New Zealand Men's U-20s

first half was indeed dreadful.tactics seemed to be to forget having a midfield, push 5 up into the frontline asap, and then hoof it forwards. Timing of passing was all wrong until we finally got it right with the equalizer. Horrible tactics to watch. Second half we seemed to have much better shape and used our size advantage to overwhelm Myanmar. I thought rufer did well up front and stevens was handy when he came on.

In the 1997 tournament Belgium got through as the best third-placed qualifier of all and were routed 10-0 by Brazil !

So any result better than that would make us better than Belgium with their proud football pedigree....

South Korea also lot 10-3 to Brazil in that tournament in the group stage.

Anything can happen in youth world cups - the unpredictability is part of the fun I think.

I put it down to nerves, the more they play together the more confident they become. proud of the boys

Anyone planning on going to Hamilton? Trying to work out if it is worth contacting the LOC to try organise a zone for the game.

Yea might as well give it a try...I think James Bannyntyne (former NZ gk) is one of the LOC here in Hamilton, give him a call...it also has to be organised with ticketek as well, so maybe one of the yellow fever/white noise lads should get on the phone to James.

I'll bring the chant sheets.

Are we dropping "There's Only One Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi"?

Real question is does anyone have a recording of Joel Stevens Goal celebration??

with those moves he actually has gone up in my opinion as a player. He is an athlete 

have faith in the boys not conceding above 5 goals, might even nab one of our own!

Living on faith - crap weather, a dodgy pen for us with a red for them and some bookmakers on the sideline on the phone to Sepp.

The Perfect Storm!

could be the biggest upset of the WC..ya never know.

Wonder where Tyler will watch it and who's side he'll be on.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/69180725/junior-all-whites-coach-wary-of-pressure-from-home-croud

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/69220106/penalty-practice-comes-at-a-good-time-as-junior-all-whites-prepare-for-portugal

Fifa World Cup: U-20s seeking shock victory

U-20 FIFA World Cup: With Myanmar behind them, NZ now face big guns

short clip from tv1 news http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/junior-all-whites-ready-challenge-themselves-against-portugal-6334850

and one from Gourdie http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/junior-all-whites-face-challenge-against-portugal-2015060917#axzz3cYcrNznb

TAB preview 

Player profiles here too https://www.youtube.com/user/TABSportNZ/videos

Media reports of between 200 to 300 football scouts are at the U20 WC. I know Marseille has a scout in NZ as have many of the other big French clubs....PSG, Lyon etc. I would imagine that most of the top leagues would have guys in NZ looking for talent.

I guess the Marseille guy will be keeping an eye on Tuiloma. He is out of contract so he needed a few big performances to help himself out. Playing him at CB won't help as Marseille are not interested in him in that position.

A couple of other kiwis who I think might attract some attention are Brotherton and Billingsley. CB's normally develop later in age but Brotherton looks like he might have a future somewhere as a pro. Ditto Billingsley...for a seventeen year old he looks like he could become quite a useful No9(why he's being played wide is beyond me) If any of the kiwis do get picked up I hope its not to England. Age group football in the UK has been a black hole for kiwi talent

Sweet got 3 friends and I are heading to the game. Do we have a 'zone' to goto? Or a pre drinking pub?

Considering NZ has started every player that they have put on media duties in the days leading up to each game ..Andrew Blake should be starting this weekend.

Few of us are heading to the Helm.

Zone is looking unlikely, but reckon we try to migrate towards one of the sections behind the goal. 

Brotherton heading to Uni unless offered a pro deal.

Pretty sure he along with most other footballers in the team given the choice would pick the pro option.

Might try to make it to the Helm as well. Heading in with a couple others and have a group from my footy team also heading in. Should be good numbers IMO (10,000)

Tangent here - does anyone else watching on TV find the silver colour of the numbers on the AWs playing shirts a real prick to make out? Even in close up it can be hard.....and it's not as if I'm rocking a 14 inch (ladies!) tele......

Mines a 35 inch.  But I find nothing beats watching live...

Or he could not go to uni and in 4 years be David Mulligan.

Because some muppet at Nike thought silver was a good idea.

Helm and speights ales house are a bit too pricey for pre-game beers. Think I will head to Jaipur and have Indian there with a couple of beers, good pregame meal.

Ill be pre helm'ing it at the good George. Hopefully i make it to the helm

Sounds like a back three/five tomorrow so expect numbers behind the ball!

If you come to the Helm, come and have a yarn. A few people have taken pics of us, posted them on social media but not come over to say hi. It's kinda creepy.

Of course they might also photograph you. Then post.

This is what happens when you are a 'celebrity'.