New Zealand Men's U-17s

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133248184/from-fourths-to-firsts-nz-u17-forward-gabriel-sloanerodrigues-rapid-phoenix-rise

If he makes his A-League Men debut at any stage before December 2024, he will be the youngest player in club history to do so, and having had a taste of what it’s like to be with the first team, that is something he is determined to strive for.

New Caledonia had a good go at taking our record loss (0-13 vs Spain 1997) off us with a 0-10 lesson from England

Meanwhile Brazil dropped a 2-0 half time lead over Iran to lose 3-2

4-0 at HT.
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-caledonia-begin-their-2023-fifa-u-17-world-cup-campaign-with-defeat-to-england/

New Caledonia were unable to contain an impressive England side in Jakarta, losing 10-0 in their opening Group C fixture at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup on Sunday.

The 2017 U-17 World Champions dominated proceedings for most of the ninety minutes. A task made easier following the sending-off of New Caledonia’s Nolhann Alebate in the opening seconds of the second-half.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzhnxJKSKly/
🥇 The winning team at our final training session before our first FIFA U-17 World Cup match vs Venezuela 🇳🇿🇻🇪

▶️ Watch live and free in NZ from 10pm on FIFA+
https://t.co/FECzypatXC

#U17WC

2023y11m12d_101213581 (2).jpg 73.04 KB

ClubOranje

New Caledonia had a good go at taking our record loss (0-13 vs Spain 1997) off us with a 0-10 lesson from England

Meanwhile Brazil dropped a 2-0 half time lead over Iran to lose 3-2

Not good signs because we had close games against that side

Probably the best 10-0 loss you'll see, they were excellently coached and very brave going forward. Some decent passages of play, better than anything a non-NZ OFC nation has showed in an age-group tournament in a while.

Red card to their captain and star player absolutely ruined them

Really promising start

Yeah, fantastic start. Well on top 15 mins in, Venezuela still posing potent attacking threat though 

I'm quite looking forward to seeing Luke Supyk get his chance for the Nix after this World Cup. He has looked impressive so far tonight.

Supyk is a gun

That interplay from the Venezuelan attack was insanely good. They should be a goal up but for our keeper. A senior team would be happy with play like that.

Feel like Venezuela have stepped up a gear here.

Hopefully the lads weather the storm.

At least we've looked far, far improved from that pre World Cup tournament in Japan. 

Shambles.

That however was very poor...

Jesus christ

Going okay until the horror goal. Foord didn't need to come out that far, and then a terrible short pass to his defender.

Ref's letting some heavy challenges go in.

Overall we are playing fairly well I think but these corners are consistently trash.

Yes lots of corners but the delivery from  D'Hotman de Villiers  constantly over hit. Team looked to be tiring last 10 mins. Obviously sapping conditions.

Man the Venzuelans are creeping up the sidelines on their thrown ins. Ref letting alot go.

Have to laugh at this, but this is the quality in the teams in our group.

David Martínez - Full international for Venezuela at 17, playing in the Libertadores this season for Monagas SC. He managed an assist against Colo Colo while Marco Rojas was sitting on the bench towards the back end of his time in Chile.

Juan Arango of Girona FC (U19) is the son of Juan Fernando Arango Sáenz - All time record appearance holder for Venezuela & second all time on their goal scorers list.
 
Levels.

Don't even get me started on the Germans. 🙃

In a big boost to our chances, Martinez is off at HT.

Outside of the error leading to the goal, Foord's been class, continuing his form from the OFC qualifiers. He's extremely vocal which I love, keeping the defense accountable. We're pretty notorious at letting our heads drop after conceding

Here comes GSR. Hat-trick incoming

Agh, so sloppy. Watson’s been poor up front

Dropped off in performance this half a lot, Venezuela look fitter, better with possession and more creative. 2-0 would kill the game tbh. 

2023y11m12d_204205180.jpg 182.74 KB

2023y11m12d_204213639.jpg 152.21 KB

Sticky.

Results for Soreang, Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia

23 °C°F
Precipitation: 94%
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 3 km/h

That was coming sadly. Venezuela deserve to win today

Another poor goal keeping clearance secures the loss.

Playing out from the back does my head in no end sometimes - No pressure from them and they've been sitting deeper and deeper as the half has gone on, seemingly happy with what they have.

Get it up field lads! - This obsession with posession + pass it around the back stuff is seriously hopeless stuff - Have a go! 

That last bit was better, and what I want to see. Nice play from Sloan-Rodrigues - Have a dig lads! Its been slim pickings on creating chances so far...

17-year-old David Martinez, with a solid performance and goal for Venezuela. Rumoured to be joining Ajax once he turns 18 in February pic.twitter.com/TKf1a9xUeu

— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) November 12, 2023

An expected result - we are possibly in the toughest group.

Not happy with how the team was set up to play - 5 at the back with 3 holding mids and 2 strikers up top, totally isolated. We played with no middle, meaning everytime we got the ball we had no where to go after the first pass except across the line before trying to go long.

I don't blame the keeper for the first goal, rather the defender, the ball was on his right side, the oppo player on his left a few meters away, simply open your body and turn into the space.

Our #7 made a couple nice runs, but overall this looks to be our most limited side technically for a long time.

Concerns...

Firstly I'll address the elephant in the room...ex mac city now Burnley U17 captain Leuluai was terrible. Honestly was the worst worst player on the park miles off it. If thats what gets you 3 years at burnley then we should all get our boots back on. He looked slow, lethargic, pushed off the ball and very non creative. Maybe just had a shocker but interested to see if he bounces back. 

Every keeper at international level is a good shot stopper but not every goal keeper is a good decision maker or distributor...unfortunately Foord is one of those..he reminds me of Michael Woud. and thats scary. Foord learning his trade i guess but really needs to sort out the rough edges.

Issako? gassed after 20 mins.

Have we practised set pieces in the past year? It's the worst if seen from a nz side at any world cup.

The coach - his interview on NZF didnt give me much confidence before kick off it came across as lets just have some fun and care factor seemed low. When the cameras were on him it looked like he didnt want to be there...maybe thats just his persona but gees when you need a spark im not sure its coming from the coaching staff.

Positives....

Dylan Gardiner - was everywhere at the back cleaning up a lot of mess created by others around him. He was dominate in the air and strong in the tackle. Comes across as a strong leader with his talking and organising..dare i say it a young Danny Hay. 

Thought our subs looked good when they entered with 30 to go. They came on when others around them were out on their feet but they caused the oppositions some problems. Sloane-Rodrigues looks classy, nice touches and direct minded, he was causing some problems for them, he probably needs to start. The #9 Ukich looks like if given more time he could hurt teams, he won 3 attacking free kicks with speed and quick feet and had a good shout for a penalty turned down late in the game, i'd probably look to start him next game considering the others didn't do too much. And the midfielder Mitchell a little light weight but tidy on the ball.

I thought the approach was ok despite it letting us down at times - we were trying to play football but in the heat and humidity it can be tough after defending for longish periods. It was good to see us chase the game at the end and have a crack although it opened us up a little in the late stages but ill put that down to tired legs.

Venezuela's top3 players just too good really. 

My thoughts anyway...

Late KO against Germany tomorrow night (1am Thurs NZT).
Could be an ugly scoreline. Germans beat Mexico 3-1 in their first game. 

Though Brazil verus New Caledonia today will likely be uglier.