New Zealand Men's U-20s

carlind

lthomas20

Cannot wait to hear the utterly ridiculous reason this happened. Oceania Football Clownfederation does it again. 

That should mean it goes down as a Papua New Guinea victory, in which case they'll qualify for the quarterfinals as a third placed team, despite not playing any of their scheduled three group stage matches. 

Vanuatu will also advance missing both of their games, as the two walkover losses means both teams' goal difference is -6, as the other third place team, Cook Islands, have a GD of -11 (results against bottom placed teams are discounted due to the uneven number of teams).

Samoa will also get through, even though their only game is a 4-0 loss. 

Yet Cook Islands who actually won a game get absolutely shafted

NZ's QF opponent still to be decided, it seems?

https://us.soccerway.com/international/oceania/ofc-u19-championship/2020/s16522/final-stages/

Fiji U19 vs Samoa U19 
New Caledonia U19 vs Solomon Islands U19 
New Zealand U19 vs 3rd Group B/C 
Tahiti U19 vs Cook Islands U19

All the other BS to the side I think we have looked very good generally.

As dominate as I can remember against Island teams.

coochiee

NZ's QF opponent still to be decided, it seems?

https://us.soccerway.com/international/oceania/ofc-u19-championship/2020/s16522/final-stages/

Fiji U19 vs Samoa U19 
New Caledonia U19 vs Solomon Islands U19 
New Zealand U19 vs 3rd Group B/C 
Tahiti U19 vs Cook Islands U19

NZL v PNG
TAH v VAN
according to OFC website
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition/ofc-u-19-championship/ofc-u19-championship-2022/

MetalLegNZ

All the other BS to the side I think we have looked very good generally.

As dominate as I can remember against Island teams.

For sure - they've been utterly excellent. Smashed a decent Solomons team. Really the BS will make the rest of the tournament easier for us. 

wibbler

coochiee

NZ's QF opponent still to be decided, it seems?

https://us.soccerway.com/international/oceania/ofc-u19-championship/2020/s16522/final-stages/

Fiji U19 vs Samoa U19 
New Caledonia U19 vs Solomon Islands U19 
New Zealand U19 vs 3rd Group B/C 
Tahiti U19 vs Cook Islands U19

NZL v PNG
TAH v VAN
according to OFC website
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition/ofc-u-19-championship/ofc-u19-championship-2022/

Yipe updated now. PNG 2.30pm on Sunday.
And PNG haven't actually played a game yet?

Yep - Cook Islands have been knocked out as the "worst" third place team. 

Two things should happen:

1: Fifa should pass a law stating any team that fails to show up for a game should not be allowed to qualify for later stages of tournaments.

2: Should pump some real money into the game in the islands instead of continuing to enrich the already rich nations.

MetalLegNZ

Two things should happen:

1: Fifa should pass a law stating any team that fails to show up for a game should not be allowed to qualify for later stages of tournaments.

2: Should pump some real money into the game in the islands instead of continuing to enrich the already rich nations.

I don't know much money FIFA spends/has spent in OFC. But one of those OFC officials charged with corruption said it was okay that OFC employees going home home to attend family funerals could pay their costs with OFC money, as this is 'our culture'!!  Something along those lines.

So FIFA throwing cash at the Islands ain't a given, to fix these problems.

The sad thing is that it's the very teams who have hardly and chances of qualifying to the later stages (or to whatever is the prizing for winning a tournament), that often don't show up. When's the last time Belgium, NZ, Australia, Portugal, or even China etc have defaulted a game? 
The throwing of $ to often poorer countries is also not really the right move as corruption will gobble most of it. 
What FIFA should do, is to bring in (and fund) a wealth of experts in and help to develop the Island nations. Anything from coaching staff to administrators, logistics, match analysts... Pay for some experienced people to go in and improve the status quo.
But I'm not naive enough to believe this enough would do. But that's my best idea given the circumstances. 

MetalLegNZ

Two things should happen:

1: Fifa should pass a law stating any team that fails to show up for a game should not be allowed to qualify for later stages of tournaments.

2: Should pump some real money into the game in the islands instead of continuing to enrich the already rich nations.

1. Yes

2. No - the idea that FIFA is enriching the already rich nations is nonsense. FIFA have funded crappier associations in CAF, CONCACAF, AFC, OFC for years, to support the game in small countries with FIFA status. They've also given generous spots at literally all world cup levels to those confederations as well. The problem as others have said is that that money gets swallowed up by corrupt and/or incompetent officials a lot of the time: having money won't do shark for you if you don't have the officials with governance experience or satisfactory integrity measures in place. 

3. FIFA should take steps to resolve the ongoing OFC dilemma, and work toward a resolution of a merger with AFC. 

The problem with number 3 is that while (with the right support) it would definitely help the island nations, with the extended WC and automatic entry for NZ (pretty much) we no longer want this option as it would mean no WC participation for us yet again 

newzealandpower

The problem with number 3 is that while (with the right support) it would definitely help the island nations, with the extended WC and automatic entry for NZ (pretty much) we no longer want this option as it would mean no WC participation for us yet again 

Expanded 48 team WC means about 8-9 WC spots for AFC from memory 

It’s not impossible to see the AWs making it through AFC qualifying in that scenario. But yes a lot lot tougher than gaining the 1 automatic OFC spot 

But at least would see the AWs playing some big high stakes games at home. Its the $16M WC qualification pay day that NZF won’t ever leave OFC for now though

coochiee

newzealandpower

The problem with number 3 is that while (with the right support) it would definitely help the island nations, with the extended WC and automatic entry for NZ (pretty much) we no longer want this option as it would mean no WC participation for us yet again 

Expanded 48 team WC means about 8-9 WC spots for AFC from memory 

It’s not impossible to see the AWs making it through AFC qualifying in that scenario. But yes a lot lot tougher than gaining the 1 automatic OFC spot 

But at least would see the AWs playing some big high stakes games at home. Its the $16M WC qualification pay day that NZF won’t ever leave OFC for now though

If we can't make top 8 or 9 teams in AFC would we deserve to be at the World Cup?

Look at Australia - they've qualified every time since joining AFC. I'd rather we take the risk of being in AFC and failing to qualify than just staying on in hopeless OFC and getting 2 serious games every 4 years. 

Anyway, getting slightly off topic, so bringing it back

Quarterfinal of the OFC U19 Championship against PNG today, 2.30pm

lthomas20

coochiee

newzealandpower

The problem with number 3 is that while (with the right support) it would definitely help the island nations, with the extended WC and automatic entry for NZ (pretty much) we no longer want this option as it would mean no WC participation for us yet again 

Expanded 48 team WC means about 8-9 WC spots for AFC from memory 

It’s not impossible to see the AWs making it through AFC qualifying in that scenario. But yes a lot lot tougher than gaining the 1 automatic OFC spot 

But at least would see the AWs playing some big high stakes games at home. Its the $16M WC qualification pay day that NZF won’t ever leave OFC for now though

If we can't make top 8 or 9 teams in AFC would we deserve to be at the World Cup?

Look at Australia - they've qualified every time since joining AFC. I'd rather we take the risk of being in AFC and failing to qualify than just staying on in hopeless OFC and getting 2 serious games every 4 years. 

Yeah I’d rather be a good team that plays competitive games every year rather than doing nothing for four years, playing two WC games and then going home. All Whites going deep in the World Cup knockout stages will never happen, but with the talent we have coming through, I feel an underdog deep run into the Asian Cup finals is totally doable.

Obviously the World Cup is the peak of international football, but I’d honestly much prefer challenging qualification and meaningful continental competitions than a guaranteed group stage every four years.

Island football is a joke and the sooner we leave OFC and get into AFC the better.

Staying in OFC for the easy qualification route is holding back our international players at all levels.

No wonder Stensness switched to Australia - he wanted to at least have the chance to play meaningful international fixtures on a regular basis. 

NZF are holding back our international players from developing their full potential which seems to be counter to what they aspire to as a governing body. 

lthomas20

Anyway, getting slightly off topic, so bringing it back

Quarterfinal of the OFC U19 Championship against PNG today, 2.30pm

is there a live stream somewhere?

theprof

lthomas20

Anyway, getting slightly off topic, so bringing it back

Quarterfinal of the OFC U19 Championship against PNG today, 2.30pm

is there a live stream somewhere?

Was looking myself. Turns out the game is Sunday Tahiti time so tomorrow for @ 2:30PM for us. 

dammit!

razzag

theprof

lthomas20

Anyway, getting slightly off topic, so bringing it back

Quarterfinal of the OFC U19 Championship against PNG today, 2.30pm

is there a live stream somewhere?

Was looking myself. Turns out the game is Sunday Tahiti time so tomorrow for @ 2:30PM for us. 

Yeah my bad, those damn Tahiti timezones are messing with me!

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/quarter-final-schedule-ofc-u-19-championship/

The following OFC U-19 Championship quarter-finals will take place at Stade Pater, Tahiti on September 18 (local Tahiti time).

Fiji v Samoa: 9.30am (local time) – WATCH

New Caledonia v Solomon Islands: 1.00pm (local time) – WATCH

New Zealand v Papua New Guinea: 4.30pm (local time) – WATCH

Tahiti v Vanuatu: 8.00pm (local time) – WATCH 

Here are the teams for New Zealand v Papua New Guinea at #O192022.

WATCH | https://t.co/WyqzLq0YpK pic.twitter.com/riSqPgkZCe

— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) September 19, 2022

 

No manuel in the squad. Must of picked up a knock... 

Solomons are out in QFs. NC to play Fiji in first semi.

NZU19s beat PNG today, they play winner of Vanuatu verus home nation Tahiti in other semi. Winning semi final guarantees WC qualification.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/fiji-into-ofc-u-19-championship-semi-finals-after-4-1-win-over-samoa/

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-caledonia-edge-out-solomon-islands-1-0-to-reach-ofc-u-19-championship-semi-finals/

2-0. 
Dan Mackay with both goals so far. 
Missed the first, but a fantastic strike for the 2nd from long range.

3-0 with just under 20 to go. Herdman with a nice free kick not that long ago from the right hand side of the box, about 25 yards on the angle and it ends up in the top left hand corner. Watched him closely today and my word he is a talent - quick, technically very good, tricky yet composed on the ball and has been very involved. Done a lot of good things on what looks to be a typically bumpy and difficult island playing surface.

Game slowing down a bit now as you'd expect. Job done pretty much you'd assume as PNG still struggling to barely hold the ball any longer than 3-4 passes.

5-0 it finished. Oli Colloty bagged himself a couple of goals (7 for the tournament so far) in the last 5 or so minutes. Very decent performance overall.

A lot to like about these young guys coming through for us too. Would love to see them play together on a nice flat & slick surface. Some of the passing today was just delicious. 🤌

YoungHe.\rt

5-0 it finished. Oli Colloty bagged himself a couple of goals (7 for the tournament so far) in the last 5 or so minutes. Very decent performance overall.

A lot to like about these young guys coming through for us too. Would love to see them play together on a nice flat & slick surface. Some of the passing today was just delicious. 🤌

This was actually PNG's first game of the tourney?

Tahiti (home team) or Vanuatu, should be tougher.

Semi (Thurs NZ time?) verus home team Tahiti, being 1-0 winners over Vanuatu

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/tahiti-overcome-tough-vanuatu-challenge-to-reach-ofc-u-19-championship-semi-finals/

Tahiti will now face New Zealand in the semi-finals on Wednesday, September 21 with a place in the OFC U-19 Championship 2022 final and the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ 2023 up for grabs.

Sounds like a fairly bruising game... watched 2 mins and saw a horrible challenge on Surman, only for the player to simply get a warning?!

2 players taken to hospital.

Goal highlights verus PNG, plus Bazeley's post match thoughts on what was a physical approach from PNG.

He did note that being their first actual game in the tourney, they would have had a lot of built up energy/frustration which seems they took out on NZ. Not good with 2 guys in hospital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u7-uh0lFXA

1-0 first 50 seconds .  Hughes header off a set piece. Hughes running straight to celebrate with Goffy so perhaps goffy the goal keeper coach did some scouting  of Tahiti’s keeper knowing his weakness is balls in the air . 

When are we going to get any protection from referees? Two players in hospital last game and already multiple unpunished studs-up tackles tonight

2-0 win to qualify them for the U20 WC in Indonesia next year.
Wasn't all easy going against a spirited home Tahiti team.
Both goals a touch lucky. But a wins a win.

Handled the situation well. Ref was bad. The foul in the corner at the end of the game was farcical. At least four fouls on our players (nothing subtle about them) and he gives it against us?!

Horrible tackles with worse officiating.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-zealand-advance-to-ofc-u-19-championship-final-with-2-0-victory-over-hosts-tahiti/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Ku-ONqf3s

lthomas20

Cannot wait to hear the utterly ridiculous reason this happened. Oceania Football Clownfederation does it again. 

was the reason for Tonga not being at the stadium at the scheduled kick-off time ever publicised?  In the absence of anything my theory would be that they had already booked flights home assuming they were not going to qualify and having the game delayed 24 hours conflicted with those travel plans.!!!

Champions - cruisy 3-0 scoreline in an eventful final against Fiji. Strong this tournament from our boys.