As well as disruption from the drone scandal, the Football Ferns’ first opponents at the 2024 Olympic Games, Canada, have suffered an injury setback in their preparation for Friday’s match in St Etienne.
Defender Sydney Collins broke her right leg during a training game in her first match back since suffering a similar injury in February.
The injury was sustained during a behind-closed-doors game against Nigeria.
Collins has been replaced by alternate Gabrielle Carle, and Kansas City’s Desiree Scott has joined the list of four alternate players with the squad.
New Zealand also made a late change to their squad, with veteran Ali Riley’s withdrawal forced by medical grounds. She has been replaced by alternate Michaela Foster, and London City’s Grace Neville has become an alternate.
READ MORE: Veteran Fern Ali Riley withdraws from Games team on medical grounds >>>>
In their tournament opener, New Zealand face a Canada side filled with players who won gold medals at their previous tournament.
Of the 18 players in the Canadian squad, 13 won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Captain Jessie Fleming said: “We have grown a lot in the last year as a team and are confident we can repeat the success we have had historically in this tournament.”
Canada have reached the knockout stages at their last four Games appearances, and are the only nation to have won medals at the last three women’s tournaments.
The team is coached by Bev Priestman, who was head of women’s football at NZ Football between 2009 and 2013. However, she has excluded herself from the dugout for the match, saying she has to take responsibility for her coaching staff’s actions.
Two staff members have been sent home from the Games after one was caught spying on at least two Ferns training sessions, using a drone.
READ MORE: Coach steps down for match, two sent home in Olympic Games drone scandal >>>>
READ MORE: Coach with Kiwi connections signs long-term deal to stay with Canada >>>>
Olympic squads
New Zealand
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
Michaela Foster (18 caps) Auckland United, New Zealand
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
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
Alternates
Claudia Bunge (31 caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Annalie Longo (133 caps) Cashmere Technical, New Zealand
Grace Neville (10 caps) London City, England
Murphy Sheaff (0 caps) Kansas State University, United States
Canada
Goalkeepers
Sabrina D’Angelo (Welland, Ontario)
Kailen Sheridan (Whitby, Ontario)
Defenders
Kadeisha Buchanan (Brampton, Ontario)
Gabrielle Carle (Lévis, Quebec)
Vanessa Gilles (Ottawa, Ontario)
Ashley Lawrence (Caledon East, Ontario)
Jayde Riviere (Markham, Ontario)
Jade Rose (Markham, Ontario)
Midfielders
Simi Awujo (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)
Jessie Fleming (London, Ontario)
Julia Grosso (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Quinn (Toronto, Ontario)
Forwards
Janine Beckie (Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States)
Jordyn Huitema (Chilliwack, British Columbia)
Cloé Lacasse (Sudbury, Ontario)
Adriana Leon (King City, Ontario)
Nichelle Prince (Ajax, Ontario)
Evelyne Viens (L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec)
Alternates
Lysianne Proulx (Boucherville, Quebec)
Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ontario)
Deanne Rose (Alliston, Ontario)
Desiree Scott (Kansas City, Missouri, 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
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 25, 2024.
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