AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 30 (silubaba) -- New Zealand women's national team head coach Jitka Klimkova announced her 23-strong squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup here on Friday.
Of the 23, ten players are set to make their World Cup debut at home in New Zealand.
Speaking on her team selection, Klimkova said she was proud of the work of all the extended squad during the nine-week selection process.
"I believe we have selected a good balance of youth and experience across the squad, from the ten players making their debuts to other members of the group who have appeared at multiple FIFA Women's World Cups," Klimkova said.
"We played 23 games during the period, 16 of them are higher ranking teams," Klimkova added. "This is a young team in a process of learning and growing."
Former Czech international Klimkova was in September 2021 appointed head coach of the Football Ferns, New Zealand national women's team.
From the final squad list, 15 players currently play their club football outside New Zealand, with three from Australia, two from the United States and ten from European leagues. The youngest is 17-year-old Wellington Phoenix striker Milly Clegg.
Ranked 26th in the world, New Zealand will play their first World Cup match against 12th-ranked Norway in Auckland on July 20, before taking on the Philippines in Wellington five days later, and completing their group games against 20th-ranked Switzerland in Dunedin on July 30.
On their sixth appearance at a FIFA Women's World Cup, New Zealand will be aiming to win a World Cup match and reach the knockout stages for the first time.
However, given the Football Ferns are in the midst of a ten-match winless run, local sports experts suggested that ticking those two boxes would be a significant achievement. ■
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