New Zealand Men's U-17s

Singh on before half time... big call. attacking!

1/2 time Penalty for NZ turned down. 75% of ball for Brazil 0-0

Why can no one in this country take a bloody pen.

This time NZ get the pen call Nix player puts it into row z

You'd think they would know better than asking a Phoenix player to take one anyway.

It's an age thing. They can't handle the pressure at this age. Remember the u-20 wc here? Everyone was missing. Effing shame though.

NZ starting to play thou, come on Boys!!

We're playing for pens when we've missed 2 in this tournament already!

Pressure all on Brazil though now.

I wonder how they practice penalties. Its just hit and hope. You should wait till the goal keeper moves first. Easy from here thou

Wellington Phoenix School

Great to have a player from OneHunger for NZ

you make your own luck. Fantastic performance boys and staff, hold your heads up high.

Look at the replay is that McGarrys foot on the ball? Can't get go sky to go back on my phone

Jimmy McGarry going to be hoping the RWC final covers his bad day.

Tragic! McGarry misses a penalty and concedes one in the last minute.

never thought a kiwi men's team at any level would get a win over Brazil but it really should have happened today.

Stunning, hopefully some careers are made from this performance.

This was one of the best U17 teams yet. Sometimes football is so cruel - But thats the nature of the beast. Well done boys!!!!

Worked sox off. Defended like tigers. McGarry's going to make it for one. 

Take a bow the entire squad and coaching team..... to take Brazil to 95 minutes and not be blown off the park was fantastic. The commitment and character they showed against a superior team was outstanding!

After the France game I said give them time and judge them at the end. I think we can say they had a great campaign and did the jersey proud.

Straya.  SNARF!

Ive just brought up a little puke while reading the meaning of SNARF!

It was more the sound I made when I heard than any hidden meaning.

A good game from the players. Mixed it with Brazil.

A simple naritive would be that Paraguay gave us a break and we ran with it.

Some promise from players on show.

best nz football ive seen probably since the south africa world cup.

Singh is the player for a good future. Hopefully with the Nix if the club survives Gallop

Tournament rankings so far:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIFA_U-17_World_Cup#Final_ranking

NZ finish 15th

One place beneath hosts Chile on goal difference (one goal superior)

And ahead of the Awful Aussies on 16th (superior by three goals)

Rankings so far:

13. South Korea

14. Chile

15. New Zealand

16. Awful Aussies

17. Paraguay

18. England

19. Guinea

20. South Africa

21.USA

22. Syria

23. Honduras

24. Abysmal Argentina

Worst confederations:

South America / CONCACAF / Asia

South America: Three of their four finalists finished in the bottom twelve teams.

(so did Asia - but South Korea and the Aussies finished above Paraguay and the Argies)

Four more Round of 16 games tomorrow with Germany vs Croatia probably the pick.

Great effort. 

Do we count McGarry's penalty miss as another instance of the Nix penalty curse?

McGarry certainly had a memorable tournament.

Scored an own goal, scored a goal, missed a penalty and gave away a penalty.

Looking at that you'd probably think he a poorish tournament, but in reality he generally looked pretty sharp and i'd be happy to see him playing at LB for us in the future.

Think he's better up the field.

Europe not doing so well in the round of 16.

Some surprising results this morning:

Croatia beat Germany 2-0

Ecuador dumped Russia 4-1

Breaking news:

Costa Rica have just beaten France on penalties after a 0-0 !!!

France, who were looking so awesome!

I don't understand the world anymore...

Scores:

http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/index.html

I watched the game Pete and France looked poor compared to their game against us.

I agree. He has the time on the ball and confidence that so few kiwis have. With his left peg could slot in at wing back (which is where senior coaches often start younger players anyway). I was surprised they played him there for the u17's though. He did seem pretty quick so maybe it was a damage limitation exercise?

Hats off to the boys  - I was very critical after the French game so will happily eat some humble gateau. I still maintain we need to be picking quicker, more athletic players but acknowledge that the players were more technical than u17's before  them. 

Has any players been invited to trial somewhere?

Does ASB Youth count?

The days of this tournament and the U20s being a big scouting event for professional clubs are long past.