Football: New Zealand A ready to take on Thailand

Annalie Longo will turn out for the New Zealand A side against Thailand. Photo / Photosport

The rebuilding for the Football Ferns towards the 2019 FIFA World Cup in France and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics begins tomorrow when a new-look New Zealand A team takes on Thailand in Auckland.

The team - which includes Ferns captain Abby Erceg and eight other regular starters for the national team - have completed their week of preparation and are excited to return to international football.

They are expecting a tough test from the World No 32 in their game before the Wellington Phoenix host the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League at Mt Smart Stadium.

"They are very strong technically," said experienced midfielder Annalie Longo. "They like the ball and keep possession well. We are more focusing on us to be honest. We haven't played for a long time and we have a lot of new players and a mixture squad so it is all about what we want to do and how we want to play."

Longo, who has played 95 internationals for New Zealand since making her debut back in 2006, said the injection the New Zealand U-17s and U-20s players this week has been a breath of fresh air.

"I know I need to push on and keep improving because these young guns are catching me. It is always healthy to have that pressure and competition, I am learning from them and hopefully they are learning from me too. It is only good for us to have more depth," said the 25-year-old who captained the Canterbury Pride to success in the National Women's League Final last week.

"I would love to stick around and play at France and at another Olympics but I know there is a lot of youth coming through so I am going to have to work hard to stay in the game."

Forward Rosie White, who has recently left Liverpool FC to join the Boston Breakers in the WNSL, said it was nice to be home and playing with the next generation of Ferns.

"This is definitely a new phase for this team that is why it is important to play with some of the younger girls and get to know them. We don't get to play at home very often so it is a good opportunity to start fresh and start to rebuild," said the 23-year-old.

White, who has scored 14 goals in her 84 internationals for New Zealand, said it was a weird feeling being one of the senior players in the squad.

"I have always been one of the youngest so to phase into being one of the more experienced is different. It is good though being more experienced hopefully I can share it and help the other players."

The New Zealand Development team had a good hit out against Thailand last night in Albany with the locals winning 3-2, and coach Tony Readings will bring in some of the older players and some of the standouts from that game. He said this week has given them plenty of information on the next group of future Ferns.

"The young ones have had to step up this week because they are with better players and if they don't then they get left behind, some have and some haven't," said Readings.

"Both sets will learn from that. It is good for the younger players to see the level that they are striving to. The difference from a 17s or a 20s World Cup, the senior level is a big step up. Until you see the likes of Abby, Anna [Green], Annalie and Rosie in the flesh you can't really appreciate it. It is good for the younger ones to see the level they need to get to."

Readings is looking to see those youngsters go to another level tomorrow against Thailand as the next generation of Football Ferns look to put their hands up to be part of the pinnacle events in three years' time.