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Matchworld Cup
Matchworld Cup Beckons For Football Ferns
by Jeremy Ruane
The Football Ferns are set to take on Wales, Columbia and Denmark on their way to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals in June, as they fine-tune their preparations for the main event in Germany by contesting the Matchworld Cup in Switzerland.
The round-robin tournament will ensure John Herdman’s charges will be primed and dangerous heading into their matches against Japan, England and Mexico in Germany.
Wales provide the opposition for the Football Ferns’ first fixture, which takes place in Saviese at 4am NZ time on June 16. That match is followed by the clash between Denmark and fellow Women’s World Cup finalists Columbia, at the same venue.
Three days later, New Zealand takes on Columbia at 4.15am, NZ time, in the quaintly named town of Apples. The Football Ferns’ match will be the later game that day, with Wales and Denmark, who are using this tournament as preparation for their respective UEFA Women’s Championship fixtures, playing immediately prior.
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All four teams then head to Naters, where the Kiwis will play Denmark at 3.30am on June 21, NZ time, a match which will be followed by the clash of Wales and Columbia, and the presentation ceremony.
After these matches, the squad - which will be announced after Queen’s Birthday weekend - will head over the border, first stop Bochum. There, they will take on Japan from 1am on 28 June, NZ time.
Then it’s off to Dresden, where the clash with England will take place from 4.15am on July 2. Four days later, the same kick-off time applies to New Zealand’s final group game, against Mexico in Sinsheim, after which the quarter-finals - a trip to either Leverkusen (for the group winners) or Wolfsburg (for the runners-up) - beckon.
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