Terry Maddaford: Women's game ready to take a leap forward

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Days before they first kicked a ball at an Olympic Games (in Beijing four years ago), the New Zealand women's soccer team drew 1-1 with Canada in Singapore. Anyone lucky enough to see that game could only be impressed - not only with the result. It was, in many ways, the first real indication that the women's game in New Zealand had finally arrived.

More than 30 years after a New Zealand team had first played internationally, the John Herdman-coached team showed they were ready to seriously challenge the more established nations.

Three years earlier the team reached their high of 20th on Fifa rankings but it was not until their first Olympic sojourn where they drew 2-2 with Japan and lost 1-0 to Norway before going down 4-0 to the eventual gold medallists USA that the real progress was underlined from a team who had long battled for any recognition.

Since that 2008 game in Singapore, the Football Ferns have played 46 A internationals for 16 wins, 10 draws and 20 losses (10 by just the odd goal). This week's wins over China were also significant, coming after 12 straight losses since they first met in 1991. The Chinese, ranked five places higher than New Zealand at 18, have been as high as fifth on the Fifa list.

Coach Tony Readings can take real heart from the 3-1 and 1-0 wins and again not just from the results.

Of the starting XI on Wednesday night, 10 of his players were in the 2008 Olympic squad. That experience is key to their success and brings a real feeling of confidence heading into a second Olympic campaign.

Just how far the women's game has come is underlined by the number of players now playing professionally overseas. Of the 18 players now in Australia for matches against Australia tomorrow and on Wednesday, 12 have overseas contracts.

Tactically, the team led by German-based defender Rebecca Smith is much more savvy and ready to foot it with any opposition.

Since losing 1-0 to China (away) in May last year, the Ferns have won seven and drawn four of 15 games scoring 32 and conceding 13. Their four losses have been by one goal - 2-1 (three) and 1-0.

Facing Great Britain, Brazil and Cameroon in London is daunting but given what this team has shown it will be no surprise if they do reach the quarter-finals.