New Zealand Men's U-20s

Off the bench though... didn't start which was a little surprising.

apparently elia did a classy dribble down the line and had a shot which the keeper just saved. a-league next year? 

Netherlands u-21 >> better than Aussie u-20 (beat them 3-1)

(Netherlands failed to qualify for FIFA u-20 World Cup)

Aussie u-20 >>>> better than NZ u-20 (5-0 cakewalk)

SHEET - HOW THE F**** WILL WE COPE WITH: URUGUAY (QUALIFIED AS THIRD BEST U-20 SIDE IN SOUTH AMERICA)

AND CROATIA (FIFTH EQUAL BEST SIDE IN EUROPE)

Having said that, we are very lucky to be in the weakest group with "only" the third best qualifier from South America and the fifth-equal best qualifier from Europe, with a bonus game against Uzbekistan (a semi-finalist in the AFC u-20 Championship but who are far from terrifying me thinks).

HOW OUR OPPONENTS QUALIFIED:

SOUTH AMERICAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ARGENTINA 2013  (TOP SIX TEAMS AFTER GROUP PLAY PLAYED IN A FINAL GROUP WITH THE TOP FOUR QUALIFYING): NOTE BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA BOMBED OUT- BRAZIL BOTTOM OF THEIR 5 TEAM PRELIMINARY GROUP; ARGENTINA , THE HOSTS, SECOND-LAST IN THEIRS!!!

Team                        Pld   W  D  L  GF  GA    Pts 

Colombia                  5       4   0   1   6     3      12

 Paraguay                 5       3   1   1   7     4      10

 Uruguay                   5       3   0   2   5      3       9

 Chile                        5       2   1   2    7      6       7

 Peru                         5       1   2   2   6      8        5

 Ecuador                   5       0    0  5   4     11       0

2012 UEFA EUROPEAN U-19 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ESTONIA JULY 2012 (TOP THREE TEAMS IN EACH GROUP QUALIFIED):

 Group A: P W D L Pts: Spain 3 2 1 0 7  Greece 3 2 0 1 6 Portugal 3 1 1 1 4 Estonia 3 0 0 3 0

 Grpoup B: P W D L Pts: England 3 2 1 0 7 France 3 2 0 1 6 Croatia 3 1 1 1 4 Serbia 3 0 0 3 0

Semifinals: 

 

 Greece

12 July 2012
 Spain 3 – 3 (a.e.t.) France

Final:

 

 Greece

AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP UAE NOVEMBER 2012

Uzbekistan topped their group in group play ahead of Jordan, North Korea and Vietnam.

Semifinals : 14 November 2012 :South Korea 3 – 1 Uzbekistan

                                                                  Iraq   2  - 1 Australia  

Final: 17 November 2012
South Korea 1 – 1 Iraq
                       4-1 Penalties

There is some discrepancy when comparing The Netherlands u21 and u20 WC teams. IIRC, players in the UEFA u21 comp only need to be u21 at the beginning of qualification, hence players as old as 23 currently playing in 'u21' sides where as u20 WC players need to be 20 or under at the time of the WC.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/32990275926/Young-Socceroos-vs-New-Zealand

That 3rd goal, wtf were they doing.

Our defence looks so ordinary. 

Big pete is totally awesome all the time.

Yep agree with your last comment. I mean how many players did Chris actually make an effort to go and see play before picking a squad. It just feels like if you were a 'pro' you automatically got in the team. I heard they didn't even have to attend the training camps etc. 

Hard for pros to attend training camps when they are getting paid to train with their clubs!

And considering the level of intensity at their trainings compared to national league teams etc, i doubt they would see any benefit in coming back here to train in their "time off" as opposed to probably sticking to a individually created fitness plan from their full time fitness coaches.

The above is obviously pointelss because surely your post aimed at having a laugh in regards to training camps.

Fair question on match attendance however.

My point is I do not believe that just because you are a 'pro' then you must obviously be the best we have. Some young lads r waiting for the right opportunity for them to become professional not just any opportunity and are working hard at the club they are currently at etc...... I personally do not think that being a pro should give u a free ticket into the team and into the starting lineup!

More happens at training camps than fitness etc it about team building and learning to play as a team. How can we expect these boys to gel and play as a team when they have only spent 1-2 days together before playing an international game???????

True. But got to question whether it is worthwhile flying players over for a day game in Auckland. Pattern, formation and set pieces can be partially learnt without the need for a field session.

Care to explain?

that is why I said partly. You can learn what you need to do by looking at a playbook. Then practice on the field later.

Well after such well reasoned arguements I have totally changed my opinion... pro playes should all be expected to particpate in training camps.

In fact I see no reason why this should not apply for the national team as well... i mean it makes sense. Anyone can pick up a pro contract and pay professionally. It takes a real talent to forgo those opportunities to stay here in NZ and play amatuer (real) football.

If a kiwi is good enough to make a Championship team (as a reserve / academy player) I'd put money on him been better than 95 percent of the other players here atleast.

There just should be no fast tracks. The best players wherever they play should be picked at the time. I just believe no assumptions should be made as to how good you must be at this age because of where you play and whether you get paid or not!

Any word on potential Sky TV coverage of the tournament ?

One way you could look at it is that with the Euro based players not coming back for the Australia game provided the other players a chance claim a starting position for the WC. seems like most of them didn't.

Junior All Whites v Iraq u-20 MIDNIGHT TONIGHT NZ TIME

For future reference, Turkey is nine hours behind us here in NZ.

NZ u-20 UPCOMING GAMES SCHEDULE (LOCAL TIME GIVEN):

Thursday, June 13 | Anatalya, Turkey

3.00pm | Iraq v New Zealand

Monday, June 17 | Anatalya, Turkey

3.00pm | Egypt v New Zealand

FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013

Monday, June 23 | Bursa, Turkey

5.00pm | New Zealand v Uzbekistan

Thursday, June 26 | Bursa, Turkey

6.00pm | New Zealand v Uruguay

Sunday, June 29 | Bursa, Turkey

6.00pm | Croatia v New Zealand

Not just talking about the Euro based 'pros' . Point being maybe the kids we have in the team are not necessarily the best we have!

Ah I get it, your kid didnt get picked?

hahaha don't have kids but good try......it just my opinion as a follower as nz football

Worth a go :p

Good that you have a educated opinion than.

Who do you think should be in the team and importantly who shouldnt be in the team.

Not saying I have all the answers either or a team list just think the selection process needs looking at more closely because like I said not sure how many games Chris went to and actually watched players we have here in NZ just feel like when I look at the squad apart from a small few, most are either on pro contracts or closely linked to Pheonix etc through Team Wellington etc and that these players on not necessarily the best players NZ has. They are just the ones we know about because they have a higher profile.

I agree that a pro contract doesn't necessarily mean an individual player is better. But collectively, a pro player is more likely to be better than an amateur, so it does make sense that they represent a majority. 

To be honest, if you can't name any specifics, it isn't anything more than speculation about the process. They could well be the best we have. 

Not that I know anything more than you do. 

I think that everyone would agree that the pro players such as payne, howieson, boyd, adams, fenton and jordan etc are definitely deserving of their place in the side. However where their could be an area of concern is whether all the team wellington and phoenix a players are as good as some others (there seems to be a slight bias towards this area). For example there are a few players at US colleges or elsewhere who could stake a claim to be in the squad. For example Jordan Vale who now plays for UCLA one of the top soccer colleges in america. He also started at the last under 17 world cup at cm for this team.....

also interesting that only one auckland based player made the squad...

too many coming in cold to an existing squad?

Re: my post above of NZ team schedule. Just noticed NZ Football have stuffed up in all their listings of NZ team games in Turkey.

THESE ARE THE REAL MATCH DAYS (TURKISH TIME):

 SUNDAY 23, WEDNESDAY 26, SATURDAY 29

(Which equates in NZ Time to MONDAY 24 2 AM, THURSDAY 27 3 AM, SUNDAY 30 3 AM)

NZ Football has it right for the two friendlies v Iraq tonight at midnight (NZT) and Monday v Egypt at midnight (NZT).  

This is what NZ Football has been putting out (the days are wrong but the dates correct):

FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 (All dates are Turkish time)

Monday, June 23 | Bursa, Turkey

5.00pm | New Zealand v Uzbekistan

Thursday, June 26 | Bursa, Turkey

6.00pm | New Zealand v Uruguay

Sunday, June 29 | Bursa, Turkey

6.00pm | Croatia v New Zealand

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NZ U-20 FRIENDLIES TONIGHT AND MONDAY AT MIDNIGHT (NZT) V IRAQ AND EGYPT IN ANTALYA:

There will be a lot of English interest in these two NZ u-20 friendlies in Antalya which are involving England's opponents in the tournament.

Probably a lot of England team managment and media watching our team in these games.

England arrived in Antalya on Wednesday (about 16 hours ago)..

England play their group games v Iraq and Chile in Antalya and then travel to Bursa for their game v Egypt..

Could be a few scouts hovering around too? Good exposure for our players.

http://www.thefa.com/england/mens-u20s

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FIFA NOT WORRIED BY UNREST IN TURKEY 13/06/13 :

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/en/sports/item/14223-turkey-protests-won%E2%80%99t-stop-u-20-world-cup-%E2%80%94fifa.html

This month’s Under-20 World Cup in Turkey will still go ahead, says FIFA, despite the ongoing anti-government protests across the country.

The demonstrations are focused on Istanbul, which will host 11 matches during the three-week tournament that begins on 21 June.

But FIFA said in a statement: “The riots deal with a domestic issue based in two contained areas in Istanbul.

“It is not foreseen that the tournament locations are affected.”

-