“It was a really tough decision,” said Erceg.
“I spoke to a lot of people about it … because that’s the dream, isn’t it?
“You want to play a World Cup at home and it would have been towards the end of my international career as well, so kind of a perfect send-off. But it just didn’t sit right with me personally and professionally.
“So I just had to put that first, rather than just doing something where my heart was never going to be in it. I didn’t think that was fair to the group or to myself to do something like that.”
Erceg sat on the decision for a “long, long time” to make sure she would be okay with it, but doesn’t feel it was a particularly brave call.
“It was brave in the sense that you have to go through with it, yes,” Erceg agreed.
“A lot of people would think, it’s a World Cup, you have to represent your country. But people also forget that I was in one of the best club environments in the world at North Carolina.
“We were so successful and it was very difficult to leave that environment, and go into an environment that I didn’t feel … was serving me as a player. I had to make that decision for my career, in that way.”
Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimkova
couldn’t convince Abby Erceg to play at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Photo / Photosport
It’s not hard to wonder how things might have been different with her experience and ability, as the Ferns failed to capitalise on the brilliant 1-0 win over Norway in their opening game, taking only a point from the last two matches against the Philippines (0-1) and Switzerland (0-0).
Erceg has always marched to a different beat, previously retiring in 2017 then again in 2018 – mainly over New Zealand Football’s perceived lack of support and resources for the women’s game – before returning ahead of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
While her commitment wavered at times, she is remembered as one of New Zealand’s most accomplished players, participating in three World Cups, three Olympics and the first Fern to reach a century of caps (146 in total), with 49 as captain.
Erceg has also had a decorated club career, with three National Women’s Soccer League Championships (2016 – Western New York Flash; 2018, 2019 – North Carolina Courage).
After 12 years in the United States, she recently completed a season with Toluca in Mexico, which she describes as one of the best experiences of her life.
“It was phenomenal,” Erceg said. “The culture, the food, the people, the football, the excitement around it. Such an incredible country.”
Football Ferns’ Abby Erceg in action against Colombia in 2016. Photo / Photosport
The 36-year-old doesn’t know her next step but hinted that she would like to be closer to home.
“There are offers from everywhere,” Erceg said.
“In New Zealand, the A League, back in Mexico and clubs in America. But you get to that point in your career where family does become important.
“I’ve missed a lot of my family’s life. I’ve missed a lot of my nephews’ lives. So you do have to start taking those things into consideration.”
Her immediate focus is the date with eight-time English champions Chelsea, a herculean task for a scratch team with only a few weeks training together.
“It’s going to be a challenge – and that’s a polite word,” Erceg said.
“It’s going to be a real education for a lot of people about where New Zealand football sits because we are playing one of the best female club teams in the world.
“We don’t have a lot of preparation so our work is going to be cut out for us. But at the same time, it’s good to have such a high calibre team in New Zealand and the exposure is great.”
Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist for the NZ Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.