New Zealand Men's U-20s

Ah yeah I dont think Tomi played the match in Hamilton come to think of it. Think he is with St Albans in Melbourne now, near the top of the 2nd tier state league.

A few days ago I got to chat to one of the players, his father is a friend of mine. The player is part of the defensive section of the team and spoke about the fact they were being coached to get the ball forward with a more direct approach. He spoke about how frustrating this was and that he found it difficult to play this way because all the way through his playing career he had been coached to play out from the back  at club, Federation and NTC level. It was a totally new way to play for him. Now at international level the long ball appears to be part of the tactical approach. 

I find this sad because all through NZ we have players from junior through to youth level being coached under directives from NZF to  the federations to the clubs to play out from the back.  We even have retreating lines in play for certain age groups to encourage this style of football.

In all honestly I have not yet been able to watch the U20 side play and the first game i will get to will be the opening game. I think I am going to be disappointed by what i see.

All well and good wanting to play like  Barca but if you only have the Soldiers to play like Stoke?

Just let them play the game the best they can

I think it's more about not getting caught with ball near our goal - minimize turn overs in our half 

[/quote] or is it a case of cutting cap to suit the cloth ?

All well and good wanting to play like  Barca but if you only have the Soldiers to play like Stoke?

[/quote]

Maybe if the players are allowed to continue to develop along the path which has been set forth by NZF regarding junior and youth level abilities then we may have a chance of producing more players capable of pulling it off. However to ask them to switch to a style of play they havent been growing with is the best way to continue producing Stoke....

We will never develop quality players if we get scared and give up and go long at the final step

At this level they think & react too slowly to play a passing game out from the back.

Funny to think of a kiwi defender finding it difficult to play a long ball game. Does this generation have no respect for our time-honoured traditions?

Ricki Herbets All White Army

It must be really difficult trying to get your head around the concept that when you get the ball you kick it forwards instead of sideways or backwards...

Edit: Just jokes, before someone lectures me... although obviously a direct or longball game is easier to execute, which is why technically challenged teams do it

under-8s 101.

yup - that's about my level

Friendlies, smiendlies...

I'm looking at our chances with renewed hope (despite the 4-2 loss to Austria today) after the Argentina u-20's were shot down in flames 3-1 on Friday night by the Tahiti national team.

I'm thinking Argentina will still be good in the tournament.

And NZ....who knows...could sneak a win and a draw if things go their way....

I agree that Argentina will be very good at our tournament. I just hope the kiwi boys can progress from they're pool to the next round, with our fan support let's hope they do. 

The fact we have been competitive gives me hope. An early goal could be all we need to get momentum.

At the end of the tournament if one or two of our players get picked up I will consider the tournament a success.

Hmm... from what I've seen whenever we score an early goal we spend the rest of the match going backwards, trying to stem the onslaught. I reckon a cunning ploy would be not to score an early goal and try to stifle things at 0 - 0 until the final few minutes when, with our superior fitness plus determination plus desperation plus the deafening & encouraging roar of the croud, we suddenly score 2.

#non-alignment

^ Change of plan. Clayton Lewis hat-trick plus two direct frees from our Bill and we edge out UKrain 5-4 in stoppage time.

Some interesting stats previewing NZ's first game from FIFA.com today:

Ukraine usually win their opening games and the host team usually wins the opening game of the tournament:

http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/me...

"Ukraine return to the U-20 World Cup after a ten-year hiatus. The eastern Europeans’ only two victories from eight matches played came in opening games, 4-2 against Chile in 2001 and 3-1 against Panama in 2005. The host team have kicked off their campaign with a three-goal victory in each of the last three editions: Egypt overcame Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 in 2009, Colombia saw off France by the same scoreline in 2011 and Turkey beat El Salvador 3-0 two years ago. The last home side to lose were Canada, who suffered a 3-0 reverse against Chile in 2007."

It won't be the end of the world if the kiwis lose this match but what a shot in the arm for the tournament if they get even a draw. A win would be fantastic....it would probably galvanise the country behind the team. Worst result would be a 3 or 4 goal beating. My heart says NZ 2-1 but my head says Ukraine 3-1. 

Pretty exciting really.Loving the footy

four kings for game

Phoenix represent!!

Stream?

Prime TV?

Wow good croud

Come on lads go hard

yep excellent turnout - well done

plenty of all whites pedigree last names in this squad

http://cricfree.tv/watch/live/new-zealand-u20-vs-u...

Pretty average stream, still hoping for something better, but its better than nothing.

does anyone have a stream? I don't have a TV

http://www.yopika.tv/20150530/v-haha_sport_1_name-1082317-5568d4b7da4758.26118507.html

Only 200 tickets left for this game.  Tremendous effort there.

Would bloody love a win here!  COYJAW