New Zealand Men's U-20s

6352 replies · 1,242,276 views
24 days ago
MetalLegNZ wrote:
 Bradman99 wrote:
 MetalLegNZ wrote:
The LB is from Belgium... looked good. The RB is from Sunderland, got rinsed all night. Looked bang average.

Both Fransen and Smith at fault for a goal... but not helped by lack of midfield.

GSR looked ok on the left, striker made good runs, but not outside that. The substitute keeper looked ok.

I didnt realise the first half goalkeeper was McCarron from the NIX. Absolute giant of a young man... and dreadful as a player. Watched him warmup... heavy touch, poor passer and routinely dove over the ball. I was like fuck it, hes huge he'll dominate the box. Was piss poor and at fault for two goals. Flapped at a corner calling for it, only to take out two of his defenders as the ball sailed over his head, and gave away an easy pass that led to the opposition third goal. Did nothing but cause angst in the backline and give away possession when he went long. 

Has he a recent growth spurt he hasn't grown into yet so is more gangly than normal?

Honestly, atrocious!
I'm a bit wary of writing off young players due to an off game.  Thought McCarron did reasonable well in few A league performances last season ..an especially given his lack of experience at that level.  
Thats why I was so surprised... I thought looked ok for the NIX!
Some players struggle a bit in pre-season and then manage to turn it on when the season is underway.   Let's hope he's one of those!
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Endorsed by
Simon B
19 days ago
Starting XI today. Looks like Kyle Koch (Wellington Phoenix) has been called up after missing the initial squad was named.
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Pitch looks absolutely honking. The OFC have had tournaments at this ground before and it was a damn sight better than what's been served up today. 😬

1-0 NZ - Nathan Martin opening the scoring inside 10 minutes.
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18 days ago
Jayden Smith scored! 🟡⚫️⚽️🇳🇿
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18 days ago · edited 18 days ago · History
Finishes 8-0

Nathan MARTIN 8’, Aaron CARTWRIGHT 37’, Harley HILL 40’, Jayden SMITH 45+3’, Oliver GROSSO 60’, Van FIZTHARRIS 72’, 86’, Waisea HENRY 75’

Valley FC til I die?

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15 days ago
Fiji today been a better contest, though NZ have still clearly dominated. Just 2-0 now, about ten mins to go. They beat Vanuatu 7-2 in the first game - have a feeling we'll meet them again in the final.
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12 days ago · edited 12 days ago · History
NZ up 2-0 at HT.

NZ to play New Caledonia in the semi-finals on Friday. 
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Endorsed by
PK
12 days ago
6-0. Bailey Ferguson a hat trick.
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12 days ago
Interestingly Fiji from our group have gone out! 2-1 loss to Tahiti this morning.

Quite unexpected given we beat Tahiti 8-0 and Fiji 2-0... and Fiji beat Vanuatu 7-2 while Tahiti drew with them!

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Endorsed by
PK
12 days ago
Heap of cards... commentator referred to it as spicy in the NZ game.
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Endorsed by
LT01PK
12 days ago
GSR got a goal and an assist plus he wore the captains armband in the 2nd half. 
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Endorsed by
Oi Oi EdgecumbePK
12 days ago
Procrastinixing wrote:
GSR got a goal and an assist plus he wore the captains armband in the 2nd half. 
Good. Now I wonder if he can find a club this month?
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12 days ago
PKB wrote:
 Procrastinixing wrote:
GSR got a goal and an assist plus he wore the captains armband in the 2nd half. 
Good. Now I wonder if he can find a club this month?
Been spending a bit of time with Auckland United apparently but surely offshore opportunities will arise. 
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12 days ago
Bradman99 wrote:
 PKB wrote:
 Procrastinixing wrote:
GSR got a goal and an assist plus he wore the captains armband in the 2nd half. 
Good. Now I wonder if he can find a club this month?
Been spending a bit of time with Auckland United apparently but surely offshore opportunities will arise. 
Watched the game. He was actually quite poor oitside a giod 5 minute period.

Touch was heavy and his option taking poor.
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12 days ago
MetalLegNZ wrote:
 Bradman99 wrote:
 PKB wrote:
 Procrastinixing wrote:
GSR got a goal and an assist plus he wore the captains armband in the 2nd half. 
Good. Now I wonder if he can find a club this month?
Been spending a bit of time with Auckland United apparently but surely offshore opportunities will arise. 
Watched the game. He was actually quite poor oitside a giod 5 minute period.

Touch was heavy and his option taking poor.
He wasn't alone
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Endorsed by
YoungHeartHM
12 days ago · edited 12 days ago · History
The game yesterday bit of a nothing one. NZ were always gonna win. Semi spot was already locked in.
Vanuatu a poor team, the pitch is very average. Figueira's team might have struggled for motivation in the heat. Just get the job done, and avoid any injuries.

They will be up for the New Caledonia match on Friday. U20 WC spot at stake.
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Endorsed by
Br
11 days ago
coochiee wrote:
The game yesterday bit of a nothing one. NZ were always gonna win. Semi spot was already locked in.
Vanuatu a poor team, the pitch is very average. Figueira's team might have struggled for motivation in the heat. Just get the job done, and avoid any injuries.

They will be up for the New Caledonia match on Friday. U20 WC spot at stake.
Yes the pitches have been terrible.  Oceania football is not in a good state.  I can see why Fifa wanted to create the OPL to try and give your footballers something to aim for. 

Says a bit about the quality of the competition when the country ra nked 86th in the world can walk through the qualifiers like this.  

Would like to see the age group teams play more matches like the upcoming trip to Japan. More games v Australia would also be welcome... If challenging. 
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11 days ago
coochiee wrote:
The game yesterday bit of a nothing one. NZ were always gonna win. Semi spot was already locked in.
Vanuatu a poor team, the pitch is very average. Figueira's team might have struggled for motivation in the heat. Just get the job done, and avoid any injuries.

They will be up for the New Caledonia match on Friday. U20 WC spot at stake.
Is it automatic qualification for the two finalists this time around? 

Not that I don't think we won't qualify by winning the U19 Championship in Samoa, and the OFC press release was saying there are two slots for OFC too. But there was a FIFA release a little while back saying that the second OFC side would enter into a four team playoff alongside nations from AFC, UEFA & CONMEBOL.
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11 days ago
I had read the top two qualify. Maybe three at u17 level?

The pitch is honking, but was before the first game which is disappointing. They knew the tournament was coming and couldn't produce a serviceable pitch. I understand why they like to play these qualifiers in the islands, but until they can provide FIFA quality pitches NZ should get these by default.

It does nothing to improve the quality of football, and just creates greater risk of injury. Seeing blooms of dust everyting the ball hits the ground is not good enough.
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Endorsed by
PK
11 days ago
Worst OFC national teams field condition I've ever seen. Dead dry grass. Usually that field seems better. Maybe their sprinklers were broken for a full month? 
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11 days ago · edited 11 days ago · History
Pitches, facilities and general infrastructure need more investment in general (precisely why other OFC members won't speak out against Gianni) but having a bit of a read up it is the driest time of the year over there, coupled with less rainfall than they normally get it was always going to be a challenge to get the pitches right.

If you've been watching the games, you'll see that there are no sprinklers in the ground - they would be a luxury over there - but rather, teams of guys taking hoses out to the pitch and watering before kickoff, at halftime and presumably at full time... often missing big chunks of the playing surface, hence the splotchy green patches surrounded by dusty browned/killed off grass. 
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Endorsed by
coochieeLT01PKSimon B+1
11 days ago · edited 11 days ago · History
Think the commentator said Samoa is having a bad El Nino period (drought). I think he  also said they are even watering the pitch at HT.

But yeah playing standards will never improve in the Islands without truer pitches. 
You can't become a better player if you have no trust in the bounce and have to watch the ball all the way to your foot, only for it then to bobble up to your ankle.

The Island teams in the OPL would play max about 6 passes and then just hoof it foward or try play a low % miracle ball.
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Endorsed by
PK
11 days ago · edited 11 days ago · History
The match Vanuatu United had at home today, was on a field in better condition.
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11 days ago
PKB wrote:
The match Vanuatu United had at home today, was on a field in better condition.
The Semi-finals are on the good pitch apparently
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Endorsed by
PKSouthernix
11 days ago
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/09/09/showdown-in-samoa-the-four-sides-aiming-for-the-fifa-u-20-mens-world-cup/

Showdown in Samoa — the four sides aiming for the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup

Four Oceania teams will go head-to-head on Friday to claim the two available spots at next year’s FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

The winners of Friday’s OFC U-19 Men’s Championship semi-finals at the Samoa Football HQ in Apia get the chance to represent the region at the 24-nation global tournament.

The Solomon Islands will take on Tahiti in the first semi-final before New Zealand face New Caledonia in the second match.
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10 days ago · edited 10 days ago · History
Bradman99 wrote:
 PKB wrote:
The match Vanuatu United had at home today, was on a field in better condition.
The Semi-finals are on the good pitch apparently
The first semifinal - Tahiti v Solomon Islands - is on now.

It's an improvement, but I wouldn't call it good. 

Overcast and with a breeze blowing across the ground this morning as well, so there may be some much needed rain on the horizon.
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10 days ago
What time is the NZ Game.
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10 days ago · edited 10 days ago · History
Harley Hill makes it 1-0. Lovely through ball by Cartwright I think.

Wonder if AFC will give Hill (ex Hamilton Wanderers) a scholarship deal. Scoring for fun in the Northern League with the Squires. Smaller and pacier than most Kiwi youth strikers?

Pitch is rank.
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Endorsed by
Br
10 days ago
pitch hasnt had any water in months by the look of things

Queenslander 3x a year.

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10 days ago · edited 10 days ago · History
2-0 lovely goal from Lienard !! very nice build up from front to back

Queenslander 3x a year.

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Endorsed by
coochiee
10 days ago
Captain Lienard (Sunderland youth) makes it 2-0.

Not watching the whole game but the AFC youngsters Cartwright and Hill plus Ferguson (ex AFC) seem the stand outs. 
GSR very quiet, but being club less at the moment likely means he'll not match sharp.
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9 days ago
coochiee wrote:
Harley Hill makes it 1-0. Lovely through ball by Cartwright I think.

Wonder if AFC will give Hill (ex Hamilton Wanderers) a scholarship deal. Scoring for fun in the Northern League with the Squires. Smaller and pacier than most Kiwi youth strikers?

Pitch is rank.
A decent chance for HH to sign a scholarship apparently.  Charlie Hale also pressing hard.  They have formed a great partnership up top for AFC reserves.  Charlie Hale could be the one that got away for Nix.
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