Olympic Women’s Football 2024: New Zealand – Tactical Analysis

As the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris approach, anticipation builds for New Zealand‘s women’s national football team, affectionately known as the Football Ferns.

With a rich history dating back to the early 20th century, the team has steadily evolved and established itself on the international stage.

This year’s Olympic campaign is a significant opportunity for the Football Ferns to showcase their growth and competitiveness against some of the world’s top teams as we will discuss in this analysis.

The Football Ferns’ journey has been marked by perseverance and milestones.

From their early days of organised league play in the 1970s to their pioneering victory in the 1975 Asian Cup, the team has consistently demonstrated resilience and determination.

Over the years, they have faced formidable challenges and achieved remarkable successes, such as their historic win against the USA in 1987 and their participation in multiple FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.

Now, as they prepare for the Olympics, the Football Ferns aim to build on their legacy and make a significant impact in Paris, drawing on their experience, tactical acumen, and a strong sense of national pride.

The Football Ferns have shown considerable progress in recent years, with a focus on developing young talent and enhancing their tactics.

Under the guidance of their coaching staff, the team has been working diligently to refine their strategies and build a cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level as we will see in this scout report.

As discussed in this tactical analysis, the Olympics present a platform for these efforts to come to fruition, as the team faces off against some of the best in women’s football.

Predicted Starting XI

New Zealand’s women’s national football team enters the Olympics 2024 in Paris with a sense of cautious optimism.

While they have shown growth and improvement in recent years, they are not yet on par with football powerhouses like Spain, USWNT, Australia, and Canada.

Hosting the recent Women’s World Cup with Australia provided valuable experience and exposure, helping them become more competitive on the global stage.

As New Zealand prepares for the Olympics 2024 in Paris, their squad presents a blend of experience and youthful promise.

The Football Ferns, aiming to make a significant impact on the international stage, have a well-balanced team featuring solid defensive talents, a hardworking midfield, and promising forwards.

The current squad boasts some promising talents and a solid defensive lineup, with players like Katie Bowen, Ali Riley, and CJ Bott providing stability and experience at the back.

However, the team still struggles with consistency and quality in the midfield and attack, which has been a significant barrier in their past tournaments.

Behind the likely starting XI, New Zealand boasts considerable depth.

Victoria Esson, at 33, provides a reliable backup option in goal, with her experience and shot-stopping ability being valuable assets.

Defensively, Elizabeth Anton and Meikayla Moore offer depth, with Anton capable of playing both central and full-back positions and Moore’s versatility allowing her to cover multiple defensive roles.

In midfield, Malia Steinmetz and Rebecca Burrows provide additional options.

Steinmetz, at 25, is known for her ball-winning skills and composure under pressure, making her a crucial part of the midfield rotation.

Burrows, at 21, brings youthful energy and potential, offering fresh legs and enthusiasm.

In attack, Jacqui Hand and Ava Pritchard add further depth.

Hand, at 25, can play across the front line, adding versatility to the attacking options, while Pritchard, despite her young age of 18, shows great promise with her speed and goal-scoring instincts.

However, the team does have its weaknesses.

Despite having solid players, New Zealand lacks midfielders who can dominate games at the highest level.

Additionally, the team sometimes struggles to create and convert chances against top-tier defences, leading to inconsistent attacking performances.

New Zealand’s squad for the Olympics 2024 in Paris offers a blend of experience and promise, with strong defensive players and a hardworking midfield.

The team’s success will largely depend on their ability to consistently create and finish scoring opportunities.

If key players like Bowen, Bott, and Wilkinson can perform at their best, and the team can find a way to maximize their attacking potential, they might surprise a few teams.

Attacking Phase

New Zealand’s attacking approach is characterised by a resilient and strategic playstyle, aiming to maximise their opportunities despite facing challenges in creating a high volume of chances.

The team often struggles to generate numerous scoring opportunities and frequently relies on converting limited chances, as indicated by their lower percentile rankings in various offensive statistics.

This tendency to “live mostly on scraps” highlights their difficulty in consistently penetrating defences and creating clear-cut chances.

However, there are positive aspects to their attacking approach that offer hope and demonstrate their potential to compete effectively.

One notable strength is their efficiency when they do manage to create shooting opportunities.

Despite their overall low percentile ranking for shots on goal, New Zealand ranks around the median for shots on target.

This indicates that when they do get into promising positions, they have a decent success rate in testing opposing goalkeepers.

It underscores the importance of not underestimating them, as they can be dangerous if allowed to advance into threatening areas.

While New Zealand faces challenges in creating a high volume of scoring opportunities, their attacking approach leverages the efficiency and skills of key players like Percival and Chance.

Their ability to convert limited chances and manipulate defences offers hope for competitive performances, making them a team that opponents must remain vigilant against.

The Football Ferns’ resilience and strategic play highlight their potential to make an impact at the Olympics despite the inherent disadvantages in their attacking play.

Defensive Phase

New Zealand’s defensive approach is characterised by a structured and determined effort to protect their goal area.

Despite their poor run of form, which is reflected in their defensive statistics, the team demonstrates a commendable level of effort and organisation in their defensive play.

However, their low success rate in winning defensive and aerial duels indicates a gap in quality that hinders their ability to consistently keep opponents at bay.

One of the key strengths of New Zealand’s defensive strategy is their clear plan for defending once they lose possession.

The team’s defensive structure is simple yet effective, involving their back four coming together with the nearest player moving out to press the ball.

The remaining defenders focus on covering the middle and potential passing options, aiming to force the opposing team to play sideways or backward, thereby disrupting their momentum.

This approach highlights New Zealand’s ability to make it difficult for opponents to find clear paths to goal, as seen in their efforts to close down spaces and limit progress.

However, New Zealand’s predictability in their defensive tactics can be a significant disadvantage.

Opponents often figure out ways to dismantle their system and exploit the resulting vulnerabilities.

While New Zealand’s defensive approach is organised and shows a clear understanding of their game plan, it also reveals a need for flexibility and adaptability.

Relying solely on a predictable defensive structure can leave them vulnerable to teams that have studied and prepared for their tactics.

To improve their defensive resilience, New Zealand might benefit from devising alternative strategies that can be employed when their primary system is compromised.

By introducing more unpredictability and adaptability into their defensive play, they can better manage the threats posed by their opponents and reduce the likelihood of their structure being broken down.

Transitions

New Zealand’s approach to transitions is a mix of vulnerability and potential threat, depending largely on their execution and the ability of their key players.

Their predictable nature in transitioning from defense to offense has often been exploited by opponents, yet when they manage to break free from their rigid patterns, they demonstrate an ability to create significant scoring opportunities.

A notable disadvantage in New Zealand’s transitional play is their tendency to form a compact back three immediately upon losing possession.

This predictability has been recognized and exploited by opponents, who have pressed forward to outnumber New Zealand’s defenders in their own third.

By isolating the three defenders from the rest of the team, opponents create and utilise space on either side to generate goal-scoring chances.

However, when New Zealand successfully transitions from defence to attack, they can be quite threatening.

Key players play pivotal roles in creating opportunities during these transitions.

Yet, the player who perhaps has the most significant influence is Daisy Steinmetz.

Sitting deep, Steinmetz provides balance and is instrumental in initiating attacks from the back due to her excellent ball control and spatial awareness.

The main advantage of New Zealand’s transitional approach is their ability to capitalize on quick, decisive movements when they successfully execute their game plan.

Their key players, particularly in the midfield, have the skill to control the ball and make rapid decisions that can catch opponents off guard.

In contrast, the significant disadvantage lies in their predictability and the ease with which opponents can anticipate and counter their movements.

This predictability often leads to dangerous situations where New Zealand’s defensive structure is breached, and they concede goal-scoring opportunities to their opponents.

Defenders

In goal, Anna Leat is expected to start.

At 22, she has shown significant promise with her quick reflexes and ability to command the penalty area.

Despite her youth, Leat has already gained valuable international experience, making her a reliable presence between the posts.

The defensive line is likely to feature Claudia Foster at left-back, Abby Moore and Katie Bowen as the central defenders, and CJ Bott at right-back.

Foster, at 25, offers a blend of defensive solidity and the ability to support attacks down the left flank.

Moore, aged 28, provides experience and composure, making her a key figure in defence, while Bowen, at 30, brings versatility and leadership, crucial for the team’s defensive organisation.

Bott, aged 29, offers defensive strength and the ability to contribute to the attack, making her a dynamic presence on the right flank.

Midfielders

Annalie Longo and Daisy Cleverley are expected to play central roles in the midfield, with Gabi Rennie and Grace Jale on the wings.

Longo, aged 27, is known for her creativity and vision, which are essential for linking defence and attack.

Her passing ability helps control the tempo of the game, while Cleverley, at 25, is recognised for her work rate and ability to break up play, providing vital energy in midfield.

Rennie, aged 22, brings pace and dribbling skills, making her a constant threat down the right wing.

Her ability to deliver crosses adds to the attacking options.

On the left wing, Jale, also 25, is adept at taking on defenders and cutting inside to create scoring opportunities.

Her versatility allows her to contribute both in attack and defence.

Forwards

Up front, Hannah Wilkinson and Rosie White are expected to lead the line.

Wilkinson, at 32, is an experienced forward known for her goal-scoring ability and physical presence.

Her finishing skills and experience make her the focal point of the attack.

White, also 32, is a seasoned forward known for her intelligent movement and clinical finishing.

Her partnership with Wilkinson is crucial for the team’s offensive output.

Key Player

Katie Bowen is a vital player for New Zealand’s national team, known for her versatility and leadership.

Primarily a defender, Bowen is adept at playing both in central defence and as a full-back, showcasing her adaptability and tactical awareness.

Her experience spans several leagues and teams, providing her with a wealth of knowledge and skills that she brings to the field.

One of Bowen’s significant strengths is her defensive solidity.

She is highly effective in one-on-one situations, using her excellent positioning and anticipation to thwart opposing attackers.

Her physical presence is another key asset; at 173 cm tall, she is strong in aerial duels and capable of handling physical battles with strikers.

This physicality, combined with her tactical understanding, makes her a formidable defender.

Bowen also excels in playmaking from the back.

She has a high passing accuracy for a defender, which allows her to initiate attacks and provide critical long passes to her teammates.

Her ability to deliver precise long balls can break opposition lines and create scoring opportunities.

This playmaking ability is complemented by her vision and decision-making, making her a valuable asset not only in defence but also in transitioning the ball forward.

However, Bowen has some weaknesses that need addressing.

Her defensive reactions can sometimes be slow, particularly against quick and agile forwards.

She occasionally hesitates in one-on-one situations, which can give attackers an advantage.

Additionally, her success rate in aerial duels, while decent, could be improved with better timing and technique.

Another area for improvement is her consistency in defensive aggressiveness.

Bowen can be less decisive in her defensive actions, sometimes opting for less aggressive interventions when a more forceful approach might be necessary.

Enhancing her decisiveness and aggression in defensive scenarios could elevate her performance and make her an even more reliable defender.

Tournament prediction

Historically, New Zealand has found it challenging to advance beyond the group stage in World Cups, highlighting the gap between them and the world’s elite teams.

While their defence is commendable, the lack of world-class players in midfield and forward positions often leaves them struggling to create and capitalise on scoring opportunities.

At the Olympics, New Zealand will likely face tough competition from top-tier teams.

Their ability to advance past the group stage will heavily depend on their defensive resilience and the ability of their key players to step up and perform under pressure.

If Bowen, Riley, and Bott can anchor a robust defensive effort and the team can find a way to generate more consistent attacking threats, they might have a chance to surprise some of their higher-ranked opponents.

However, given their historical performance and current squad limitations, it is realistic to expect that New Zealand will face an uphill battle to progress beyond the group stage.

While they may put up commendable fights and possibly secure some points, reaching the knockout rounds would be an impressive achievement for the Football Ferns.