New Zealand Men's U-20s

Under the pump here. Need to make some changes

YoungHeartHM

Thought Loke was quite timid first up against Chile (probably nerves and the occasion to be fair) but even taking his goal out of the equation, I think he's looked excellent for us today. 

More and more happy that he will be the understudy for Payne for this season. He possibly comes into the Nix starting XI for that first match in Perth given the travel that Payney has to do as well.

He’s been awesome man. Started off as an attacker like a lot of Phoenix FBs in years gone by, but you’d never know it - his instincts and body placement are brilliant

heaps of pressure from Egypt, they are certainly making the most of the slightest contact too.

good reffing decision there!
Video support review from the Egyptian management

Can't keep going like this...

Never a pen but again, I like this system

Got the ball. Wasted challenge from Egyptians.

Love this system to be fair.

That's a waste of a review. Makes me nervous though as usually when the referee goes to the screen it means a change of decision. Not a bad new trial system. 

just need to hold on to the damn ball for a bit. we're freaking out a little.

Since2007

That's a waste of a review. Makes me nervous though as usually when the referee goes to the screen it means a change of decision. Not a bad new trial system. 

I actually think this might fix this. Because usually when they go to the screen its their own officials advising them to do it. When its a partisan opinion from one of the teams, think they will change less decisions

Ukich looked great early on both games but gets gassed later on. Think its GSR time. 

Not a great second half from us all things considered. Hope we can hold on

LT01

Not a great second half from us all things considered. Hope we can hold on

 Yeah under all sorts of pressure. With that said Supyk tripping over the ball and Kelly headering the ball off Ukick's foot were probably better chances than Egypt have had overall.

Extra CB on. This always seems to bite every NZ team without fail, cue the anti-jinx

edit: GSR LB? Okay then

Supyk not getting much out of the ref at all, unless he's the one getting told off.

Egyptians getting very frustrated with themselves, they should be cos they've dominated this half, but then I think we have let them. Very stretched midfield at the moment too, Egyptian midfield letting us run at them on occasion  when we actually try to - looks very much a tactical decision to absorb pressure once we got ahead.

Lads have done well the keep the Egyptians scoreless this half.

Big ol dive there from 11

Well deserved win here!!!

Gray MOM for his management in goal!

Great win! And great to see so many Nix players involved.

Was a pretty nerve-racking watch in the end!

Good win, but man we made it harder on ourselves in that second 45.

Don't mind being defensive if we look to counter but we didn't really try to in the second half.

Had we conceded we would be all complaining heavily about the negative mindset.

We are a better team than we showed in the second half.

1 positive... we only seem to concede off our own mistakes.

Positive in the sense we aren't easy to break down clearly.

One of the luckier wins you will see. 

Still this is a tougher group than the last few U20 WCs, and likely getting through to the playoffs is very creditable. Continuing the trend of this being NZ's most successful international team, mens or womens.

First time we've beaten African opposition at a Men's u20 World Cup too. 

Bloody tough that second half, but we've given ourselves a shot at making the round of 16.

YoungHeartHM

First time we've beaten African opposition at a Men's u20 World Cup too. 

Bloody tough that second half, but we've given ourselves a shot at making the round of 16.

First time we've beaten an African team at any mens world cup level (incl U17s and ofc senior)! Now we've beaten every confed!

New Zealand and the USA are the only teams to win a game at all the last 5 U-20 mens world cups

LT01

New Zealand and the USA are the only teams to win a game at all the last 5 U-20 mens world cups

How many teams have qualified for the last 5 in a row? Just curious. 

LondonChris

LT01

New Zealand and the USA are the only teams to win a game at all the last 5 U-20 mens world cups

How many teams have qualified for the last 5 in a row? Just curious. 

Argentina is the only other one. But the likes of Mexico, Honduras, Japan among others usually qualify and don't always win a game. CAF and UEFA participants vary so much.

Both Loke and Phoenix look tidy players good enough to make the step up to the A league this season.

A little disappointed with LBS. Apart from the goal looked off the pace and looks like he struggled with his fitness. 

coochiee

One of the luckier wins you will see. 

Still this is a tougher group than the last few U20 WCs, and likely getting through to the playoffs is very creditable. Continuing the trend of this being NZ's most successful international team, mens or womens.

 Second half wasn't great, but that win was hardly down to luck. 

Massive win. Love Kelly...such a good player. Ukich also very very good though a bit careless in possession sometimes. LBS is the most exciting Kiwi player I've seen since Oldie.
Don't get the hype around GSR and Supyk tbh at all.
Ah, and I think Walker is maturing nicely, he could be good for the Nix thks year.

Lastly, I was pretty upset we just didn't settle on the ball in the last 15' when Egypt were tiring. So many aimless balls that we could have recycled, or even better, slowly worked into a promising attack to kill the game off 

djtim3000

coochiee

One of the luckier wins you will see. 

Still this is a tougher group than the last few U20 WCs, and likely getting through to the playoffs is very creditable. Continuing the trend of this being NZ's most successful international team, mens or womens.

 Second half wasn't great, but that win was hardly down to luck. 

Perhaps I should have said fortunate. Completely outplayed whole 2nd half, yet Egypt couldn't score. Though only remember the one big Gray save that half? plus Kelly heading the ball away from the goal line.

As with NZP above Kelly has impressed, but Supyk has disappointed. Admittedly only short cameos, but that's likely to be his lot for the Nix as well coming on for Eze. He's really adding nothing when subbed on. Someone played him in with a very clever little pass but he got tangled up.


Greeny & Chiefy see him every Nix training day, so must be something there they like. But I really hope Giancarlo is at least talking to Waine and Mata.

Japan are one nil up against Chile. 

AucklandPhoenix

Both Loke and Phoenix look tidy players good enough to make the step up to the A league this season.

A little disappointed with LBS. Apart from the goal looked off the pace and looks like he struggled with his fitness. 

I've not seen much of Loke, but came in wondering if he could be a roughie for the WC squad next year. Our RB stocks are practically zero. Unlikely, but....

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/10/01/we-defended-for-our-lives-coach-chris-greenacre-on-mens-u-20s-win/   

‘We defended for our lives’ — coach Chris Greenacre on men’s U-20s win

Head coach Chris Greenacre has acknowledged his New Zealand side were under the pump for much of their 2-1 win against Egypt at the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup.

“You don’t always get what you deserve in football,” he said after the Group A win at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago.

“I think it was our worst performance — I think we were a lot better the other night against Chile.”

New Zealand went behind after only five minutes, but came back with quick goals from Luke Brooke-Smith and Xuan Loke.

In the second half, Egypt threw everything forward, earning 10 corners and putting goalkeeper Henry Gray under pressure.

WATCH: Highlights from New Zealand U-20s men’s game against Egypt >>>>

Greenacre said Egypt, who had 62% of the game’s possession, were dominant at times.

“We didn’t keep the ball as well as I would have liked today.

“To be fair to Egypt, they put us under a lot of pressure for large amounts of time. I think they probably dominated the possession by a long way, but the players showed their togetherness, their character … they dug in.

“It was a tough shift at the end, and we were really up against it, but we defended for our lives.”

Greenacre, who kept faith with Gray as his starting goalkeeper after a fumble led to Chile’s stoppage-time winner in the opening game, was pleased by his performance against Egypt.

“Henry has got the Man of the Match, and probably rightly so. I’m delighted for the guy.”

Greenacre said the win put New Zealand in a good position to progress to the knockout stages of the tournament.

“We’re now more in control of our destiny, and it’s in our hands, which is what you want it to be.

“I think if you’re relying on other results, you know it’s out of your control.

“We give ourselves a good chance now, and we look forward to the Japan game.”

New Zealand play Japan on Saturday at 12-noon (NZT) in the final game of the group.

Goalscorer Brooke-Smith is already looking forward to the Japan game.

“Obviously, we didn’t have the best start to the game but I think the boys dug in so well, and credit to them, we created so many chances in that first 20 minutes,” he said after the Egypt win.

“We need to be better and we’ll be stronger for the next game.

“We know Japan are going to be a very good side,

85 mins, and Japan lead Chile 2-0. Japanese GK just made a big save. 

Hopefully they rest a few of their better players against us.

Interestingly Chile have had 60+ possession throughout the game. Suggests a more even contest than the score and gives me hope we can pinch a result.

Some our passing today in the first 20 was excellent... a bit more of that without gifting goals and we are a good shout.

Rusty Dunks

AucklandPhoenix

Both Loke and Phoenix look tidy players good enough to make the step up to the A league this season.

A little disappointed with LBS. Apart from the goal looked off the pace and looks like he struggled with his fitness. 

I've not seen much of Loke, but came n wondering if he could be a roughie for the WC squad next year. Our RB stocks are practically zero. Unlikely, but....

Needs to get a bit stronger physically. Was outmuscled today a couple times. That weakness will be highlighted even more against seasoned pros.

All options are open going into the last round of pool games, but if you were laying down a bet you would get lowest odds on Japan (so going to 9 pts) beating NZ & Chile (going to 6 pts) with a loud home crowd behind them beating Egypt (so 0 pts).

In which case NZ (3 pts) would finish 3rd in the pool.

If 3 pts is enough to progress to the knockouts, 3rd in Pool A (our pool) plays either
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_FIFA_U-20_World_Cup

- the winner of Pool B  (Ukraine, Paraguay, Panama & South Korea), or
- the winner of Pool C (Morocco, Mexico, Brazil & Spain.

Lets hope for the Pool B winners if indeed NZ it is 3rd in Pool A.

But yeah all too early for now to guess too far ahead.

MetalLegNZ

Rusty Dunks

AucklandPhoenix

Both Loke and Phoenix look tidy players good enough to make the step up to the A league this season.

A little disappointed with LBS. Apart from the goal looked off the pace and looks like he struggled with his fitness. 

I've not seen much of Loke, but came n wondering if he could be a roughie for the WC squad next year. Our RB stocks are practically zero. Unlikely, but....

Needs to get a bit stronger physically. Was outmuscled today a couple times. That weakness will be highlighted even more against seasoned pros.

In his defense I would say that against Heidelberg where an undercooked Payney was getting pushed around and overall we weren’t strong, he seemed to be strong in possession and put in a few challenges that they won’t have forgotten in a hurry. 

Strength is something that hopefully you can work on in a gym or preseason. The determination to not give up possession or that the ball is yours irrespective of who currently has it is harder to coach, and I think he’s got a bit of that. Hopefully! Defensive grit.