WWC 2015 - Group A - June 11 - Canada vs. New Zealand

[tc-in-bc]

FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015

Group A

Thursday, June 11

Canada vs. New Zealand

Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton

Some preliminary thoughts:

[ 1 ] In 2015, the Football Ferns have 1 win, 1 loss and 4 ties against tier two opposition ( Denmark, North Korea, Australia, and Spain ). It's notable that the Ferns got some decent production from their attackers in these games : Wilkinson ( 3 goals), Sarah Gregorius ( 2 goals, 1 assist), mid-fielder Annalie Longo ( 2 goals, 1 assist), and 30-year old striker Amber Hearn ( 1 goal, 2 assists). But the last two friendlies for the Football Ferns, before the WWC, were against tier one nations: USA and Japan -- The Ferns were shut out in both games.

[ 2 ] Canada should not underestimate Hannah Wilkinson, the 23-year old red shirt senior striker for the University of Tennessee ( the Lady Vols). Though not very technical, Wilkinson is a tall athletic direct attacker who plays a lot like a young Abby Wambach, More specifically, Hannah Wilkinson has scored 3 goals against the USWNT in three different games. To me that's impressive and Canada needs to be aware of her.

[ 3 ] Christine Sinclair versus Abby Erceg ( star center back for the Football Ferns) is an interesting match up that ironically began under John Herdman. In June 2007, the CANWNT ( coached by Even Pellerud ) went to New Zealand and demolished the Football Ferns ( coached by John Herdman ) by an aggregate of 8 - 0 over two games played. A sheepish John Herdman could only find one silver lining:

"...when you think of the likes of Abby Erceg a seventeen year old center back against Christine Sinclair, I thought she did a good job. "

An interesting point here is that In 2013, John Herdman, now coach of CANWNT similarly praised eighteen year old Canadian center back Kadeisha Buchanan's debut performance against USWNT striker Abby Wambach.

[ 4 ] An interesting fanvid from 2008: