Coach Ralf Peter and his Germany U-17 women’s team, who beat Canada 3-1 on Saturday to book a place in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, will shortly receive some VIP support in the shape of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 OC President Steffi Jones.

The 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner flew to New Zealand on Monday in good time for the Germans’ semi-final meeting with the USA in Christchurch on Thursday (7 am CET, live on fifa.com).

“The Germany U-17 team have been fantastic so far. Our players are proving that the youth development programmes in German women’s football are in great shape,” Steffi Jones commented.

“Our juniors have what it takes to progress, even against a very strong USA team,” continued the OC President, who will remain with the U-17 in New Zealand until their final match at the tournament.

Jones is due back in Germany on 17 November. Her next overseas appointment is a trip to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, to be hosted by Chile from 19 November until 7 December. “We boast another very strong squad at the U-20 level. If everything goes well, I’ll be supporting Maren Meinert and her team from the semi-final stage in Chile,” Jones reported.