All Whites' Dead End Road To Russia 2018

Moses probably won't be playing for us in June as the u20 world cup is on at the same time as the confederations cup.

No Kosta is a joke. He was not playing all that good, but only we have higher standards on him. He is still better and more committed than some 17 old youngster. I remember him playing the Mexico game, he was the only danger looking guy upfront and created the pen (as far as I remember). I personally want this Hudson thing to be over as soon as possible.

Dane was part of the first u-20 Australian training camp of the year a month ago preparing for their first qualifiers in October for the 2019 u-20 world Cup (AFC u-19 championship qualifiers).

Australia just aren't qualifying for any FIFA age group finals any more - they missed out on this year's FIFA u-20 and u-17 Finals, plus last year's Olympics (u-23's). They also missed out on the 2015 u-20 World Cup.

Playing in the FIFA u-20 Finals in South Korea in May for NZ along with being part of the AW's senior squad must seem more attractive than a possible call up by Australia later in the year (no guarantee) for qualifiers for the next cycle of qualifying for the FIFA u-20 World Cup.

Australia didn't even come close to qualifying for May's u-20 World Cup - in a sixteen team AFC u-19 Finals in Bahrain, Australia failed to get out of their group (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan went through instead).

It does happen in other countries too, especially smaller countries, that a teenage player identified as a talented prospect will play for his country before establishing himself at club level. Norway's Martin Odegaard made his senior debut for Norway aged 15 in August 2014 and his first competitive match October 2014 still aged 15. He had only played three matches in Norway's top flight before May 2014 because his age meant that he could only be on an amateur contract at his club since he was still at school and only permitted to play three games per season - he had otherwise only played in youth leagues and the fifth tier for the reserves. He'd only signed a pro contract in May 2014 enabling him to play more games for his club, three months before his debut for the Norway senior team.

Odegaard transferred to Real Madrid in January 2015 but had to wait until November 2016 for his one appearance for the first team, continuing to win caps for Norway in 2015 and 2016 while only playing for Real's reserve team in a third tier regional league. Only in January this year was he sent on loan to Herenveen in the Eredivisie and started to play regular first team football.  

FIFA u-20 World Cup finishes June 11 if you make the Final.

Group stage finishes May 28.

Round of 16 completed by June 1 (best we can realistically hope for but even that will be tough)

Not likely to make the quarters....

FIFA Confeds Cup commences for NZ June 17 vs. hosts Russia.

Is there a rule against competing in two FIFA u-20 World Cups?

Tournament regulations for Korea 2017 don't mention it:

http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/c...

See: p. 20 "Eligibility of Players"

Remember that NZ Football aren't big on player eligibility regulations anyway...

You can only play in either the u17 comp or the u20 comp not both... so Max Mata for example would probably make both squads, but can only play in one tournament so had to choose.

Thus the u17's, bigger chance to stand out and make an impact.

Ah, yes, in one calendar year.

There is also a lower age limit for the u-20 World Cup now with no players younger than 16 years old by the end of the calendar year in which the tournament is played.

Moses and Clayton and Dane would all be able to from u20s to AWs without any pain, barring a semifinal run.

In the squad how many were actually born in NZ.

I think about seven were not born in NZ.

They will still miss the warm-up games right?

If I had the choice as a 17 year old I'd pick NZ right now. You get the age group competitions which he wouldn't in Australia, a longer international career because of a thinner squad, and when he's 26 NZ will pretty much be guaranteed to be in a world cup (heck, we may even qualify for Qatar before then.)

Australian football is in a bit of a crisis ATM, a lot of people are blaming the A-League.

KO stage starts May 30, so if they were to leave South Korea then, they'd make it to Ireland in time for June 2.

Would take a run for them to miss the entire prep camp.

Then you would have to put up with the incompetent  NZ football and a coach that is hardly inspiring.

As for Aussie football being in crisis--- what a load of twaddle.

Why is Hudson picking amateurs when we have plenty of professional players who could play in place of Clayton and Dyer?  Are they really that good?  If I was Kosta I'd be absolutely gutted.  

Well, they aren't performing at age group, the A-League teams have been humiliated in Asia this season, and they don't have many players in top competitions. 

Relative to our standards they're doing well, but not compared to where they want to be.

I wonder if Hudson actually did pick our strongest team how much better than us Australia really is, they certainly don't have players of the calibre of Reid, Wood, and Rojas.

Kosta hatty for the  'Nix!

almost - 8 were born outside NZ - Durante & the Ingham brothers (Australia), Colvey (USA), Tzimopoulous (Greece), Wynne (South Africa), Tommy Smith (England), Smeltz (Germany)

We're a nation of immigrants, at least Durante and Wynn have strong connections to the country.

How did Lewis and Dyer get in this team?

Does anyone honestly think there anywhere near Boyds or Kosta level?

Horrible selection

Feel bad for Roux as well

Durante has the least strongest connection of anyone (I put parents' birthplace above 'playing for a pro team in the country for 5 years)

IMO Lewis deserves it, he is picking up his form and has been scoring and assiting alot recently.

He has one of the strongest connections. He has chosen to make this country his home, his daughters were born here, and he seems to want to continue to live here after he retires.

Someone's parents being born here but have otherwise never spent any meaningful time here is no connection in my book. 

My mum was born in the UK, she's never lived there. I'm eligible for UK citizenship and I've spent some time over there but not too much. No way do I feel any connection to that country. 

On the other hand, I was brought up in the Coromandel, spent some time in Auckland, and have been in Wellington off and on for about a third of my life. I have more of a connection to Wellington than the Coromandel despite living in the later more than here simply because this is where I've chosen to make my home.

I'd put only those who actually grew up in NZ having stronger connections than Durante, Durante certainly has a stronger connection than the Ingham brothers, Themi, Smith, etc. Probably more than Reid as well, seeing as Reid has spent the vast majority of his life overseas, including all of his tertiary and footballing education.

That is the stupidest thing I've heard so far today.

 A name that he didn't even choose gives him more connection to a country than someone choosing to live there?

Durante only became a Kiwi so he could play international football as he never quite made it onto the pitch for the Aussies.

I don't see how that matters, that was before he was eligible for NZ. You don't know what he would say if he was given a choice today between the two teams.

What I'm saying is he has lived here more than a lot of the players, has given his most productive years to football in this country, and most importantly living here is his choice. That gives him a strong connection.

Where you were born (but left as a child), or where your parents were born is a very weak connection.

Nonsense. 

Plus its not up to you to define how strongly someone feels about their country

It's not up to you to dismiss rational arguments as nonsense. :P

You have a person who chose to live here, has raised a family here, and has said that he would like to stay here when he retires. Then you have players who have left at a young age or have never lived here, and have expressed no interest of returning in their post footballing career.

The original question was how many players were born in NZ, and it's spiraled a bit, but can you see Tommy Smith choosing to live in NZ after he retires from football? There is what you say you feel and what your actions prove.

Well I did, as I don't believe your argument is rational :P

Well, I don't believe these players feel a connection to the country.

Had a conversation with them have you ?

They have never done anything to prove that they see this country as their home. Actions speak louder than words.

Anyone that leaves without the intention to come back has a stronger connection to the place that they've moved to than the place that they've left.  That is just fact.

Someone that moves here and builds their life here has a much stronger connection because it is their choice.

They may say that NZ is their home, but they are lying to themselves and to others. 

You can only take actions and not what people say into consideration.

When he was on the Phoenix City pod a few weeks back he indicated that he would probably end up back in Australia after his time with the Phoenix ends

I'll have to re-listen, I've seen an interview where he said he wants to continue living here and working with the club. But, even then, he's lived here for almost ten years and spent the best years of his career here, that is a much bigger connection than someone who happens to be related to someone from here.

 I actually personally don't give a shark about these "who is more connected to NZ" pissing contests anyway. If you're eligible and you wear the shirt with pride and passion then you're connected enough for me.