New Zealand Men's U-17s

These guys will form the base for the NZ under 20 side when we host it in NZ. Sure hope that there is a load of work put into the players before then plus we need to uncover some better players in some positions.. We had a good overall tournament.....a big win against Ubek's and a draw against the USA are great results. Trouble is we need to learn to play the top sides better.....0-6 results show we are tactically niave.....Still getting to the second round and banging in 4 goals in one game shows good  progress. Well done lads...you will better for the experiance.

Sadly the idea that tactics was the reason for our loss is one of the biggest problems we have in footy in nz. It doesn't matter what tactics are employed, if players aren't technically capable at the highest levels to control the ball, pass accurately and defend correctly individually then a tactical plan can't be implemented.
We lose sight of the real issue when we worry too much about tactics. Tactics is where things are the most interesting and so naturally most want to discuss and think about that area but our biggest problem is the issue of being able to control the ball under pressure and at pace. We need to be able to walk before we try running.

I can't see a way back from here for Ricki, he's simply gotta go.

Just caught the 'highlights'. Not sure who number 7 is (LB?) but he was made to look like a bit of a muppet.

Edit: I think it must have been Colvey, judging by comments above. Arsenal2011-07-01 02:26:14

Amazing.

Germany are 4-0 up against the Yanks at the moment. Getting them wouldn't of been any easier.

lol

I wonder who will win on penalties.

ENGERLAND1!!!1

Was just thinking this. Given that the US were generally better than we were, it could have been 6-0 against either opponent.

Haha England will now play Germany for a place in the semi final!!!!

I thought Tuiloma looked good, hopefully improves his defensive positioning but I think he has enough about him to make a career out of it. At the very least, our Glen Johnson

Well, he does have some good things going for him, but if he's going to try to make it as a a right back, he's got a long way to go.

Shock, horror - someone else other than Souleymane Coulibaly has scored for Ivory Coast (Souleymane got one too, leading France 2-1 heading into half-time)!

Worthington in the Dom reckons that Japan are ranked fourth in the world, which is nonsense. Superb fact-checking from the Dom Post as usual

Think their women are 4th in the WC.  Probably getting confused.  No excuse.

There's always a hater.

Very much so...

yep....

i spoke to soon it would seem.
ill admit i was wrong
i think our style would have suited germany more...
but going on todays performance i think we still would have got killed

Colvey boy is a midfielder/right foot, so why was there 2 left footed athletes on the bench and stayed there whole game? And why put him in a defence mode on his weak foot? After 3 goals nobody moved let alone the 4th, I moved- went back to work!

Unfortunately no these guys wont be in NZU20 at home- 1year older but make the next U20 in Turkey 2years time.The OnehungaSports U15 off to ManUnited for NikeCup next month is eligible, tho Tuilomo and Tahau from U17 are eligible because played up age group.   

Anyone who put a negative comment needs to pull their pathetic heads in, these boys had very little preparation, dont judge them, judge NZ football and their crap pathway and support for potential players, the team was named 1 month out from the tournament - dah, Steve Cain let himself get blackmailed (good one mate), by a self obsessed mother and the team had to bond with another coach, new players were introduced to the team at the last minute. Also there are some players in the team with great potential but they were born in the wrong country NZ, dont judge these kids unless you know them, you sit on your asses and assess players but have no idea what they are actually like, these kids tried their best to represent NZ with limited resources, do you think they wanted to get beaten 6 nil by Japan of course they didn't, but our country does not throw millions of dollars into development of football and upskilling our coaches, we think if a coach has their international coaching certificate they must be great, well that is crap, some of the boys in this U17 team had no chance to show their real capabilities because of the crap organisation within NZ football, and believe me it wont get any better with the next lot either. The Onehunga Sports u15 Nike team will look awsome now but they will  be split up and the same will happen to some of them when the next U17 tournament rolls around. 4 of the kids in this U17 team were coached under the Onehunga sports Nike Cup coach and their team played fantastic one touch football but sadly the team split up and players were back in the NZ football mix of things, kids with great potential will be selected into international teams and no matter how hard they try will not be able to show what they are really capable of because of the team selection and the preperation, so lay off and dont comment on players unless you really know them.
otto2011-07-05 23:10:45

Accurate comments Otto. Unfortunately the under 20's are in the same situation. The team still has not been named, will get together a week or so before the tournament and expected to go over and go through to the next round. NZ does not have the money.

Just watched epic semi Mexico v Germany.
Mexico have a new young super hero in Gomez who scored his second,the clincher on 90 mins.
Mexico 3 - 2 Germany
Once again, Head bandage ftw!!

Did you see how much blood was on the towel after his head clash!? He definitely should not have even been standing up, let along playing football. Lol

What a legend!

Fantastic game between two excellent teams.What about that German player,at full time,on the ground sobbing...and sobbing...and sobbing for literally ages?He lay there crying for so long everyone had cleared off and the ground staff were on the pitch,yet he still lay there...sobbing...Emotion is fine,but that was both pathetic and laughable.

Final - One nil to Mexico at half time with 105000 fans attending!

Mexico 2-0 up with 4 mins extra time played.

2-0 final score. Hosts lift the trophy in front of 105k mad spectators.

 

Does anyone have a rough idea of the steps building up to the next U17 World Cup for NZ?  For example, when qualifying will start and when they'll pick the squad for those qualifiers?

The Squad will be picked at the last moment (As usual)