Under the pump here. Need to make some changes
All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams
New Zealand Men's U-20s
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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.
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.
Queenslander 3x a year.
good reffing decision there!
Video support review from the Egyptian management
Video support review from the Egyptian management
Queenslander 3x a year.
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.
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.
Not a great second half from us all things considered. Hope we can hold on
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.
Lads have done well the keep the Egyptians scoreless this half.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bloody tough that second half, but we've given ourselves a shot at making the round of 16.
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.
Bloody tough that second half, but we've given ourselves a shot at making the round of 16.
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.
If we build it, they will come...
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.
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.
A little disappointed with LBS. Apart from the goal looked off the pace and looks like he struggled with his fitness.
Auckland will rise once more
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.
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.
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
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
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
‘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.
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,
“If, as a team, we can make our decision-making a little bit better, I think there’s a good chance we can go through, and hope we can do something that New Zealand’s never done.”
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.
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.
Some our passing today in the first 20 was excellent... a bit more of that without gifting goals and we are a good shout.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.