Latvia, Wales' midfield quality and why Macey Fraser is one to watch in New Zealand - your women's football roundup
The domestic side of things might have been on a break over the last week, but there has still been plenty taking place for fans to enjoy, with international friendlies, tournaments and major qualifiers all occurring in different areas of the world and providing plenty of talking points to chew the fat over.
As always, this newsletter will bring you everything that you need to know from on and off the field, with the usual selection of analysis points, reading and listening material to ensure that you are kept right up to date however you prefer to consume your content.
3 key talking points….
Latvia can be positive despite their defeat to North Macedonia
Latvia might have picked up a surprise defeat to North Macedonia in the opening round of Euro 2025 qualifying matches, but it should not be something that they get too down about as there was a lot in that game that they can be happy with.
This was particularly true where the attacking side of things was concerned, with them looking very sharp at times when they had the ball and playing with a freedom and precision as they took full advantage of it being an open game. There were also some really pleasing performances from players in key areas, such as Karlīna Miksone who flitted between the midfield and forward areas and who had a hand in all three of their goals.
Where they do need to tidy things up is at the back, with set pieces in particular proving to be an issue as three of North Macedonia’s goals resulted from corners, so that is where they will need to improve as the campaign goes on and they look to ensure that they reach the play-off stages.
However, there was certainly enough in the way that they played to show that they will not be a team to underestimate, and the positives in that game and the fact that they secured a narrow win in Moldova during the second round of matches sets them up well going into the rest of the group stage matches.
Wales look to have found the perfect midfield combination
Whilst Wales’ men’s national team have been major finals regulars of late, the women’s team have struggled to achieve the same feat, with them going close a number of times but ultimately tending to fall just short.
The Euro 2025 qualifiers presents an opportunity for them to turn a new page and to go again, and the early signs do look positive in that regard, with them securing a dominant win at home to Croatia and backing it up with a second consecutive high-scoring victory in Kosovo.
https://twitter.com/sionmisra/status/1776343757119504698
Whilst there will be obvious points made about the quality of their opponents, what cannot be queried is the way that the team approached the games and performed in each one, with there being some outstanding individual displays that contributed to them picking up six points.
In particular, the midfield looked really efficient, with new head coach Rhian Wilkinson clearly putting a strong emphasis on retaining control of the middle third both with and without the ball. It was something that the trio of Angharad James, Jess Fishlock and Rachel Rowe really bought into, with them offering a nice balance and structure around the field which allowed the entire team to play at their best.
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1776330199900074297
It was fitting that it was those three players who scored all four goals against Croatia, whilst Rowe also netted twice against Kosovo, such was the calibre of their performances, and the unity that they demonstrated in attack and defence will give everyone connected with the team a lot of confidence that this could be their time at last.
Macey Fraser proves that she is one to keep an eye on in New Zealand
Watching New Zealand over the last few years has not been the easiest of tasks in recent years, with it clear to everyone that they have a lot of individual talent in their ranks but it not often being the case that they have brought it all together to match the expectations that so many have for them.
For a look at how New Zealand were playing before last year’s World Cup, have a look at my article for Total Football Analysis here:
This was until last year’s World Cup though, with there now being a newfound belief around the squad in what they are doing, and the confidence and quality that they displayed during their 4-0 friendly win against Thailand last week showed how effective they can be when they are at their best.
Whilst a number of players stood out on the night, the one that really deserves to be highlighted is Macey Fraser, with the midfielder performing really well and offering a constant presence between the lines. In particular, her ability to move the ball around the pitch with purpose allowed her to combine on multiple occasions with the likes of Hannah Wilkinson, Jacqui Hand and Indiah-Paige Riley as she both created chances and looked to drag the Thai defensive line out of position wherever she could.
“While they showed a rare eye for goal in Saturday’s win over a Thailand side that showed little in the way of attacking intent, the Ferns have largely lacked creativity for several years now, which makes Fraser an especially exciting prospect.
She is able to pick out passes others can’t even envisage and also has an eye for goal, both from free kicks and from distance in open play.”
Andrew Voerman, writing in April 2024 for Stuff.
New Zealand have a history of producing really good midfielders, with Malia Steinmetz just one example of that, and it looks like they have another on their hands in Fraser. Put simply, she looked like she belonged at this level, and there is no doubt on the basis of this performance that she will be one to look out for in the future.
Read all about it….
Why Cailtin Foord deserves more credit than she gets - whilst there are many in the Australian national team who are rightly lauded for their efforts in each match, one player who sometimes goes under the radar is wide forward Caitlin Foord. However, as Isobel Cootes states for Optus Sport, she has been a key player for them for such a long time and has been integral to so much that they have done well.
Ajax’s rising star Lily Yohannes - this year’s Champions League has captivated so many people this season, with new teams making it through and more players for fans to get to know. One of those who has been attracting plenty of positive headlines is Ajax’s 16-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, and this long read by Tamerra Griffin for The Athletic details her backstory and why she has the potential to go all the way.
Should England start to look beyond Lucy Bronze? - also on The Athletic, Jessy Parker Humphreys has looked at whether Lucy Bronze is becoming a hindrance for England with her obvious inability to track back once she does lose the ball, following the manner of the equaliser that Sweden scored and a number of goals that have come against Barcelona and England on her side of the pitch.
Lend me your ears….
Women’s Football in Scandinavia - away from the international game, there is still plenty to look at in individual nations, and the fact that the leagues in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland have been or will be starting back up in the recent times or in the next week provides a perfect opportunity to listen to this episode of The Offside Rule, with Scandinavian football expert Phil O’Connor discussing all things in the women’s game in that area of the world.
That’s all for now - back next week!!