The celebrations for centre-back Abby Erceg's 19th birthday after the heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Nigeria on Thursday will pale into insignificance if the Junior Football Ferns get up in tomorrow's must-win date with hosts Chile in their second match at Fifa's Under-20 Women's World Cup.
"The girls have
a great attitude," said coach John Herdman.
"They spent most of the next day in the analysis room. They have been pretty professional.
"They are recovering well and getting their heads focused for the next game."
Given the bold showing by the team against the bigger, stronger and more experienced Nigerians, there is little likelihood of many, if any, changes against the Chileans who too have to bounce back from a first-up loss.
Liz Milne did well off the bench and might tempt Herdman into giving her a start maybe in place of either Anna Green or Bridgette Armstrong.
Annalie Longo came on as a substitute against the West Africans and that might again be her role as Katie Hoyle and Betsy Hassett did well in the midfield engine-room.
Longo has in the past shown her effectiveness in coming in later in games when the opposition shows signs of tiring.
Chile lost 2-0 to England in their opening game in front of 16,000 fans.
A similar noisy crowd is expected tomorrow.
"It is a really interesting crowd," said Herdman.
"They sing, chant, whistle, boo and cuss.
"It is what you expect from football crowds over here but I noticed when England started to get the upper hand they went really quiet and in the end it almost worked against them."
Herdman has no doubts about the enormity of the task.
"We've got to win this game. It's a game we feel we can win."
In the other Group A match, first round winners England and Nigeria clash, with the winner assured of their place in the quarter-finals.
U-20 Women's World Cup:
* New Zealand v Chile
* Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo, Chile
* Tomorrow 1pm (NZ time) live SS3.
New Zealand (likely): Charlotte Wood, Caitlin Campbell, Anna Green, Katie Hoyle, Bridgette Armstrong, Abby Erceg, Ria Percival, Betsy Hassett, Hannah Wall, Sarah McLaughlin, Rosie White.
Substitutes: Renee Leota, Annalie Longo, Chelsey Wood, Victoria Esson, Merissa Smith, Elizabeth Milne, Bri Fisher, Nicole Stratford, Grace Vincent, Rebekah Brook.
