Kiwi Smith confident of turning up heat on Japan

Posted Monday, June 27, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

BOCHUM, Germany (AFP) - New Zealand captain Rebecca Smith has high hopes of her side causing an upset in their opening match against Japan at the Women's World Cup here on Monday.

Japan are Group B favourites, but Smith believes the New Zealand Ferns can pull off an upset as they did during the opening game of the Beijing Olympics when they also met the Japanese and drew 2-2.

"Japan are among the favourites to go all the way," said the 30-year-old defender. "But we're pretty confident we'll be able to keep to our strategy and all the work we've done will pay off.

"We're a different team than three years ago. We've developed a lot but so has Japan. Going in we have a bit of confidence from three years ago."

The 24th-ranked Kiwis have failed to win a match in their previous World Cup appearances in 1991 and 2007, but coach John Herdman believes they have the measure of the Japanese.

"We're playing a team we know well," he said.

"If you look back to the 2008 Olympics opening game New Zealand caused a bit of an upset and we're hoping that will happen again tomorrow.

"Japan are one of the best teams in the world. New Zealand's job tomorrow will be to knock Japan out of their rhythm.

"Our style gives us a competitive edge. Some teams can't compete with Japan but we have shown we can. The last two games have been pretty close. We have some players emerge over the last few years that will surprise Japan.

"The defenders will win it for us so if they're on our game we'll be in a great position tomorrow."

Herdman added that the New Zealand women were hoping to emulate their men's success during the 2010 World Cup.

"They really set the tone for football in the country. It's called 'white fever'," he said. "New Zealand is known more for rugby but for a few weeks the round ball took over. Those boys were unbeaten for three games."

Los Angeles-born Smith, who plays professionally in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg, added that they weren't expecting the predicted temperatures of over 30 degrees to dampen their game.

"In China it was hot and humid as well. It won't be humid here at least. I don't think it will have a huge impact. We're pretty prepared for this."

New Zealand wrap up their group games against England on July 1 in Dresden and Mexico four days later in Sinsheim.