New Zealand’s 2023 Women’s World Cup Journey: Tactical Review and Key Takeaways
New Zealand entered the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with great anticipation as co-hosts, starting their campaign with a historic victory. However, after a promising opening win, the Football Ferns were eliminated at the group stage following a narrow loss to the Philippines and Norway’s dominant win over the same opponents. Despite their early exit, New Zealand demonstrated a clear tactical identity and several positives under coach Jitka Klimková. Below, we analyze New Zealand’s tactical approach, areas of strength, and the factors that ultimately led to their disappointment.
An Ambitious Start and a Painful Elimination
The Football Ferns captured the spotlight by defeating Norway 1-0 in the tournament’s opener—their first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup finals. That groundbreaking result raised hopes, but a subsequent 1-0 defeat to the Philippines put their group ambitions under threat. With Norway later outscoring the Philippines 6-0, New Zealand’s fate was sealed due to goal-difference, despite their head-to-head performance making them group favorites for a time.
Tactical Design: New Zealand’s 4-4-2 Formation in Focus
Throughout the competition, New Zealand consistently lined up in a classic 4-4-2 formation. This setup featured wingers who actively joined the attack, while central midfielders often maintained disciplined, balanced roles. The back four provided a secure foundation, facilitating controlled possession and driving build-up play.
– CJ Bott would often drift inside during the build-up, enabling either Malia Steinmetz or Ria Percival to support attacks or take shots from distance.
– Both Steinmetz and Percival stood out for their energy and capacity to make dynamic, box-to-box runs, alternating between progressing the ball and anchoring midfield.
– On the flanks, Indiah-Paige Riley delivered standout performances in the opener, while Betsy Hassett and Jacqueline Hand built an effective link on the opposite wing. Jacqueline Hand would often stretch defenses by running the channels, allowing Hannah Wilkinson to focus on her role as the central target forward.
– Defensively, the quartet of Rebekah Stott, Katie Bowen, Ali Riley, and CJ Bott was among the tournament’s strongest. Their skillful passing and robust 1v1 defending made New Zealand difficult to break down.
– In goal, Victoria Esson provided reliable shot-stopping, registering two clean sheets in three group games.
Attacking Limitations: The Finishing Challenges
While New Zealand were formidable at the back, their attacking shortcomings became apparent as the tournament progressed. The team managed just one goal across three matches. That lone strike was the result of a well-orchestrated move, finished decisively by Hannah Wilkinson after a sequence of sharp passing.
Despite promising approach play and quick one-touch combinations, New Zealand struggled to convert opportunities:
– Indiah-Paige Riley was the only regular attacking player who consistently beat defenders in one-on-one situations.
– There was an over-reliance on Wilkinson as the primary offensive outlet, potentially making their approach predictable.
– While the side created shots and frequently gained territory in advanced areas, they rarely engineered high-quality chances—often taking shots from low-probability positions.
– The lack of a creative presence between the lines—a traditional ‘number 10’—may have hampered their ability to unbalance set defenses and carve out clear opportunities.
Defensive Discipline: A Foundation of Success
A defining feature of New Zealand’s campaign was their rigorous defensive organization. The 4-4-2 shape, anchored by a cohesive back four and disciplined midfield:
– Forced opponents to play wide or attempt long passes, which the Ferns often regained.
– Leveraged pressing intensity from key players like Wilkinson, Percival, and Hand to disrupt build-ups and launch transitions.
– Maintained excellent coverage in central and wide areas, limiting counter-attacks and ensuring defensive stability.
– The tactical commitment to rest-defense, sometimes narrowing to a 4+2 or 2+4 shape, prioritized minimizing goals conceded—even if it blunted attacking potential.
Conceding just once in three group games underscored the quality of their defensive displays.
Final Thoughts: Silver Linings and the Road Ahead
Although New Zealand exited earlier than hoped and became the first host nation to fail to reach the knockout stage, there were several encouraging takeaways:
– The team displayed strong tactical organization, resilience, and a clear game model under Jitka Klimková.
– Individual standouts, particularly among defenders and midfielders, emerged as key contributors.
– Their performances—marked by heart, effort, and flashes of quality—give the Football Ferns a solid foundation for the future.
Looking ahead, the challenge will be to nurture and integrate emerging talents like Indiah-Paige Riley while refreshing the squad, as a number of core players near the latter stages of their careers. While this World Cup represented a unique opportunity on home soil, New Zealand can take pride in their evolution—and set their sights on future tournaments with optimism.
