FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP

FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP

10 DAYS OUT FROM THE OPENING MATCH AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE THING ABOUT IT OVER HERE. IS IT EVEN BEING SHOWN?!?!?!?

Surely if Sky is taking the European U21 on ESPN then they should be screening the World Cup??? Does anyone know?

Good luck to the boys.

That is sooooo crap, the U-21 rugby world cup received huge coverage on TV3 and its pretty much a non-event on a world scale compared to the U-20 football world cup!!!

I hope someone gets broadcasting rights, because I want to be able to watch our team.

How they got there:

That game versus Fiji was a bit of fun!

http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=19716

Well no wonder the world cup isnt recieving any coverage when there are made up countries like Gambia and panama competing.

Countries like Portugal and Spain could say that about us (the New Zealand team), but we still want to watch it.loyalgunner2007-06-23 18:34:30

Ah, Heggs so much time so little trolling.

Pretty sure Panama are Concacaf Champions and pretty highly rated... as in rated above the Costa Rican side that beat us 3-0 overnight.

Agree totally. If we are competing in it why can't we at least watch the NZ team games? All teams competing are good sides regardless of where they are in the world.

I give up...U20's just lost 4 - 0 to the USA.

Its worrying 4-0 loss to states 3-0 costa rica.

I dont think its over till its over and LondonChris, you even mentioned (U17s) that it is good to have a bit of a pre tournament to understand the level that they should be at and too be honest we are only going to get that playing against some of the best. To put the U17s results it into context apart from the Japan game, the U17s did well against Nigeria (2-1) and the US (1-0), maybe we should have the bigger picture in view here. Take Stu Jacobs comments of the U20s, 2 years in the building and as long as we have programmes in place for the youngsters (both male and female), we will get better. While I am sure the U17s will hold there own in Korea, I would hope in two years time when some the 17s prepare for the next U20 tournament we will be that much better prepared and will be competitive....but until we play the best more reguarly, we will not improve our standards....and for now, there may be some pain before we gain.       chareimos2007-06-26 23:53:51

Sorry all, I was probably a bit negative before. It is just so frustrating.

u20's are poo.

The trouble with all these NZF development plans is they are cyclic. We get some ignoramis from the UK brought over by NZF and everyone looks up and says, all hail the new person! But as usual it always falls over. Joe McGrath came here feted as as the All Whites coach and saviour of the national team? For godsake, my mate Hard News could have done better. Timmy from South Park would have done better! Then we get this geezer Paul whatsisface come in and we suddenly get the IPDP programme...what happened to that? I think they changed the name and Paul Whasisface has retreated back to blighty, probably which a nice wad of kiwi cash as a payoff to boot. I don't know how many development programmes I have seen here in NZ but it seems every 3 years or so, its a complete and utter feckup, someone gets the arse and we try the next person. That person comes in the a folder under his arm, all great wonder plans....3 years on, it falls over and...oh, I'm sounding like a old record. What I would prefer our coaches to be, is be straight up front. Just say we aren't good enough. That is a lot easier to accept than rolling out this crock about being at stage 3 of a development plan or whatever trumped up line they have developed. One day we might find the right development programme that is going to work for us....one day

Oh, and it looks like Jonathan Gould is having a rebirth. On the bench for the U20's v USA!

Yep one day...and one day...and one day.....and maybe one day we wont have to pay to put our kids through the various programmes, development clinics, sessions etc etc etc....- basic fundamental is that there is no money in NZ Soccer!!!! So our kids get to a certain stage and then whammo, in order for lil Johnny to get to the next level, Mr and Mrs Johnny needs to fork out $$$..."oh well lets go and try rugby Johnny"....so lil Johnny might be reasonable enough at Footy but alas, can go no further unless the family has enough $$$....so it goes and we'll never know if Lil Johnny is good enough .....how do we fix this???? Honestly, I just dunno!!!! But unless, we get enough money into the game somehow, we will never produce a greater pool of quality players - for the meantime we should be at least greatful we have a development plan in place at some sort of level....thats my "fifty cent"

The only reason we even getting any of these development plans in the first place is because of FIFA's money.

Yes FIFA gave us some money to build a one million dollar all weather pitch at Albany. That's virtually the death knell to getting the national side playing anywhere outside of Auckland. With that kind of investment, the national teams will have to maximise use of the facility to get some value from it. Personally I think a one million dollar injection of funds into the NZFC would have better long term effects. That way every region can at least benefit from the money.

Perhaps the real issue that SPARC should be looking at is funding the sports that have a high participation level. Lets face it, the more people we have playing sport and getting some sort of exercise the healthy our nation should be. SPARC should reward those sports that do have a high participation level, instead of getting all stupid over sports like Rugby that are only played seriously in half a dozen countries. I certainly don't feel proud of winning a world cup rugby title when you only test yourself against a minute pool of talent. I've said it before but any team in the top 20 of footballing nations could, on their day win the Fifa World Cup. Can you say that about rugby?  We have Portugal 1st up in the rugger world cup. Should Portugal win I will buy a season ticket to watch the Waikato NPC side and the Chiefs. Its a complete waste of time, a total farce.

I'm going to the July 8 games in Edmonton (that's Canada/Congo and NZ/Mexico). I can give you guys a match report if you'd like, sholud you not be able to see the game on TV.

According to the Fifa.com, there will be free webcasts on their website of the under-20 World Cup, and possibly the U-17's after that. At this stage it looks like full match coverage is only in Europe, but if I understand correctly, there will be 2 minute highlight packages of every game available for the rest of us.

More than you'll get on TVNZ I'm sure.

Does anyone know how that 60 min practice game with the Toronoto team went?

It was canned. http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=19788
P.S. Careful of those bombs. Hope they weren`t trying to blow up the NZ embassy.
sanday2007-06-29 21:52:52

Chris James being out is a massive blow. Best Kiwi at the qualifying tournament earlier this year.

O Noes...

were screwed

Yeah these boys were on a hiding to nothin even with James, Portugal and Mexico should stick at least 5 past them, not sure about Gambia but they qualified from Africa so should win pretty comfortably. I just hope they don't completely embarrass themselves losing 10-0 or something.

I do have a 3 hour drive home after the match but I don't think you guys will notice as it'll be some ungodly hour in NZ at the time.

Heavy losses to the states and Costa rica, players sick, toronto match called off, Chris James going home. This is shaping into the tournament from Hell!!!!!!!!

Oh will someone keep some faith please.

Ah, hegg... you are Frankie Mac in training.

i dont think they'll be completely emabarassed and outclassed...shame about James though...