The hours following the team knockout are always the hardest. With it fresh in your mind it can be hard to take a step back. The reason we lash out is because we care, but because we care we should try not to lash out.
To be totally honest, I am so damn proud of the Football Ferns and what they achieved.
Going into the tournament I was hoping for one win and one draw
If I am being totally honest, going into the tournament I was hoping for 1 win over The Philippines, and if we got lucky a draw against one of Norway or Switzerland, a hopeful draw which might have been enough to scrape into the Round of 16.
What I was expecting was a win or draw against The Philippines and to be easily beaten by Norway and Switzerland.
If you were going to tell me that we would beat Norway and draw against Switzerland, and only concede one goal in the 3 games, I wouldn’t have believed you. It can be hard to look back with all honesty, but I would have called that a huge success before the tournament, and I’m so proud of what the Football Ferns put out there.
A tournament that came down to centimeters.
The almost win makes the slight offside against the Philippines hurt more.
Our chance at an entry into the Round of 16 came down to centimeters. We hit the post against The Philippines, we hit the post against Switzerland. A couple of centimeters different and that’s a potential win against Switzerland and a draw against The Philippines.
Hannah Wilkinson only had to be leaning slightly back and her break to set up Hand for that screamer of a goal against The Phillipines and that draw was enough to get us through.
When you are talking about an NZ Football team only just missing out of the Round of 16, that is an overachievement in my books.
I’m so proud of the Football Ferns
Seriously. 1 goal conceded in 3 games! We beat Norway! Let that sink in. The Ferns drew with Switzerland! Our Ferns only conceded 1 bloody goal!
Sure the team has plenty of development to do at the scoring end, but to only concede 1, albeit an annoying 1 to have conceded, that’s insane!
Our Footy Ferns did us so proud at this tournament and I am so proud of everything they achieved.
So what should you do now?
Firstly, keep going to the FIFA Women’s World Cup games. I have been to all five Wellington games so far and have never been disappointed. The quality is excellent, even with teams that should dominate a game I have watched some underdogs seriously fight to the last minute. That and all the FIFA pageantry makes the night unforgettable.
If you are in Hamilton or Dunedin, go on down for the last game being hosted in your city tomorrow night.
Wellington and Auckland have 4 more games and you should attend every one that you can, while you can.
Wellington
Monday July 31, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Japan (#11) v Spain (#6)
Wednesday August 2, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
South Africa (#54) v Italy (#16)
Saturday August 5, 2023, 8pm (NZT)
Round of sixteen (Winners Group C v runners-up Group A)
Friday August 11, 2023, 1pm (NZT)
Quarter-final
Auckland
Tuesday August 1, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Portugal (#21) v United States (#1)
Saturday August 5, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Round of sixteen (winner Group A v runners-up Group C)
Friday August 11, 2023, 7.30pm (NZT)
Quarter-final
Tuesday August 15, 2023, 8pm (NZT)
Semi-final
Hamilton
Wednesday August 2, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Argentina (#28) v Sweden (#3)
Dunedin
Tuesday August 1, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Vietnam (#32) v Netherlands (#9)
Support the Wellington Phoenix Women’s squad.
Do we want more women getting paid to play and train in Aotearoa New Zealand? Well the first thing we need to do is support them. If you are in the Wellington Region go down and see our Nix Women play.
If you can’t get down to Wellington, watch them on Sky. The more eyes on the game, the more sponsors pay, the more our team can make and train! This is where we make our Ferns, so let’s support them from the ground up!
Come on you Nix, and I am proud of you Ferns!
