Soccer: Ferns' last chance to get it right before World Cup

Handed another lesson in just what the World Cup promises, the New Zealand women head into a second clash with Australia in Gosford tomorrow well aware that time is running out for the players to force their claims for a spot in the squad to play in Germany.

Coach John Herdman has 21 players in Australia and will take the same number to the World Cup but with the need to add an extra goalkeeper, at least one of the outfield players on the current sortie will not be in his final selection.

The Football Ferns, ranked 24th in the world, lost to the 11th-ranked Matildas in a game played behind closed doors on Thursday but have the chance of revenge at the same Bluetongue Stadium ground in an official friendly tomorrow.

It was the third straight 3-0 win for the Asian champions over New Zealand and left Herdman with plenty to ponder.

"We had some good spells but Australia were the better team," said Herdman. "They're very good at showing you why they are Asian champions. They were very clinical.

"They scored two goals we could have dealt with better and one which was absolutely world class.

"We had a very good chance to equalise early on and then a couple of half chances but we just took the wrong option. There are some things we can work on which will make things tougher for them on Sunday."

Matildas' coach Tom Sermanni was pleased with his team's effort.

"I was delighted with the performance," said Sermanni.

"When you consider we've had no real match practice and New Zealand are coming off four games [at March's Cyprus Cup], to come out and perform this well is very pleasing."

The match marked the first senior appearance of young Glenfield Rovers defender Katie Bowen and a milestone 50th "A" international for captain Rebecca Smith.

After tomorrow's game, the New Zealanders head to China where they will play another training game and a friendly with the 15th-ranked Chinese in Jinan.

On his return, Herdman will finalise his cup squad, to be named on June 7. The team will leave about five days later heading to Switzerland for a training camp and four-team, pre-World Cup tournament. Their opposition has yet to be confirmed but is likely to include Nigeria and Norway.

At the World Cup New Zealand will face Japan (ranked 4th), England (10) and Mexico (22). The Mexico game will be seen as their opportunity to break their World Cup duck and pick up a first point.

In two previous World Cups, the Football Ferns lost their three matches, scoring just one goal against hosts China in 1991. At the last World Cup, they lost to eventual runners-up Brazil 5-0, Denmark 2-0 and China 2-0 but still finished ahead of Argentina and Ghana in the final rankings.

Match schedule

Friendlies

v Australia

Gosford, tomorrow 5pm (SS3 8.30pm)

v China (training game)

Jinan, Wednesday 7.30pm (NZ time)

v China

Jinan, Friday 11.30pm (NZ time)

Fifa Women's World Cup

Germany

NZ v Japan

June 28: 1am (live SS)

NZ v England

July 2: 4.15am (live SS)

NZ v Mexico

July 6: 4.15am (live SS)