Experience-laden Ferns squad named

Abby Erceg. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Abby Erceg. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Football Ferns have named a strong squad for their first tournament of the year.

The team is to play at the inaugural Cup of Nations in Australia next month, as it prepares for June's World Cup in France.

Both former captain Abby Erceg and former vice-captain Katie Duncan return to feature in coach Tom Sermanni's squad.

Emma Kete, Aimee Phillips and Daisy Cleverley also make a return to international football.

Erceg and Duncan boast 251 A international caps between them, while Ria Percival, Ali Riley, Annalie Longo and Betsy Hassett also have more than 100 caps each.

That is a significant amount of experience and will bolster the side as it prepares to play Australia, Argentina and Korea.

''We are really pleased with the experience and quality we have named in this squad,'' Sermanni said.

''We know that it is going to be a tough challenge against three world-class sides, but this will be an ideal test for us as we continue our build-up for the Fifa Women's World Cup.''

The opening game between the Football Ferns and Australia at Jubilee Stadium in Sydney on February 28 will be the 50th between the countries.

The Ferns then travel to play world No 36 Argentina on March 3 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

On March 6 they play world No 14 Korea Republic at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

The Korean encounter will be the Ferns' 250th A international.

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