New Zealand Men's U-20s

if you were scouting for the phoenix in the a-league, let alone europe, was there any kiwi player who you would look to sign after that match? I wouldn't expect a lot for this group

remember this i U20 - at this age you would be expected to be pushing for a first team spot quickly. It is harsh but many of these guys play in the NZFC for a reason. james dean2011-08-03 12:13:17

Do you mean 2 higher than 1..for goals scored, according to FIFA table?

http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/standings/index.html

I thought when Bevin and Marco were in close proximity they played some good stuff. Along with Dakota probably the only players who tried to keep it on the deck.

second time in a woprld cup that NZ lead the way.....at least until the portugal v cameroon result comes in.
Group BTeamMPWDLGFGAPtsNew Zealand2020222Uruguay2020112Cameroon1010111Portugal1010001
theprof2011-08-03 12:15:33

Is there any chance we could qualify as a 3rd placed team with two points?

what else would you like him to do?

go and score the winner perhaps?

You are all forgetting one thing about the style of play. The players do not necessarily normally play this way. They are playing how they have been instructed to play.

well done team
anyone who wouldn't have taken a 1-1 draw with Uruguay must have the brain of a pea
to go into the final game in such a tough group with 'our fate in our hands' to cop an awful cliche is a fine effort

well done team.

IF VUKOVIC CAN DO IT SO CAN MARINOVIC

The coaches job is to get this team WINS. They are there to WIN the competition. While many fans, myself in included, would love to see them all play individually awesome and sign big contracts somewhere, they are here to WIN even if it means playing ugly.

Probably why players such as Chris Wood are unavailable. They have more chance of playing themselves out of a contract than into one.

Cameron Lindsay (Blackurn Rovers) doesn't need to beg to differ and now likes chicken a lot !! ..??  Oh you mean mainland Europe... Oh, you mean senior squad...?? Oh you mean signed players, not trialists and academy players??
RedGed2011-08-03 12:43:08

You on the coaching staff Luis?? HERE to win???

i disagree and think we should be winning, but at some level somewhere, we are going to have to start building some sort of posession game, because our midfield crop are never going to get better or experienced when the ball is constantly hoofed above them.

Managed to see the game this morning - thought Marco made a massive difference. For a change we had someone to hold possession in attacking third, and provide incisive passes. Our goal was superb - Marco's cross perfect, Bevin's header brave and well-finished. If Lucas had put away one of the two chances when Marco released him, we'd have got the full points. Lucas' second effort was particularly disappointing, he fluffed around when he needed to keep it simple and just try to finish.

Thought Uruguay were pretty slick for most part - they were very unlucky with the disallowed goal, and after they equalised I thought they'd run all over us, but think they started to get tired as their combination play in the attacking third started getting a bit sloppy (although part of the reason for this is that they brought on another forward when chasing the game, and he was absolutely honking). Marinovic made some top saves - one late on in the first half, and a double-save early in the second kept us in the game. He still looks a bit flaily on crosses and high-balls in the box, and his handling of shots got noticably sloppier in the second-half, but he usually had enogh composure to gather at the second attempt. Overall did pretty well all things considered.

And finally - still don't see Lovemore as anything great. Came on with 20 to go, and was largely anonymous. Until he got caught offside, but went ahead trying to finish the 1-on-1 anyway - and blasted it ridiculously high and wide while attempting a placed finish into a top corner under no pressure from anyone. Dear Lord.

Reminds me of 2010 World Cup 1-1, 1-1, ??  .Massively looking forward to Portugal game!!

Great result for NZ U20 lads. A draw is much better than a loss. Push hard, boys!

http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/highlights/video/video=1485673/index.html

nice goal. Those stats at the end tell a story- possesion and shots! another smash and grab from a Kiwi team

other stats committed most fouls in the tournament..35  with 2nd highest fouls suffered too.. 37
5 yellow cards highest though Cameroon v Portugal game could change that.

Portugal 1 - 0 Cameroon FT.  Portugal to top of group B we're still second...

So, Uruguay to beat Cameroon and we're in? Is that right?

Bevin's goal. My word. I can't get my head around how we managed to pull off such a classy move against a top side like Uruguay.

I really hope we never put Lovemore on the park again though, he is absolutely woeful.

Depends on results in other groups. But chances are we'll need something from the Portugal game to ensure further progress.

 Team               Played     W    D      L      F   A    Pts
Portugal                2          1     1      0     1    0    4
NZL                       2          0     2      0     2   2     2
Uruguay                2          0     2      0     1   1     2
Cameroon             2          0     1     1      1   2     1


Possibilities
NZ win v Portugal = Qualify
NZ draw with Portugal (0-0) and Uruguay vs  Cameroon draw (0-0) = NZ Qualify
NZ draw with Portugal (0-0) and Uruguay vs Cameroon draw (1-1) = Draw lots for 2nd & 3rd
NZ draw with Portugal (1-1) or higher and Uruguay vs Cameroon draw(1-1)= NZ qualify
NZ draw with Portugal and Uruguay beat Cameroon = NZ finish 3rd in group (must finish in best 4 of 3rd place teams)
NZ draw with Portugal and Cameroon beat Uruguay = NZ finish 3rd in group
NZ lose v Portugal(0-1) and Cameroon beat Uruguay( 1-0)  = NZ finish 3rd in group





kiwiMalaysia422011-08-03 18:47:12

We can do this, I believe, bring on the flash Portuguese bastards.

This depends on what the score is in the Uruguay v Cameroon game - if it's 3-3 for example, Uruguay would be second then.

forget endless permutations of qualification

foal says
we win and we in

Of course we play ugly alongside Uruguay. They have great age group pedigree. Cameroon qualified ahead of Nigeria (I think), so they not bad either.
You do noy become an artistic football side or learn to play like these sides overnight. But we are definitely making progress. And if you consider results from other age group world cups in recent years these results in Colombia are not a complete fluke. We have at least learned how to make life difficult for these teams. Yes, we are still going to get the odd hiding and yes we have had large doses of luck in both games, but 10 years ago we might have got real lucky against uruguay and still lost 3 nil.
And Rojas is class. If he was playing in a side with a bit more ball and class around him he'd be an absolute menace at this tournie.

basically, we are now consistently qualifying for FIFA tournaments and are consistently picking up points and in many cases influencing the outcome of the group = sending other teams home

and occasionally getting out of the group stage

huge difference from say 10-15 years ago !!

Will good results in u17 and u20s improve all whites ranking?

hmmm,  in 5 yrs time, yes

huge difference from 4 years ago!

Aside from rojas, Bevin was definitly the most skillful nzer on the pitch

I think his best position could ultimately be as an attacking/creative midfielder however

Nah, Nigeria are African champions at this level - they're in the group with Croatia, Saudi Arabia and Guatemala. Dreading that game tomorrow.

The one thing that is really disappointing - at U17, U20 and Senior level we don't have one genuine attacking midfielder (Marco is a winger) who can get on the ball and control the play. 

Even if they are a minority it does amaze me though that people are making comments like "I'd rather we lose and play well so our guys can get picked up by Euro clubs" etc etc. I didn't see the game but for me that's another fantastic result that advances the development of NZ football that little bit more in all sorts of direct and indirect ways.

Just to put the game into context, I watched the Aussies play the other night and they were laughably poor considering the team is made up almost entirely of professionals, many quite experienced, several at European clubs. They were disorganised, couldn't pass or control the ball, defended poorly and lacked motivation. Only naive goalkeeping let them get way with a late, undeserved equaliser.