The Our Futbol Podcast is proud to be collaborating with FUTBO13RA® to bring readers coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games – Women’s Soccer Tournament. You can download the FUTBO13RA® Guide: Paris 2024 PDF here.
With complete dominance in the Oceania Football Confederation, New Zealand head to its fifth Olympic Games with renewed aspirations after failing to get out of the group stage at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. Their strongest performance was in London 2012, when they managed to reach the quarterfinals and lost against eventual gold medalists, the United States.
This time around, the Ferns are ready to exceed their own expectations – far beyond achieving a single World Cup victory. Their group looks complicated, but it is in these types of situations where they have to show that they can compete against anyone.
“Whichever team we face, New Zealand will be a team that plays to win,” stated Jita Klimkova to FIFA.com.
Jita Klimkova arrived in 2022 with the goal of changing the mentality of the team. She was already familiar with the footballing structure in New Zealand, given she had led some youth teams in the past and was part of the coaching staff of the senior team in 2014, just before traveling to the United States to coach the U-17 and Under-20 squads.
Although she is a strategist who, according to her players, prioritizes the human aspect before the footballer, alarm bells were set off in May of this year when the New Zealand Football Federation announced that Klimkova would take leave while there was a labor investigation, leaving Michael Mayne in charge of the team for their upcoming matches against Japan. A few days later, the federation issued a statement informing that Jitka Klimkova was returning to her position and no further statements would be made by the federation, coaching staff or players.
If we talk about the evolution of the team, it is evident that Klimkova has made an impact. New Zealand went from having a defensive style of play to being a team that prioritizes possession of the ball to move their offense forward. The teams in their confederation may not be a problem for them, but in Paris, New Zealand will have to compete against high-caliber teams.
Captain: Katie Bowen
When it was announced that Ali Riley would be out of the Olympics due to injury, Katie Bowen was the natural successor to lead the team given she has the necessary experience but also the strong personality needed for this level of competition.
She made her debut at the age of 14 with the New Zealand U17 team and two years later became captain of the team at the U17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2011, she played her first game for the senior team at only 17 years of age.
Her journey on the international stage is impeccable, having participated in four World Cups and is set ti compete in her third Olympic Games.
Motivated by her father’s love of football and Manchester United and inspired by her mother’s generosity and empathy to bring out the best in others, Bowen has implemented these qualities into a captain who leads by example. For these Olympic Games in Paris 2024, the Inter Milan defender will be in charge of motivating her teammates and being the role model they need on and off the field.
Player to Watch: Jacqui Hand
Jacqui Hand is perhaps the player with the least international spotlight, but one that has been the most effective for this team.
She recently played in Finland for Åland United, where she was the team’s top scorer with 14 goals. In January of this year, she signed with Lewes FC from the English third division with hopes of playing in top international tournaments. However, a good performance at these Olympic Games could catapult her to a higher-ranking club.
She came through the New Zealand U15, U17 and U20 squads before making her debut for the senior team. She scored her first goal against South Korea and little by little earned herself more playing time until eventually she made the final roster for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Jacquie Hand’s ability to take momentum away from the rival defense, shot power, aerial game and technical skill to not just control the ball but shoot from medium distance have allowed her to be one of the foundational players in Klimkova’s Starting 11.
New Zealand has a great challenge ahead in these Olympic games. Although they aren’t considered a favorite, they want to show that the team is ready to compete face to face with women’s soccer’s powerhouses. But above all, they want to inspire girls to play soccer and have better opportunities to do so which is a victory in and of itself.
What time does New Zealand play at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games?
New Zealand’s Match Schedule in Group A
Thursday July 25
Canada vs. New Zealand | 8:00 AM PST | 9:00 PM CDMX | 10:00 AM CST | 11:00 AM EST | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Sunday July 28
New Zealand vs. Colombia | 8:00 AM PST | 9:00 PM CDMX | 10:00 AM CST | 11:00 AM EST | Stade de Lyon
Wednesday, July 31
New Zealand vs. France | 12:00 PM PST | 1:00 PM CDMX | 2:00 PM CST | 3:00 PM EST | Stade de Lyon
This has been edited from its original version which can be found on the Futbo13ra website here.
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