Why he choose us over Aussie... and if he has played a youth game for Aussie before, he he now cup tied to us?
From MM's pre game comments on the previous page it's the winger Cartwright (at Melb City) who's previously played Aussie age group, so is now maybe cap tied to NZ.
Banza (WSW) could presumably still change back to Australia? You just cross your fingers and hope he doesn't.
And yeah at last year's (U17) OFC qualifiers NZ only beat Vanuatu 1-0 in the quarter final. However that tourney was played in steamy January in Fiji, so maybe a leveller. We did beat then 8-0 back in 2018 in that OFC (U16) tourney. The last one pre Covid??
But yeah who knows this year's crop could well be a talented lot.
Annual U17 WCs will definitely be good for NZ, helping the talent ID process for both the Weenix and future Auckland FC academies. And that's no bad thing for the best use of NZ football's pathways.
Why he choose us over Aussie... and if he has played a youth game for Aussie before, he he now cup tied to us?
Cup tied to us for the cycle. As of now, he wouldn't be able to go and play for Australian U16/17 team in their qualifiers/if they make the U17 World Cup.
Carlin or Mrsmiis should be able to confirm that. I'm just going off memory here.
Why he choose us over Aussie... and if he has played a youth game for Aussie before, he he now cup tied to us?
From MM's pre game comments on the previous page it's the winger Cartwright (at Melb City) who's previously played Aussie age group, so is now maybe cap tied to NZ.
Banza (WSW) could presumably still change back to Australia? You just cross your fingers and hope he doesn't.
And yeah at last year's (U17) OFC qualifiers NZ only beat Vanuatu 1-0 in the quarter final. However that tourney was played in steamy January in Fiji, so maybe a leveller. We did beat then 8-0 back in 2018 in that OFC (U16) tourney. The last one pre Covid??
But yeah who knows this year's crop could well be a talented lot.
Annual U17 WCs will definitely be good for NZ, helping the talent ID process for both the Weenix and future Auckland FC academies. And that's no bad thing for the best use of NZ football's pathways.
A full-time U-16/U-17 programme (WC Qualification and then the U-17 World Cup proper) interspersed with training camps and potential friendlies against opponents outside of the OFC for preparation would be a dream for us at that level. Especially so given the dearth of matches we play at that level outside of qualifiers and world cups.
No disrespect to the work local clubs are doing, but I also think the sooner these young guys get into professional Academy setups, training every day the better as well. From memory the Weenix signed 4 of last year's U17 WC squad basically straight after their WC.
Matt Foord (Cashmere Technical), Dylan Gardiner (Hamilton Wanderers), Nicholas Murphy (Christchurch United) and Nathan Walker (Fencibles).
A 2nd ALM academy setup in Auckland will see more of that movement, post or pre a 2017 WC.
The longer a young kid is at the Nix or AFC, the larger the solidarity payments down the track, when the better ones are sold overseas. Again the competition between NZ's two ALM clubs to sign the best young talent is going to heat up.
Wasn't able to watch the game this morning. Was GK Murfitt tested at all? Probably one of a very small few of that team to be playing National League regularly, turned out a few times for Selwyn Utd in the Southern League and by all reports has been good despite a 4-4 draw with Nelson Suburbs and an 8-0 loss to Cashmere Tech.
You have to wonder about the format of this competition when there is now going to be an U17 World Cup every year. These games are going to get pretty tiring for NZF.
Could be the perfect opportunity for OFC to amend the format, potentially with a promotion/relegation format.
Suppose the problem is you can't make it too small with 3 nations heading to the U17 World Cup
— Oceania Football Confederation (@OFCfootball) July 31, 2024
Early goal conceded from a turnover, but aside from that, we've kept playing as we did in the first game against Vanuatu. Could be another big score run up in the second half in Tahiti...
Also, I've seen enough of Luke Brooke-Smith for him to warrant at least a scholarship deal at the Nix. Fantastic young player.
We top the group with a perfect record and will face the runners-up team from Group B in the OFC U-16 Championship semifinals on August 8 (Thursday) at 1:00pm NZT.
Interesting conclusion to our group going on. Any of the other three teams could advance depending on the Fiji-Vanuatu result; Vanuatus' 1-0 lead currently has Cook Islands in 2nd position!
New Caledonia needing the tall order of beating the Solomons by 3 clear goals, to have a shot of the semis, win 6-2! With their first win NC go to 3 pts, +1 GD. Solomons are out.
They now await the result of the Samoa (3 pts, 0+ GD) verus Tahiti (6 pts) game.
A Tahiti win by any margin and NZ play NC in their semi. Samoa draw, NZ play Samoa. Samoa win, and NZ could play either them or Tahiti depending on the margin of Samoa's win.
New Caledonia needing the tall order of beating the Solomons by 3 clear goals, to have a shot of the semis, win 6-2! With their first win NC go to 3 pts, +1 GD. Solomons are out.
They now await the result of the Samoa (3 pts, 0+ GD) verus Tahiti (6 pts) game.
A Tahiti win by any margin and NZ play NC in their semi. Samoa draw, NZ play Samoa. Samoa win, and NZ could play either them or Tahiti depending on the margin of Samoa's win.
Yesterday Fiji beat Vanuatu 3-2, to book 2nd and a semi spot for the Fijians.
1-1 at H/T.
New Caledonia will be watching on nervously, but it would be a fantastic result for Samoa if they can get through. They made the rather generous QF draw back in 2023 (8 of 9 teams qualified for that one 😂).
This would be a far greater achievement, and would put them one result away from playing in a world cup!
NC began the day winless, and with a -3 GD. By the end of the week they could be off to the WC. Tough on Samoa.
Wonder if NC will roll out a reserve team against NZ in the semi, save energy of the first teamers for the 3rd/4th playoff. With 3 teams going to an U17 WC from OFC, that 3rd/4th game now has great importance.
NC began the day winless, and with a -3 GD. By the end of the week they could be off to the WC. Tough on Samoa.
Wonder if NC will roll out a reserve team against NZ in the semi, save energy of the first teamers for the 3rd/4th playoff. With 3 teams going to an U17 WC from OFC, that 3rd/4th game now has great importance.
Tahiti as hosts & with 3 Group B wins you'd favour to beat Fiji in the other semi, but remember reading somewhere, there is now pattern of teams finishing Group runnerups to NZ in OFC tourneys, then going on to win their semi against the other Group winners. Like after playing NZ they are better for that tough game experience or something.
Remember the name Tiahiti Colombani. The Tahiti U-16 Men’s captain has lit up the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Papeete with some brilliant individual performances.
Technically gifted Colombani, whose grandfather Roland is a former Tahiti international, is one of the brightest young talents in Oceania. And he’s has just signed a contract with French Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre after spending last season at Ligue 2 side ASM Belfort.
Hopefully when Auckland FC get their Academy up and going, they can fund an annual scholarship for a promising kid(s) from the Cooks, Fiji, Samoa and/or Tonga.
There is an Academy now in the Solomons which I think does take kids from all around the OFC region. But those 4 countries above already have close relationships with NZ & large expat comminities in Auckland.
OFC commentator Satish Narain shares his thoughts on 🇫🇷🇳🇨 v 🇳🇿 and 🇵🇫 v🇫🇯 in today's semi-finals.#U16M Watch LIVE and FREE on FIFA+ pic.twitter.com/FhNxnEaVP2
— Oceania Football Confederation (@OFCfootball) August 7, 2024
OFC commentator Satish Narain shares his thoughts on 🇫🇷🇳🇨 v 🇳🇿 and 🇵🇫 v🇫🇯 in today's semi-finals.#U16M Watch LIVE and FREE on FIFA+ pic.twitter.com/FhNxnEaVP2
— Oceania Football Confederation (@OFCfootball) August 7, 2024
New Caledonia made five subs at half time, commentator seemed to think they had accepted defeat and were resting those guys for the third place playoff.
I think we are starting to do the same as well with a few subs ahead of the final.
Now it's 5-0 after a penalty kick, the rest of this will be a procession and probably end six or seven nil
Fiji beat hosts Taihiti 2-1. Continues trend in OFC tourneys of the 2nd team in NZ's then winning their semi final.
Fijian boys obviously ecsatic to know they are off to the WC. NZ v Fiji final. NZ won the pool game 7-1 Agruably bigger game is Taihiti verus New Caledonia. Winner a WC berth. Loser nada.
Kiwi boys for this tourney after 4 games GF 28 GA 1
Absolute smash n grab win for Fiji. Scored early, let Tahiti dominate the whole game, scored on the counter and held on even after conceding one. The Tahiti defence could not handle the pace of their striker Rasorewa - I didn't see the game we played against Fiji but was he such a danger against us?
And yes... the runner up from NZs group wins again...
But NZF have the "Whole of Football Plan" in full force! hahaha comical stuff...its absolute bollix. One poor decision by the wrong person making a decision can have serious long term repercussions. Welcome to NZF. Never blame the players blame the clown upstairs.
Wynton Rufer does a great job - he is very selective with who he works with and he upskills the boys and theres no doubt he produces technically better players, but they have a bit of ability before he gets them. He would be great but he will never work with nzf.
Ole Academy seen by some as Cult attitude not the best. Not sure what its like now. A couple of players have come out of there. But players come out of other places too.
Agree talent has to be identified earlier in this country. That also takes the right people identifying the talent....problem is anyone with half a football brain in this country won't go near NZF or the game here.
The issues run too deep. But we must remember we are only a few small detached islands in the middle of the pacific....Never gonna be world beaters in the world of football. But we can try to improve with the right education with the right educators.
As for the last U17 keeping their job? These guys at NZF all ring fence their positions. No ones going no where. No ones to blame. No Accountability.
Totally agree NZF needs a total clear out from top to bottom.