The Women’s World Cup begins tonight, and with hosts Canada taking on China, the other game in Group A throws up an interesting encounter.
New Zealand take on the Netherlands with the winner taking their first ever World Cup victory. New Zealand have failed to pick up a victory in three World Cup attempts. Meanwhile the Netherlands are qualifying for their first ever World Cup, disposing of Italy in a nail-biting play off final.
Neither side are considered as favourites to win the tournament, with Canada being the group favourites. However some pundits are tipping either side to be dark horses for this World Cup. With New Zealand ranked 17th and the Oranje higher in 12th, both sides possess strong attributes which could throw up surprises.
Both sides have attacking power in abundance, with New Zealand strike duo Hannah Wilkinson and Amber Hearn having 168 caps and 67 goals between them, Hearn being New Zealand’s all time top scorer on 45 goals. But with Manon Melis and the ever impressive Vivianne Miedema, the Netherlands have 146 caps and 73 goals, meaning it could be a goal-fest.
Miedema was named in The Guardian’s ‘Ten Players To Watch’ as the 18-year-old was top scorer in the qualifying process with 16 goals. Leeuwinnen coach Roger Reijners is aware of the talent he has in the Bayern Munich striker, who’s been likened to the female equivalent of Arjen Robben, but was keen to point out it’s a joint effort: “We have a good team, everybody is talking about Miedema and she is a great player, a young talent but I think we have more than that, it is a team."
New Zealand counterpart Tony Readings was full of praise for his opposition, saying: "Holland are 12th in the world for a reason. "Of all the teams I have seen play recently they are the one that embraces possession style football more than most teams. "They've got the players to do it and play to their strengths."
Players To Watch
New Zealand: Hannah Wilkinson – The 23 year old has 22 goals in 69 caps and the Tennessee Ladies player has already some prior World Cup experience, scoring in the 94th minute of a game against Mexico at the 2011 tournament to force a draw. The Oranje will have their hands full to contain her.
Netherlands: Vivianne Miedema – Tipped to be a megastar of Women’s football, Miedema has the world at her feet. The 18 year old has 19 goals from 23 caps and is supposedly the Arjen Robben of the Women’s game. Top scorer of the qualifiers with 16 goals, big things are expected of her when she lines up against New Zealand.
The Women’s World Cup is expected to burst into life, and with this game coming as one of the openers, that prophecy may just ring true.