Tottenham Women star Ria Percival makes New Zealand return ahead of World Cup
Despite featuring for just 56 WSL minutes last season, Ria Percival will represent her nation at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
While representing New Zealand during a match with Australia in April 2022, Percival suffered one of the worst footballing injuries imaginable as she damaged her anterior cruciate ligament.
It left her place at this year’s World Cup worryingly in the balance with no guarantee the 32-year-old would be back to her best. However, the official Tottenham Women’s Twitter page (30 June) has confirmed the brilliant news that Percival has been selected for the upcoming World Cup.
The defender has been involved in four World Cups – including the most recent one in 2019 – and four Olympic games and in March 2020 became the first female footballer to reach 150 appearances for the Kiwis, making her the country’s record appearance holder.
A veteran of the game, when Percival arrived at Tottenham from West Ham in July 2019 she had won 143 caps for New Zealand and done some incredible things at the domestic level of the game as well, most notably starting the 2019 FA Women’s Cup Final.
Upon arrival in North London, Percival made 18 appearances during her debut campaign before making 19 appearances in all competitions during the 2019/20 season, scoring on two occasions in the Continental League Cup.
Her consistency within the side would continue throughout 2021/22 as she featured 21 times up until her devastating ACL injury.
Born in Basildon, Percival’s footballing exploits began at Lynn-Avon United in New Zealand before she travelled around the world, appearing for different clubs across the globe and eventually settling in England.
Now, with the World Cup set to take place in her home country this year, it is wonderful that the full-back will get to represent New Zealand, in New Zealand, at arguably the biggest Women’s World Cup to date.
As a true pioneer of the women’s game, it is the least she deserves.
In other Tottenham news, Beth England has reflected on her time at Spurs ahead of the World Cup.