The eagerly awaited announcement of New Zealand's Young Ferns squad, to contest the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Finals on home turf, was made on 1 October. It meant joy for twenty-one young women, but sadness for a handful of others whose dreams of representing their country in a World Cup Finals on home soil have been dashed less than a month out from the opening fixture at North Harbour Stadium on 28 October. While it's hard for those players who have missed out, the experience has been every bit as trying for coach Paul Temple, who has overseen the entire Project Kiwi campaign since an Under-15 Development Squad was named in April 2006. “I think it's the most difficult thing I've done”, he declared at McLennan Park on Saturday. “ It's the worst part of the job telling players that they haven't made the final cut, but it's part of football, I suppose. “It was a really difficult process. A lot of hours were spent deliberating with the staff on who should make the cut and who shouldn't. We had injuries to consider at the last minute, too. “Anna Fullerton and Lauren Mathis have been pretty touch and go with their injuries. Anna was cleared by the Sports Doctor the day before we announced the squad, and Lauren has been a gradual build-up from a broken ankle six weeks ago, so it's been quite stressful. Thankfully those two players pulled through in time, and made the cut-off date. We're pretty happy with what we've got now”. Fourteen players who were named in that initial squad thirty months ago have lasted the course, and together with the seven players who have been recruited along the way, can now look forward to a few days of rest and relaxation prior to the final push on the road to New Zealand `08. “Prior to today's match, we had a five-day training camp”, says Temple, “during which we've done the majority of the work needed prior to the Finals. So the girls have got an opportunity to go back to their regions to see family and friends just before the World Cup. “They're off until Friday, when we're back into camp in time for the second of three games against the Selection team, next Saturday. That's followed by training sessions on Sunday, after which the girls are back to school. “We'll have training on Monday (13th) and Wednesday, and the final game against the Selection team on Thursday, before going into camp on the Saturday morning, ten days out from the opening game”. Temple is hoping to secure another match before they take on Canada, Denmark and Columbia in their pool. “I'm hopeful we can get a game against someone on the 21st, which is three days after we go into camp for the World Cup and a week out from the first game. Unfortunately, we're still waiting for confirmation from the teams that we're talking to, so until we do …” There was certainly plenty to like about the Young Ferns' display against the NZ Selection in the first of their three-match series, with the coach well pleased with the performance given the efforts put in during the training camp.

Paul Temple - difficult selection process Anna Fullerton - injury scare Lauren Mathis - back from broken ankle Charlotte Wood - spot-kick saver

“I've been really impressed with the performance under the circumstances, considering they've been doing double sessions for the last five days. That took a lot out of them, and with it being hot today as well, I thought their work-rate was really great. “We changed our shape a bit in the second half, which worked well for us. I thought we attacked really well, and, for the majority, dealt with their threats really well also, so overall, very happy. There are a few tiny things which Temple and his assistant, Rowena Fulham, will work on when the squad gathers at the end of the week. “We were a little bit of shape in the back four at times, and got caught in behind once or twice as  a result, but that's easily fixed. “The other aspect involves balancing our attack a bit better over the ninety minutes”, says Temple. “I thought we didn't use our right-hand side enough in the first half. I want to get that side flowing as well, so we're not one-dimensional in attack”. During the match, an incident occurred which resulted in a penalty. Goalkeeper Charlotte Wood saved the spot-kick, but her concession of it - it was a professional foul situation - could well have seen her sent off had it been a competition fixture. Would it not have been beneficial for the Young Ferns to experience playing with ten against eleven at this point in their preparations, lest they be faced with it in the Finals themselves? “Potentially”, says Temple, “but the likelihood of that happening is slim”. (Oh, how I hope those words don't come back to haunt!) “If it was an official game, then possibly she could have been sent off, but for today's purposes, I thought it was important we carry on doing what we're doing. “It was more beneficial for us to play out the game with eleven, because that's hopefully going to be the situation we have in the World Cup”. Talking of which, it's understandable that, just over three weeks out from the opening fixture, everybody's buzzing and can't wait for the biggest day in the footballing lives of everyone in the squad, players and staff alike. Containing that excitement in his squad is something Temple is finding challenging, understandably. But it is in hand. “The challenge is going to be that they don't peak too soon emotionally. Hence the reason why they're having a five-day break from each other this week, so they can switch off a little bit from what we're doing. “The reason why we're going into camp ten days before the first game is so we can manage that effect on the players. If we go in four days before the first game, they're essentially building themselves up in their own environment, which could potentially be harmful. “So when they come in for the Finals camp on October 18, we'll manage the workload. Trainings will be short and sharp, to keep them on their toes, yet keep them back a little bit and wanting more, so from that first game they'll be chomping at the bit ready to go”.