The U-20s warmed up to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina with a 1-0 win over 2019 semi-finalists Ecuador at Estadio Alfredo Beranger, Buenos Aires.
Darren Bazeley’s side scored the winning goal in the 71st minute with Wellington Phoenix’s Ben Wallace slotting home from inside the box on debut. A strong defensive performance throughout, a quick counter from substitute Norman Garbett put pressure on Ecuador’s back line. Continued pressure from New Zealand saw Ecuador misplace a pass, falling to Wallace to give New Zealand the lead.
“It was a good preparation match for us with almost everyone getting good playing minutes” said head coach Darren Bazeley.
“We had some really good moments in the game that gives us a lot to build on.
“I’m really happy for the players to gain some success against a very good South American team, and so pleased for Ben Wallace to score a goal on his debut.
“Definitely things to continue to develop, but some really strong performances as we move now to the FIFA U-20 World Cup games.” 20 of the 21 squad members were given game time with only goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald not taking the field.
Didn't Sky do this last time? Wait til the last final moment to announce something as if some kind of saviour!
Vaguely recall this too. Would be absolutely piss poor to not have coverage this time around, but this is the type of stuff we have to put up with when dealing with Sky in New Zealand.
Didn't Sky do this last time? Wait til the last final moment to announce something as if some kind of saviour!
Vaguely recall this too. Would be absolutely piss poor to not have coverage this time around, but this is the type of stuff we have to put up with when dealing with Sky in New Zealand.
SKY is a business, not a football promotion charity. If the rights are cheap enough, they'll get them and air it, I imagine, as it is good PR to have it. But if it costs more than it's worth, then they won't. I mean, are 200,000 people dying to watch this match live?? If they were, SKY would've locked it in ages ago...
The governing bodies of other sports are usually in dialogue with SKY, offer to offset costs, etc etc - just saying.
It all comes back to numbers. They will know how many viewers view which content - and much as the people on this forum really want to watch the U20s (including me), I suspect that the number beyond us is not huge (I'd love to be wrong about that...)
And don't forget FIFA are always keen for competing countries to broadcast their own teams. Don't rule out a deal/arrangement being made before Sunday morning.
Didn't Sky do this last time? Wait til the last final moment to announce something as if some kind of saviour!
Vaguely recall this too. Would be absolutely piss poor to not have coverage this time around, but this is the type of stuff we have to put up with when dealing with Sky in New Zealand.
SKY is a business, not a football promotion charity. If the rights are cheap enough, they'll get them and air it, I imagine, as it is good PR to have it. But if it costs more than it's worth, then they won't. I mean, are 200,000 people dying to watch this match live?? If they were, SKY would've locked it in ages ago...
The governing bodies of other sports are usually in dialogue with SKY, offer to offset costs, etc etc - just saying.
It all comes back to numbers. They will know how many viewers view which content - and much as the people on this forum really want to watch the U20s (including me), I suspect that the number beyond us is not huge (I'd love to be wrong about that...)
And don't forget FIFA are always keen for competing countries to broadcast their own teams. Don't rule out a deal/arrangement being made before Sunday morning.
Confirmation that @skysportnz will broadcast NZ’s games at the FIFA under-20 men’s World Cup. First game 6am Sunday v Guatemala.
Great that Sky are showing the matches. Cool that NZ v Guatemala = opening match of the tournament (Argentina v Uzbekistan follows)
Note that FIFA stream all their men's and women's youth tournaments for free on their FIFA+ website these days. Information on this here, including which countries the streams are available in. It says NZ, along with Australia, most European countries, in fact most countries in the world: https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/how-to-watch-live-streams-u20-world-cup-argentina-2023 Not sure if Sky picking up the rights here affects the FIFA live stream availability. It does say: *Territories' live streaming access is subject to change
🇳🇿 Get behind the Junior All Whites as they join the best young players in the world at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ ⚽ 🏆 #U20WC Kicking off this weekend LIVE on #SkySportNZpic.twitter.com/9nWzDN8IXG
Guatamela won't be mugs. they knocked out Canada & Mexico in U20 CONCACAF qualifying. They same Canada U20 that Jay Herdman was only a wider squad player for.
With the FIFA U-20 World Cup kicking off tomorrow morning at 6am on @skysportnz, check out our preview of our opening game against Guatemala 🇳🇿🇬🇹#U20WC
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) May 20, 2023
Key Guatemala player to watch: Arquimides Ordoñez
The forward plays his club football for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati, and was born in the USA, playing for Cincinnati 2 before progressing to the first string. Ordoñez has 5 goals at U-20 level on the international stage and a goal in the MLS this season.
Keeping him off the score sheet and away from goal will be vital to stopping Guatemala’s impressive offense as they look to qualify out of the group for the first time since 2011.
Almost halftime, and it's not one to write home about at this stage...
We've been solid at the back, but haven't got it going in that final third as yet. Colloty with some solid #9 play - good hold up play, using his body well, but has had precious little to feed off, and often without too much in the way of support playing off him. Karunaratne had a good opening 20 or so minutes with some questions for Guatemala defenders - won a few free kicks and looked lively.
Other than that, its been a really, really scrappy affair.
Even for the goal in the replays you could see Guatemalan players go down clutching their head because they got beasted in an aerial battle. Fudgeing pathetic, but endemic of Latin American footballers at any level.
