The New Zealand women's football coach Tony Readings has added three players to his squad for next month's two-match series in Spain.
Hannah Wilkinson and Betsy Hassett Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After being ruled out of last week's international tri-series with injury, defender Meikayla Moore returns to the squad while the addition of midfielders Daisy Cleverley and Evie Millynn boost the travelling party to 20.
Readings says the tour provides the team another opportunity to continue to hone their game ahead of this year's World Cup in Canada.
In last week's tri-series in Auckland the Football Ferns drew 1-all with North Korea and lost 3-2 to Australia.
He says the tri-series gave them an opportunity to see where we are in terms of our readiness to knock over the world's top ranked nations.
Reading says at the World Cup they want to be able to not only push the top sides but beat them and the tri-series showed we've got things to work on if we are to achieve that objective.
He says in possession they've still got some things to improve and that area of our game will be a focus for us in Spain.
Ranked at 15 in the world to the Football Ferns 18, Spain have qualified for the women's showcase tournament for the first time and will contest Group E along with Brazil, Korea Republic and Costa Rica.
Readings says the rapidly-improving Spanish outfit - who reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Euro Championship in 2013, qualifying second from a group which saw England finish bottom - will be a timely test for the New Zealand team.
He says Spain are quickly becoming one of the top sides in Europe and have earned their current ranking with a rapid rise similar to our own as they build towards their first World Cup appearance.
Football Ferns squad - Spain tour
Caps/Goals/Club
Goalkeepers
Cushla Lichtwark (0/0 - Upper Hutt City, NZL)
Erin Nayler (24/0 - Glenfield Rovers, NZL)
Defenders
CJ Bott (1/0 - Forrest Hill Milford Utd AFC, NZL)
Abby Erceg (capt - 109/5 - Chicago Red Stars, USA)
Meikayla Moore (10/0 - Eastern Suburbs AFC, NZL)
Ria Percival (101/11 - USV Jena, GER)
Ali Riley (89/1 - FC Rosengard, SWE)
Rebekah Stott (35/2 - unattached)
Midfielders
Katie Bowen (22/0 - University of North Carolina, USA)
Daisy Cleverley (3/2 - Forrest Hill Milford Utd AFC, NZL)
Betsy Hassett (75/8 - unattached)
Katie Hoyle (98/1 - FC Zurich, SWI)
Annalie Longo (76/6 - Coastal Spirit, NZL)
Evie Millynn (2/0 - Western Springs AFC, NZL)
Kirsty Yallop (86/12 - Vittsjo GIK, SWE)
Forwards
Sarah Gregorius (62/23 - AS Elfen Saitama, JPN)
Amber Hearn (95/44 - USV Jena, GER)
Jasmine Pereira (4/0 - Three Kings Utd, NZL)
Rosie White (65/14 - unattached)
Hannah Wilkinson (65/21 - University of Tennessee, USA)
Management staff
Head coach: Tony Readings
Assistant coach: Aaron McFarland
Assistant coach: Danny Robinson
Manager: Claire Hamilton
Performance Analyst: Gary Connell
Sports Scientist: Harriet Steele
Physiotherapist: Catherine Porteous
Doctor: Julie Shamlaye
Match schedule
Spain v Football Ferns
Tuesday 3 March, 7pm (Wednesday 4 March, 7am NZ time)
Pedro Escartin Stadium, Guadalajara, Spain
Spain v Football Ferns
Thursday 5 March, 8pm (Friday 6 March, 8am NZ time)
La Roda Municipal Stadium, La Roda, Spain
