Head coach Michael Mayne says the Football Ferns learned plenty from their 1-1 draw against Zambia.
“I think one of the big things is the way Zambia threatened our defensive line. That’s going to be something that all the teams we face at the Olympics are going to do to us … so I think we can take a lot from that,” he said in his post-match media briefing.
“They’re a tough team around set plays, and they caught us off guard early in the second half, which was disappointing, so we’ll have to look at that, but there’s plenty we can learn for that first game against Canada and the next ones against Colombia and France.
“We’re much better as a team when we’re super positive in that middle third and looking to break the line.
“So I’m pleased in that respect, but we had a word after the game, and we need to go back to work pretty quickly and improve individually.
“If we can do that, then as a team, we’re going to be much better for it.”
Main photo: Michael Mayne … ‘There’s plenty we can learn.’
New Zealand have less than a fortnight to prepare for their Olympic Games opener against Canada, who won gold at the 2020 Games.
Match highlights
WATCH: Highlights from Football Ferns’ 1-1 draw with Zambia >>>>
Match report
READ MORE: Ferns draw 1-1 with Zambia in warm-up game for Olympic Games tournament >>>>
Result
Game played on Sunday July 14, 2024
New Zealand 1 (Katie Kitching 67′ pen)
Zambia 1 (Rhoda Chileshe 49′)
For full match replay, click here:
Olympics tournament
New Zealand will play Canada, France and Colombia in their group games at the tournament.
The groups
# indicates current FIFA world ranking
Group A
- France #2
- Colombia #22
- Canada #8
- New Zealand #28
Group B
- United States #5
- Zambia #64
- Germany #4
- Australia #12
Group C
- Spain #1
- Japan #7
- Nigeria #36
- Brazil #9
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 14, 2024.
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