PREVIEW: Fraser and Jale expected to miss Ferns’ friendly against Zambia

Playmaker Macey Fraser and forward Grace Jale are likely to miss Sunday’s friendly international against Zambia after picking up minor injuries ahead of their arrival in France.

Acting head coach Michael Mayne said Fraser had suffered a knock with her Utah Royals club in the United States, while Jale had joined the Ferns’ camp with a foot injury.

Mayne said the priority was ensuring they would both be available for selection for the first match at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Sunday’s friendly with Zambia is aimed at helping both teams prepare for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The match will be played at Stade Louis Darragon, Vichy, France, and will be streamed live and free by FIFA+.

Mayne said the Ferns squad had been preparing well for the Zambia match.

The aim was to use the match to prepare for the Games.

“What we’re looking for is where are the parts in that game that align to some of the things we might see against Canada, Colombia, and France,” he said.

“I think we’ve done really well on and off the pitch this week just to make sure we’ve got that plan front of mind and then what we’re trying to achieve.”

Zambia will play in Group B at the Olympic tournament, facing high-ranking United States, Germany and Australia.

They are currently #65 in the FIFA women’s world rankings, the highest they have been rated in their history.

New Zealand are #28 in the rankings.

READ MORE: Football Ferns squad named for Olympic Games in Paris >>>>

Fixture

Game to be played on Sunday July 14, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v Zambia
Stade Louis Darragon, Vichy, France, 3am (NZT)

New Zealand squad

Player/caps/club

Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville, United States
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, United States
Ally Green (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand (27 caps) Lewes FC, England
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Glasgow City, Scotland
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City, United States
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached

*Denotes first involvement in an Olympic campaign

Non-travelling reserves

Claudia Bunge (31 caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Michaela Foster (18 caps) Auckland United, New Zealand
Annalie Longo (133 caps) Cashmere Technical, New Zealand
Murphy Sheaff (0 caps) Kansas State University, United States

Olympics tournament

New Zealand will play Canada, France and Colombia in their group games at the tournament.

The groups

# indicates current FIFA world ranking

Olympic Games fixtures

Games to be played on Friday July 26, 2024 (NZT)

Canada v New Zealand
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 3am (NZT)

France v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)

Games to be played on Monday July 29, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 3am (NZT)

France v Canada
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 7am (NZT)

Games to be played on Thursday August 1, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v France
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)

Colombia v Canada
Stade de Nice, Nice, 7am (NZT)

This story was first published on July 4, 2024.

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