players are relishing the challenge of pitting themselves against the best players in the world but also against each other over the next five months to look to push themselves to the forefront of the coaches’ minds,” Readings said.
“Probably following the [London] Olympics when we reached the quarter-final teams already knew we were emerging on the world stage.
“I think we’ve [now] moved from emerging to arriving on the world stage. We had a really good year in 2013 with notable results against the top teams in the world, a very solid and strong 2014 and we’ve started well in 2015 with a win and draw against Denmark.
“Teams know now that we are a genuine threat. The likes of Canada, Holland and China and other teams we’ll play beyond that will already be doing their homework because they do know we pose a threat in that group.”
In their most recent clashes against the two sides, the Football Ferns recorded a 1-0 loss to Korea DPR in February last year while they took a tight 1-0 loss and a 1-1 draw from a two-match encounter with the Westfield Matildas in June 2013 in Canberra.
Women’s International Tri-Series
February 8-12
Bill McKinlay Park, Auckland
Football Ferns v Korea DPR
Sunday 8 February, 7.30pm
Korea DPR v Westfield Matildas
Tuesday 10 February, 3.30pm
Football Ferns v Westfield Matildas
Thursday 12 February, 7pm
Please note: The tri-series is unable to be broadcast via television or streamed due to technical reasons. Ticketing information will be available shortly.