Football Fern Hannah Wilkinson says she and her teammates go into Monday’s game against Argentina “fired up” after reflecting on their poor performance against Portugal.
“It was an inexcusable performance,” the striker said of Friday’s 5-0 defeat in Hamilton.
“It was just really bad. We know we are so much better than that,” she said at a media briefing.
Wilkinson and head coach Jitka Klimková said the squad had spent a day of reflection, and had made the most of their Sunday training session to prepare for the first of two games against Argentina.
“It was a good long day of reflection,” Wilkinson said.
“We’re going into this next game fired up. It’s going to be 100% better than that (the Portugal game).”
Wilkinson said the staging of the games against Portugal and Argentina were designed to replicate the conditions of three pool games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In terms of this week being a rehearsal, “we have to win.”
“Right now, we’re sitting on a loss so we have to win — we have no choice.
“We’re going in there knowing we have to get a result.”
Klimková said the game plan against Argentina would see the Ferns go back to fundamentals.
This would see her team winning the ball quicker to control the game, an aggressive press, and players having a good first touch and then passing well.
She said she wanted more aggression and a more physical approach.
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Fixtures
Game to be played on Monday February 20, 2023
New Zealand v Argentina
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 7pm
How to watch: Prime (free-to-air), Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport 7
Game to be played on Thursday February 23, 2023
New Zealand v Argentina
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, 7pm
How to watch: Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport 7
