The Football Ferns are the first host nation to exit in the group stage of a Women’s World Cup
Despite a 0-0 draw with Switzerland adding to what has been their best-ever tournament, New Zealand has been eliminated from the Women’s World Cup.
Heartbreak, despair and thoughts of what could have been now rule the thoughts of the Football Ferns and Aotearoa as a footballing nation, accompanied by the tears that were shed on the surface in Dunedin following the final whistle.
As soon as Norway took a two-goal lead over the Philippines in Group A’s simultaneous kickoff on Sunday evening, one that eventually ended up as a six-goal rout, the Kiwis knew they had to find a way to win to claw their way back into the group’s top two. Their desperation as the game wore on was obvious. They hurdled themselves forward with increasing fervour with every passing missed opportunity, and goalkeeper Victoria Esson abandoned all sense of caution as she repeatedly came up to contest long balls wafted into the penalty area hoping that chaos would result in a goal. Thanks to the rampant Norwegians, after all, a loss and a draw meant the same thing.
But there was to be no breakthrough, no hero that emerged. As harsh as it feels to bestow them with the label given, they are arguably the most unheralded women’s footballing nation to stage it, the Football Ferns are now the first host nation in World Cup history to be eliminated in the group stages – albeit they could very well be joined by Australia on Monday evening. Of course, once the dust settles, it will most likely not be considered a disaster. That famous opening night at Eden Park, where Hannah Wilkinson dispatched Norway to hand her nation a first-ever World Cup win, will go some way towards providing a memory to soothe the pain.