New Zealand Men's U-20s

Is Jamie Doris still old enough? I guess that would make sense as to why he missed the cut last time round when he was at Hibs, seeing as he was involved in the OFC qualifying team.

Hes eligible yes

Heard at the game today, team named tomorrow, they go into camp 7th June and play Australia over there on way to WC then have 2 warm up games when they get to Turkey against other teams competing in the competition. Liam Anderson from Auk City was expected to be the 3rd gk but Milly has gone for the Wgtn nyl gk. and Tim Payne has come in so Rory Turner misses out, Not sure if Jesse Edge made the cut either but rumour was he and Joel Stevens may have been replaced. Will find out tomorrow I suppose.

Thanks for the update hawk

Squad named 

Pre-FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013

Monday, June 10 | Wollongong, Australia
2.00pm | Australia v New Zealand

Thursday, June 13 | Anatalya, Turkey
3.00pm | Iraq v New Zealand

Monday, June 17 | Anatalya, Turkey
3.00pm | Egypt v New Zealand

Still not sure why Rory Turner is left out but other than that a strong squad...

Mohammed Awad couldnt have been too far off making the squad, class player.

wow it is a pretty strong squad: crocombe, adams, tuiloma, roux , jordan, howieson, payne, boyd and fenton. And also the addition of solomons in defense will help. Doris didn't make the cut again like for the last wc.

My guess for a starting 11

                                Crocome

Tuiloma          Adams      Solomon          Roux

                               Payne

Fenton                   Jordan                     Howieson

                         Thomas   Boyd

Possible adjustments to this is - Edge coming in for Payne and Payne replacing Jordan up top.

What I'd like to see though is Higgins to come in at LB and Roux to push to RB. This would let me put Tuiloma into a DM role and push Payne up top in to a AM.

I think Tuiloma's physical ability and skill level would make him ideal in that role. He has also shown himself to be versatile in where he plays.

Tough on Basalaj to miss out on a starting spot.

Decent looking squad.

Unless Awad has been all of a sudden banging in three a game down in Wellington then he shouldn't be anywhere near the side, his time at Melville was very underwhelming, nice on-ball skills but very rarely scored. Has a lot to improve on to get anywhere near international level, as his physique isn't a benefit at this point.

Good to see Boyd, Thomas and Edge get included, deserving inclusions and nice to continue to have significant Waikato represention in the side.

Resist and jog on Citystop

NZ to play Australia on June 10 as part of the world cup build up. Can't see any reason why we should lose this game.

Australia have played a lot more games.. Will be interesting

Was it there u20 squad or u17 squad that recently failed to qualify for a tournament having failed to score a single goal in qualifiers?

The game against Iraq will be emotional for Van Elia.

I expect us to get trounced by Australia TBH. 

Jordan is a defensive middfielder and payne can play in front of him. Also i think that hamish Watson is ahead of thomas as a centre forward.

Do you think he's seen Jordan play....?....

at the last u17 wc for sure but at bristol city u21 not sure...

is it just me or is NZ football getting stronger and stronger???

I'd expect scotty b and hamish to start if fit....giving up height at the back in exchange for another midfield option it seems hmmmmm.  Must be nice to have options like these!!

This seems like the strongest side given where certain players are already playing at. Only about 2 or 3 every really kick on on average I think.

In this team...i'd except that might be 5 or 6...

Fenton

Payne

Howieson

Crocombe

Tuiloma

&

maybe Thomas

Gwyther - terrible player with a worse touch.

Compared to those past sides I definately think this is our strongest yet. Looking at the 2005 team only Brockie might have a chance to start, Crocombe over Moss was the only over tough call.

Just shows the amount of depth beginning to be developed in NZ (more programmes around now APIA etc) and probably also a reflection of the benefit of having players play in more internation events like the U17 WC.

Players to kick on - I think you missed out on a few names there Vincent...

Adams at Derby would be another one. Considering his injury problems he's done well to work himself back into a starting role for their u21's... just brought him in FM13 for 4.1 million : )

Roux is getting more and more game time at Perth and has the ability to play on either side of defence which is very handy.

Boyd - still only 18 and has potential to kick on.

Solomon and Thomas are the only 2 with question marks as they are not really involved in a professional set up already (excluding the nix youth which still needs developing). In saying that, Thomas did really well in the qualifiers and is highly thought of technically so might push on.

Amazing how many of those names from previous years never made it professionally, or at all. Most of them. At least overseas you can usually find a lot of former age group internationals kicking around lower leagues, still getting paid to play football and somewhat living the dream (be it a little diluted), but it just doesnt work out for our lads.

Once again, our boys are being let down by being brought together at the last minute and playing a handful of warm-up matches in the week before the tournament starts. That's not good enough - most other countries in this tournament are already in camp and playing friendlies - 

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Okon-names-Qantas-Young-Socceroos-squad-for-European-Tour/67423

Australia have been holding training camps for the last couple of months, including training with the senior Socceroos the last two weeks. They started a training camp in Europe on Monday and play their first warm-up game tonight against Netherlands u-21 (followed by vs Germany u-21 next Friday). In contrast NZ Football bring our players together two weeks from now on June 7 and play their first warm-up game June 10 v Australia, with two further warm-up games in the next week (v Iraq June 13, v Egypt June 17) before the tournament starts for us on June 23 v Uzbekistan.

Anyway, looking forward to that friendly v the Young Socceroos (which will probably be screened over there but not here I suppose), although as people point out above, on paper we seem to have a strong side compared to previous ones with more professionals, Australia's overseas-based players generally are at much more high-profile clubs. (three at clubs in Premier Lge this season; one in Bundesliga, one at Scottish champions Celtic, one in Dutch First div.) Overseas-based Young Socceroos currently in camp:

Mustafa Amini, Borussia Dortmund, Germany; Travis Cooper, VVV Venlo, Netherlands; Ryan Edwards, Reading FC, England; Curtis Good, Newcastle United, England; Jackson Irvine, Celtic FC, Scotland; Jamie Maclaren, Blackburn Rovers, England; Ryan Williams, Fulham FC, England

The rest of the players currently in camp in Europe are from A-League clubs (19 A-League players; seven based in Europe)

By contrast, we have named five players who play in England at Championship clubs or lower and  seven A-League players from the Phoenix, its Academy (who don't play in the youth league as the Aussie players do) and Perth (Roux). The rest play at ASB Premiership or regional clubs.

Australia's matches vs Netherlands and Germany u-21 for which you may find live streams as those two countries are preparing for the Euro u-21 Championship next month in Israel:

Netherlands U-21 Men’s Team v Qantas Young Socceroos: Friday 24 May 2013, Univé Stadium, Emmen, Netherlands, Kick-Off 6:30pm (4:00am NZT)

Germany U-21 Men’s Team v Qantas Young Socceroos: Friday 31 May 2013, Venue TBA, Kick-Off 10:00am (8:00pm NZT)

TBH many of the players on this list from the current team as well most from the past would not have been close to a young Aussie side let alone a South American or European nation which is why they're not still knocking about. Interestingly some players who made full international appearances for European teams have gone MIA soon after as well. 

Many from the '99 team knocked on, with a significant number playing professionally afterwards.  Wilson from 2002 played for the AWs by the way.

Our opponents on June 10, the Young Socceroos, were brushed aside 3-1 by Netherlands u-21 this morning (there were lots of live streams)

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1153158/Netherlands-too-good-for-Young-Socceroos

Australia suffered a 3-1 loss to Netherlands in the first of two international matches as part of its Europe-based training camp in preparation for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey.

The Dutch side, which is preparing for the U21 European Championship, got off to the perfect start when AZ Alkmaar midfielder Adam Maher curled his free kick into the top corner.

Young Socceroos coach Paul Okon is keen to assess his extended squad against high-class opposition and the Dutch obliged, going 2-0 up on the half hour mark when Marco van Ginkel played in PSV's Georginio Wijnaldum, who coolly finished.

Kevin Strootman made it 3-0 inside the first half, latching onto a deflected shot.

Netherlands coach Cor Pots made a number of second half changes, allowing Australia to gain some momentum. Blackburn Rovers attacker Jamie McClaren nabbed a late consolation for the Young Socceroos, who take on Germany on Friday 31 May.

Nice little article in Stuff on Watson in getting ready for the U20 WC.

Will be interesting to see if he starts, if he does I think it will be an indication we are still looking to play a little direct where if we go for Thomas and Boyd that we want to keep it on the ground.

The friendlies are going to be very important for the fringe guys to force their way into a side which largely picks it self.

Aus U20 drew with Germany U21s yesterday. Were 2-1 up with 6 to play.

I emailed FIFA on Sunday to ask about the tournament going ahead in Turkey given all the recent unrest with protests and the issues with Syria next door.

No answer yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it moved to the U.A.E (already geared up for u17's) or somewhere similar.

Things are not looking too peachy there at the moment.

The U.A.E is having an unusually cold summer with it only reaching the high 30's at the moment : )

Is it on tv thats the question?

Can't see FIFA shifting it unless things get a lot worse in Turkey. I see things dying down in the next few weeks - Turkey's a pretty stable country on the whole and the protests are coming out of their long secular democratic tradition.

It's always been a safe destination for foreign tourists since the 1920's. My mum and aunty lived there in the 1950's.

Security threat from Syria is minimal and confined to immediate border regions.

Aussies have named their final 21 man squad:

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/okon-names-side-for-under-20-world-cup/68418

Includes Nix loanee from last season Corey Gameiro and only four from overseas clubs.

Turkey is a top country... i'm just hopeful they move it to the U.A.E because thats where i'm based.

Interesting squad, would have thought they'd have more overseas based players... we have more than they do!

Is there coverage of the NZ / Aus game on Monday at all, either on Telly or on Radio.

Should be a good close game, altough I expect Aussie to win it given they have had a bit of time together recently and played some top European teams.

Will hopefully let the boys see where they are against the other competing teams.