New Zealand Men's U-17s

Anyone heard anything about the NZ warm up matches v Mexico and South Africa? Australia drew 1-1 with Costa Rica yesterday. Australia's pool is daunting: Germany, Argentina, Mexico.

Just lost 1-0 to South Africa, who had drawn with Chile and lost 3-0 to Brazil.

interesting player data on the FIFA website- Syria who we play in game 2 have 17 of the 21 born in January 98, many on January 1 ...quite strange one would think!

Wonder how Liam Jordan feels playing for SA v NZ? The Syria squad just has player eligibility claims all over it, doesn't it?

Quite unbelievable Liam is not in Chile. He was in their squad up until a few weeks ago, but cannot understand why he is missing

One of the best 50 young talents in world football

Must be injured or signed somewhere?

He played for Bidvest Wits under 23 against Kris Bright's senior side a week or so back in training, so cant be an injury. In SA its often political around race sadly.

Non selection is stunning really. He's been part of the squad in the build up; in great form for Vits. Are there any white players in the 21 man squad? What a question to have to ask?!

No white faces in the team photo ....

makes you wonder why he wasn't involved with the last NZ u17 squad after attending all camps and he was always showing potential.  

I don't know if he ever became a citizen  though ?

Laughably, the SA manager has decided Liam Jordan doesn't suit the style of football he wants to play and so has dropped him from the squad for Chile.

Liam is only on the 35 player long list sent to FIFA, not in the final squad.

Named in the "Top 50 Young Players in the World" recently - but not judged good enough by SA for their u-17 squad.

Poor management and coaching seems to be holding SA football back from developing.

It's good news for NZ though because now you'd think he'll say "Stuff them. I'm opting to play for NZ sides from now on".

Could we see Liam in our next u-20's nd u-23's?

SA newspaper interview with their u-17 manager where he's specifically asked about Liam not being in the squad going to Chile:

(Hover your mouse over the right-hand edge of your screen and click the arrow that appears to move to the relevant page)

http://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-citizen-gauteng/20150825/282845074764494/TextView

he would make most teams in the world, just crazy

Let's hope he sees the light like his dad did and return "home" to NZ

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-afghanista...

He's not eligible, so would need an exemption to play for NZ as he doesn't meet art. 7 (he's played competitive matches for SA u17s at the 2015 CAF Championships so it might be more difficult to get an exemption), but before he left to SA he said he feels like more of a kiwi than a South African...

EDIT: FIFA allowed Tommy Smith to switch to NZ and he was in the same situation so it's highly possible they'd also allow Liam to switch too.

This whole DoB is quite funny.  While working for the NHS, statistically most people born in the Middle East, Pakistan and Bangladesh were born on 1st January and the most common surname was a variation on Mohammed.

Was actually quite hard to prove or disprove whether these people were officially entitled to free healthcare and were in the UK legally.

Any one got links to a twitter feed or anything so we can hear more about how they are going?

As usual nothing on the NZF site.

Been nothing out there.

Sky Sports regularly showing promo clip.

just promoed the opening game.

Will have out hands full against France in the Midfield, interesting article as we meet the European Champions in game 1

http://outsideoftheboot.com/2015/10/18/talent-radar-10-players-to-watch-at-the-2015-fifa-u17-world-cup/

South Korea beat Brazil 1-0, I hope our U17s can do something like that.

What time is our first game... is it tomorrow at 8am?

Joeys crushed by Germany 4-1 (3-0 HT) and South Koreans beat Brazil. Other results and fixtures below. 

All the details on fifa website

Cripes!

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/10/16/fifa-u-17...

"France:

 France went 5-0-1 and survived a semifinal shootout to claim their second European U-17 crown in Bulgaria in May, and their roster is littered with big-time talents. Paris Saint-Germain forward Odsonne Edouard scored eight goals to lead the tournament, including a hat trick in the final against Germany. Edouard, captain Timothé Cognat (Olympique Lyon) and Red Bull Salzburg defender Dayot Upamecano were joined on the team of the tournament by forwardsJeff Reine-Adélaïde (who made a strong preseason impression for Arsenal after transferring from Lens) and Nanitamo Ikone (PSG). Winger Bilal Boutobba, the youngest player in the history of Olympique Marseille, is another to watch after posting five assists in six games."

• France GK Luca Zidane (Real Madrid)
  The son of French legend Zinédine Zidane, who still plays for one of his father’s former clubs, Luca is a goalkeeper with a flair for the dramatic. Most notably, Zidane fils made three saves in a semifinal penalty shootout win over Belgium en route to the 2015 European U-17 title.

Unlikely unless we have a player who reallly is the "Kiwi Messi" (unlike "Kiwi Messi" version 1 who never was).

There's one of the stars of this World Cup already: South Korea's "Korean Messi" Lee Seung-woo really does seem to be the goods.

http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/y=2015/m=10/n...

http://www.espnfc.com.au/blog/football-asia/153/po...

Lee Seung-woo has been a Barcelona player since age 13 and bossed the game against Brazil who "for once could not lay claim to having the most talented player on the pitch in their ranks."

Won the Golden Ball at the 2014 Asian U-16 Championship after producing five goals and four assists.

In his first season with Barcelona's Infantil A squad, he scored 39 goals in 29 games, surpassing Messi's record at the same stage.

Lee was one of the youth players that FIFA placed sanctions on Barcelona for signing too young (a club may not import foreign players younger than 18 unless their parents / guardian live in the country). He's being groomed for the first team but can't play any competitive matches for Barcelona till he turns 18 in January 2016. 

Also restricted to friendlies and training games is Korea u-17's second Barcelona player, central midfielder Paik Seung-ho.

Finally, an update from NZF. We were pumped 5-1 by Mexico before the 1-0 loss to South Africa. Hay notes that our first up opponents France beat Germany 4-1 in the UEFA qualifying final. Germany beat the Aussies 4-1 this morning. 

Hay plans to be aggressive

I finally found a match report on NZ v Mexico friendly 10 October (NZT) on the Mexican federation website.

Unfortunately, it was a 5-1 thrashing. However, Mexico is obviously one of the best teams in the tournament - Mexico beat Argentina 2-0 this morning in their opening game. Lots of good photos accompanying the match report too:

http://www.femexfut.org.mx/portalv2/aspx/WEB_Detal...

New Zealand: 12. Woud, Bell 2., 3. Rogerson, 4. Williams, 6. Probert, Owen 8., 9. James, 13. Sarpreet, 15. Imrie, 16. - 20. Jack and Ben. DT Rob Picustav.

Mexico: 1. Joel Garcia 2. Diego Cortés, 3. Joaquin Esquivel, Francisco Venegas 4., 5. Ulises Torres, 8. Pablo Lopez, 9. Eduardo Aguirre, 10. Claudio Zamudio, 11. Kevin Magana, 13. 17. Nahum Bryan Salazar Gomez. DT Mario Arteaga.

"Eduardo Aguirre opened the scoring after 16 minutes, Francisco Venegas extended the lead on 29 ', New Zealander Probert narrowed it on the 40th. In the second half, Francisco Venegas 66 'Claudio Zamudio at 67' and Jose Gurrola at 90 '+ 3' put final figures.

Sounds like some poor goalkeeping cost us goals from the translation. Then:

"New Zealand narrowed the score at 40 '. No. 6 New Zealand, Probert received the ball on the edge of the area and took Mexican shoe right cross that ended at the bottom of the framework advocated by Joel Garcia. Mexico was superior but New Zealand narrowed it. Mexico still had another danger coming before the halftime whistle, however, the first 45 minutes ended with the score 2-1 in favor of the Aztecs."

"The second half began with Mexico trying to extend the lead from the first moment and New Zealand standing well on the pitch and warmly looking for the equalizer. The ball control and actions was directed by Mario Arteaga. Abraham Romero, Mexican keeper who entered the second half, avoided the scores being tied at 56 '. Imrie received a throw that left him facing the Mexican goalkeeper, pulling right hand that held the Aztec keeper and covered with great reflexes. Carelessness almost allowed NZ to tie with Mexico."

"Pressing their opponents, a fact that Mexicans employed at all times, gave the third goal at 66 'to the Mexicans. Eduardo Aguirre and Francisco Venegas tightened at the exit to New Zealand Central, the second kept the ball and defined with a light touch kissing culminating rival networks. A minute later, at 67 ', Eduardo Aguirre, who was giving ram a great game, he returned to steal the ball into the opponent out, he looked up and touched Claudio Zamudio, with impeccable finishing shot took fourth in the afternoon to Mexico."

The Mexican manager, Mario Arteaga, made a series of adjustments to his team, a situation that was useful to see all the players called into action and keep the advantage on the scoreboard.

When it seemed that the score is no longer move, Jose Gurrola came down the right side of the penalty area, received the ball and took a powerful shot that ended cimbrando networks for the fifth time in the afternoon for Mexicans. This is 90 '+ 3'.

Any streams??

Singh not starting??

Isn't he considered the best young talent we have at the nix??

Yep, but the Nix don't have a monopoly on players. Ole's Owen Parker price starting ahead of him and Joe Bell.

Starting line up

McGarry scores! Oh bugger; we were just getting into the game a bit after France's early near misses.