WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's women's soccer team sense their best chance to become the first senior side from the rugby-mad country to advance out of their group at next month's World Cup in France, captain Ali Riley said.
The 19th-ranked Football Ferns have been drawn in Group E with world number five Canada, the Netherlands , and Cameroon for the June 7-July 7 tournament in France.
"Our expectations are so much higher," Riley told reporters on a conference call ahead of Thursday's match against world champions the United States in St. Louis. They play three more international friendlies before their Group E opener against the Netherlands on June 11 in Le Havre. "This is our best chance we have had since I've been in the team to win a game, get out of the group and then see what happens from there," added Riley, who at 31 is appearing at her fourth World Cup.Winning their first game would go a long way to washing away the last 12 months when the team was embroiled in controversy after 13 players threatened to quit if then coach Andreas Heraf remained in charge.
The appointment of the 64-year-old Scotsman prompted former captain Abby Erceg and experienced midfielder Katie Duncan to come out of retirement for the World Cup.
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