New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

You STILL can't buy the remaining football tickets until May. The organisers have made a real hash of this...surely you would want the tickets to be available once the draw is announced? Shambles.

Nope, he's said on twitter that he's looking to play in the May all whites games.

Christopher Chang: Star-less Olympics works in NZ's favour
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/english-soccer/news/article.cfm?c_id=500842&objectid=10801562

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1637&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=9f04a08534

The Football Ferns will play two matches against Australia on June 24 and 27 at a yet to be determined venue across the Tasman while the Oly Whites will face fellow Olympic qualifiers Japan in Tokyo on July 11 en route to London.

New Zealand U-23 v Japan U-23
National Stadium
Tokyo, Japan
July 11
Kickoff TBC

 

Hey guys! 

My travel company has bought blocks of Olympic tickets for Mens football, and have put together packages. By buying these packages/tickets through us, you get to sit with friends, and other kiwis, to create an awesome atmosphere.

Including tickets, trains from london, and supporters pack (tees, flags etc).

You can buy packages for all games, or individual ones. 

See the link below for all options and games! Including the double header at Old Trafford.
http://www.eventelephant.com/londonnzsupportersclub

Note that you can buy match tickets and supporters pack seperately, if you decide to find your own way to the ground.
This is by far the best way for everyone to sit together, as we have bought blocks of tickets!

email: [email protected] for any questions/info...

Cheers, 

Dan

http://www.eventelephant.com/londonnzsupportersclub

http://www.eventelephant.com/londonnzsupportersclub

 

Awesome news!

How Gleeson and a few others will feel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBLfNdIhchA&ob=av2e

 

 

 

....yes...terrible work *grabs coat*

Wow! They really rank us as one of the main attractions (men's and women's teams) at FIFA:

http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/newsid=1623022/index.html

"Highlights of the draw include the Team GB Women’s team kicking off the tournament and the Olympic Games against New Zealand in Cardiff. In the Men’s tournament, current world champions Spain play Japan at Hampden Park and St James’ Park Newcastle will host Brazil v New Zealand."

Oly Whites- up there with Brazil !!! 

..Or likely as cannon fodder against big guns Big Pete. ;-)

Have been passing the time whilst Yellow Fever website was down posting on British newspaper websites covering the Olympic Football, adding comments about our men's and women's sides to inform the British public who no doubt know nothing about us.

All helps in a small way to add interest and promote these games.

Doesn't take long to register on these sites in order to post comments.

Also good for the latest Olympic Football news.

PAPERS OF CITIES HOSTING NZ MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIDES:

(keep an eye out for future reports you can add a post to):

Cardiff:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/london-olympics-2012/

http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/sport/national/

Coventry:  

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2012/04/24/belarus-and-new-zealand-to-kick-off-olympic-football-in-coventry-92746-30827925/

Manchester:  

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/

Newcastle:  

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/topics/london-2012-olympics/

NATIONAL PAPERS AND MEDIA: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/olympics-2012-football

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/index.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/olympics/

http://www.metro.co.uk/olympics/898578-failure-to-sell-womens-football-tickets-risks-low-key-start-to-2012-olympics

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/football

http://www1.skysports.com/olympics/news-wire/15234

UK FOOTBALL FANS SITES (NATIONAL AND CLUBS OF CITIES HOSTING NZ TEAM GAMES):

http://www.thefootballforum.net/index.php?/topic/210769-mens-football-at-the-2012-olympic-games/

http://www.footballforumuk.com/topic/57458-olympic-football-draw/

http://www.redcafe.net/f7/olympic-football-draw-352310/

http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=256229&start=60

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18396157

http://www.nufc-forum.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=44539.0

http://toonforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2102&start=20

http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/139743-Olympic-Football-at-SJP

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=386&fid=185&sty=2&act=1&mid=2114900395

http://apostlewelshfootie.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1944&page=4

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=77263

http://www.ccmb.co.uk/fudforum/index.php?t=msg&th=318637&goto=3137546&rid=0#msg_3137546

http://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/15092-Team-GB-football-team

 

 

 

We've had loads of interest in the Olympic ticket packages... so get in quick... 

UKSC Travel (kiwi owned travel company) has bought blocks of Olympic tickets for Mens football, and have put together packages. By buying these packages/tickets through us, you get to sit with friends, and other kiwis, to create an awesome atmosphere.

Including tickets, trains from london, and supporters pack (tees, flags etc).

You can buy packages for all games, or individual ones. 

See the link below for all options and games! Including the double header at Old Trafford.
http://www.eventelephant.com/londonnzsupportersclub

Note that you can buy match tickets and supporters pack seperately, if you decide to find your own way to the ground.
This is by far the best way for everyone to sit together, as we have bought blocks of tickets!

email: [email protected] for any questions/info...

Cheers, 

Dan

Or email [email protected] to find out our itinerary - so we can all try meet at a bar before all games to have a pint!

NZ OLYMPIC TEAM OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

(Oly-Whites and Football Ferns are part of the team)

Can help generate interest in the Oly Whites and Football Ferns by posting on the NZ Olympic Team official Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/nzolympicteam

My posting from 17/05/12:

 

•  

  Peter Commandeur

  Looking forward as a football fan to seeing our men's and women's football sides in action at the Olympics- a huge game in store with the first event of the whole Olympics two days before the Opening Ceremony being our Football Ferns v Great Britain in the first match of the Women's Football at the home of Welsh rugby, the 75,000 capacity Millenium Stadium in Cardiff- and later our men's "Oly Whit...es" playing Brazil at St James Park, Newcastle.
  
  Follow news and opinions on our men's Olympic Football team here:
  http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/forums/all-whites-and-other-nz-international-teams/new-zealand-u-23s-olympics?page=22
  
  Women's Football Ferns here:
  http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/forums/all-whites-and-other-nz-international-teams/football-ferns?page=12
  
  News Stories here:
  http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/news
  
  NZ Football Official site here:
  http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/
  
  News and opinions on individual players here:
  http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/forums/kiwi-players-overseasSee More

  

  New Zealand U-23s (Olympics) | Yellow Fever

  www.yellowfever.co.nz

  Brazil Ouch Belarus and Egypt are beatable imo. Could have been a much worse draw. NZ to make the quarters. Who did the women get?

  LikeUnlike· · Share · May 17 at 11:12am

NZ Olympic Team official website:

http://www.olympic.org.nz/

Another official site for news, tickets, competitions:

http://www.nz2012.com/

NZ Olympic Official You Tube site:

http://www.youtube.com/user/nzolympics

From this site: series "When were you most proud to be a New Zealander?"

Divya Dhar, Young New Zealander of the Year 2010 and football fan on All Whites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH50WTA9aCM&list=UUD_iaPK4FJYtY55A56Vn5qQ&index=2&feature=plcp

Legendary Big Pete

LUIS ESTEVES AND LIAM GRAHAM MUST FIGURE IN EMBLEN'S OLY WHITES PLANS:

Just want to start a campaign to draw attention to two young Kiwis doing well overseas who haven't figured in Neil Emblen's plans yet but are playing at a level well above ASB Premiership and to me are screaming out to be included in his Olympic squad:

 

LUIS ESTEVES: Ex- Central United and NZ u-20's midfielder transferred from one Major League Soccer youth team to another this month: Portland u-23's to Seattle Sounders u-23. He had previously been part of Belenenses u-19 squad in Portugal's top flight:

 

Luis Esteves Transfer History Season Date         11/12 05.2012  Portland Timbers U23  Seattle Sounders U23     10/11 05.2011  CF Belenenses Lissabon U19  Portland Timbers U23     10/11 07.2010  Central United FC Jugend  CF Belenenses Lissabon U19

Esteves played 54 mins in midfield a 4-1 win v Fraser Valley Mariners on the weekend:

http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/stats/2012/2883550.html

Game in progress right now- Seattle u-23 v Vancouver with Esteves starting again and prominent in the live match blog here

http://www.soundersu23.com/home/631321.html

How cool- Luis Esteves scored as I was typing this !!!!

GOAL - 38th minute - In the 38th minute, the Sounders neutralized a half, mostly controlled by Vancouver. Luis Esteves snuck in from his wide left position toward the top of the penalty area. A couple quick passes between the midfielder and the Sounders attackers left the New Zealander with a chance to shoot. Esteves drove a low shot from the edge of the box to the goalkeeper’s right to tie the match 1-1.

Two members of the Oly Whites' Olympic qualifying squad have played in this Premier Development League competition: Jake Gleeson and Anthony Hobbs, who has recently signed for Portland Timbers u-23. Whilst Esteves is now in his second season in this league, has established himself as a regular in his second Major League Soccer youth team and up to now has been totally ignored by our Oly White selectors.

 

 PDL 2012 Northwest Division Points: Portland Timbers U-23s 12 Kitsap Pumas 9 Sounders FC U23 9 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 8 Washington Crossfire 7 North Sound SeaWolves FC 3 Victoria Highlanders FC 3 Fraser Valley Mariners FC 1

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LIAM GRAHAM- VICENZA PRIMAVERA- former Central United player now regular right-back in top Italian Second Division youth side (actually the reserve side as the youth and reserve leagues are combined) playing regularly against AC Milan, Inter Milan, Brescia's etc. youth teams who play in the same league.

NZ article on how he was scouted by Vicenza:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10719850

Vicenza Youth squad featuring Graham here:

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/vicenza-primavera/kader/verein_14925.html

Liam Graham details here: played 12 matches, started in 11of Vicenza's 20 matches this season (missed first five due to injury), 3 goals ( plus he played two matches last season's end after signing):

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/liam-graham/leistungsdaten/spieler_101658.html

Starting vs AC Milan youth in Feb:

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/vicenza-primavera-ac-milan-primavera/index/spielbericht_1145277.html

Also a regular in other Italian and European youth competitions for Vicenza: e.g. scored in Viareggio  Cup to help team to the semi-final vs Juventus youth:

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2012/02/viareggio-cup-2012-day-4-round-up-fiorentina-and-torino-qualify-as-milan-and-roma-are-humbled/

Graham playing in second round Viareggio Cup vs Juventus (only knocked out on penalties):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQnSicdRG2Q

Video of variety of games featuring Liam Graham for Vicenza Primavera:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vicenza+primavera&oq=vicenza+primavera&aq=f&aqi=g-L1&aql=&gs_l=youtube-reduced.3..0i19.260821.272963.0.274419.47.30.0.4.4.5.402.4234.8j8j10j1j1.30.0...0.0.c3F-j8s3QKs

 

 

 

 

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By what Judgement is MLS U-23 higher than ASB Premiership?

When a large percentage of young US players go to college and skip that step completely and plenty of those ex-College kids come back here and fail to make an ASB Premiership side I'm going to say here and now that i don't believe MLS U-23 is of a higher standard than the top of the ASB Premiership.

Besides, Esteves is hardly an unknown around here, I've seen him play a few times and he was nothing special. 

Just because he's playing overseas doesn't make him an awesome footballer all of a sudden.

That's blasphemy around these parts.

Yeah, it's hard to judge such things without seeing the leagues and players in question. However, since the USL Premier Development League which guys like Gleeson, Esteves and now Hobbs have been playing in is apparently the fourth tier of US (North American) football (drawing from the populations of the entire North America = c. 350 million) and includes professionals, over-age players and college players in NCAA down-time, I'm going to hazard it can't be too bad a league and I wouldn't assume at all our ASB Premiership is better. 40 future or past USA internationals have played in this league 1999- 2010 usually before heading to MLS or overseas, plus it has produced Canadian and other internationals and players have gone on to the Premier League (e.g. Jonathan Spector) or the Bundesliga etc.  

As for the Italian Primavera Liam Graham plays in, which is an u-20 comp. with a couple of over-age players allowed, involving all teams from Serie A and Serie B combined, playing in three regional groupings, this is clearly one of the best youth leagues in the world. Twenty percent of its players are foreigners, so you have to be pretty decent to get a chance.

ASB Premiership = situated maybe somewhere between about the sixth and eighth tier of English football, i.e. one of the regional semi-pro leagues, several steps below the Conference National.

Info on USL Premier Development League:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USL_Premier_Development_League

 

The USL Premier Development League (commonly known as the PDL) is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid. It is currently the top level men's amateur soccer competition in the United States, and has 73 teams competing in four conferences, split into nine regional divisions; unofficially, it is considered to be the fourth tier of competition, behind Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League and the USL Professional Division, and roughly equal with the National Premier Soccer League.

While not strictly a "professional" league in the sense that the majority of players do not receive payment, the PDL prides itself on its professionalism in terms of its organization and the way the league is run, and its dedication to developing young soccer players, preparing them for future careers in professional leagues in the United States and elsewhere. As PDL seasons take place during the summer months, the player pool is drawn mainly from elite NCAA college soccer players seeking to continue playing high level soccer during their summer break, which they can do while still maintaining their college eligibility.

However, in recent years, teams such as Laredo Heat, New Orleans Jesters, Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, Kitsap Pumas and the Hollywood United Hitmen have been embracing at least partial professionalism through a new program called PDL-Pro, whereby teams can choose to employ players who are paid for their performances,[1] but who still meet the age eligibility criteria. This does not contravene NCAA rules, which state that college players cannot play alongside professionals, but may play against them. What this also means, however, is that PDL-Pro teams cannot have any active NCAA players on their rosters, but may employ NAIA and community college players, ex-NCAA players who have already graduated, or other local players who do not play college soccer at all.

In addition, PDL squads often also include standout high school and junior club players, as well as former professionals seeking to continue competing at a high level, often having been forced to retire from top flight competition due to age or injury. PDL rules dictate that a maximum of eight players on each team's 26-man roster can be over 23 years old, while at least three players on each team's roster must be 18 or younger.

Increasingly, the PDL is seen as a 'shop window' for professional clubs looking to discover and identify aspiring professional players who may enter the MLS SuperDraft in future years. Many of the players currently playing in Major League Soccer and elsewhere began their careers in the PDL.

Liam Graham gets big ups from a Melbourne Hearts and Vicenza fan recently on Melbourne Hearts' fans website (there are three Aussies at Vicenza Primavera currently, a club with a long tradition of signing talented Aussies including Paul Okon). This guy is one of the biggest Vicenza bloggers in English online, is fluent in Italian and has contacts in the Vicenza team, so seems to know what he's talking about:

http://mhfcsupporters.com/topic/581-mhfc-where-are-they-now-thread/

http://lanerossidownunder.blogspot.co.nz/

http://www.facebook.com/lanerossidownunder

 

biancorosso7

 

Jeez this Liam Graham guy excites me. A kiwi right back- are you serious?

Guys like Payne & Rowe have been playing for youth /reserve teams in England and have proved they are good enough. So hopefully Graham can step it and keep improving and getting noticed

NZ'S OPPONENTS BRAZIL LIVE ON ESPN ON SKY TOMORROW MORNING 7AM:

 

Brazil Continue Olympic Preparations

 

Mexico won this game 2-0, with goals to Giovanni Dos Santos and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez.

TIPS FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL COMMENTATORS ON HOW NZ CAN SORT OUT BRAZIL:

http://elephant1-restoration.blogspot.co.nz/

Sunday, June 3, 2012,   Brazil v. Mexico 2012: 7 Quick Thoughts

 

BRENT LATHAM: MANUEL DE LA TORRES' MEXICO SQUAD USED A BRILLIANT PLAN TO DEFEAT BRAZIL      

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/4255/brent-latham/2012/06/06/3151960/brent-latham-manuel-de-la-torres-mexico-squad-used-a

Let’s get something clear. As exciting as it is to beat Brazil, Mexico’s victory Sunday wasn’t historic in most senses. Mexico has beaten Brazil plenty of times before - in fact, El Tri has had the better of the rivalry in recent years.   So there was little extraordinary about the 2-0 win in Dallas, in and of itself. But for those observing the way things played out on the field at Cowboys Stadium, there was at least one remarkable aspect to the game: the way El Tri managed the match for 90 minutes.

By any measure, Mexico is a very skilled team. But few would argue that El Tri is as skilled as Brazil from front to back. That’s not a knock on Mexico - few teams in the world fall in that category. (And for those who would take credit away from El Tri by saying that this was an U-23 Brazilian team, that argument doesn’t hold water. In all likelihood, this version of Brazil sports the majority of the team that will turn out in the World Cup in 2014. They may be headed to the Olympics this summer, but for all intents and purposes, this is the full Brazilian national team.)

Mexico has beaten Brazil in the past with plenty of flair, playing tu a tu. This time out, though, instead of rolling the dice and hoping for the best of an offensive slugfest, El Tri managed the game defensively in a way that significantly increased the chances of things working out in its favor.

A young and somewhat naïve Brazil team, it turned out, played right into Mexico’s hands. Happy to let O Selecao control possession, El Tri waited back in the opening half hour, attacking cautiously with few numbers. The strategy paid off in spades. Relying on a piece of individual skill from Gio Dos Santos, El Tri grabbed the lead, then doubled it on its second dangerous foray forward.

From there, Mexico was happy to sit back, sometimes with as many as nine players behind the ball, and defend. Brazil out-possessed Mexico two to one and outshot El Tri 16 to six, but seldom looked like a real threat to score after going down by two.

It was a masterful game plan that must have surprised the Brazilians, coming from a Mexican team usually expected to attack all out and let the chips fall where they may.

Of course there’s irony in all this. Last decade, Mexico had its regional dominance temporarily wrested away by an American team that played the same way. During no part of the 2000s was the U.S. clearly more skilled than Mexico, and yet match after match comments afterwards were almost always to the tune of “we outplayed them, but they won.”

Brazil may have said the same thing Sunday, though in soccer such words ring all too hollow. Possession or not, El Tri got the better of things, and it showed on the scoreboard.

The most important development from all this, then, is not another victory over Brazil, but rather the evidence that Mexico can play an intelligent, counterattacking game when called for. In fact, as Manuel de la Torre has no doubt figured out the pieces he’s been dealt on this squad will sometimes lend themselves to that strategy against certain opponents.

The defense is solid enough with Hector Moreno and Maza Rodriguez guiding it, but it’s that much surer with a pair of tough defending central midfielders to place on top of the line and stand pat. Though Mexico’s attack is the most vaunted facet of the national team, beyond a front four of Dos Santos, Barrera, Guardado and Chicharito, there’s not too much for top teams to fear at this point (though that will soon change when the U-23s are integrated). So de la Torre figures, why not let the front four counter at will while having the rest of the team hold down the fort against an attack-happy side like Brazil?

It’s a style that some might consider un-Mexican, but de la Torre knows that sometimes, going forward, it will be his best chance to get a win against the world’s elite. In the end, this more flexible version of El Tri, with a defensive scheme in the playbook, will have a better chance of getting deep into tournaments like the Confederations Cup and indeed, the World Cup.

NEXT BRAZIL OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOUR GAME V ARGENTINA : ESPN : SUNDAY (NZ TIME) ON SKY TV

(Full senior Argentina side including Messi)

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BRAZIL OLYMPIC 3 V DENMARK 1 (Sunday 27 May, ESPN on Sky TV)

The first game of NZ's opponent Brazil's world tour where they're playing a game a week like a club side up to the finals in Britain. Talk about being well-prepared to face the Oly Whites (gulp !!!).

Lineups :  

http://www.soccerfame.com/match/281364/brazil/denmark

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3kN_OT7RxU

Denmark starting lineup:- Sorensen, Agger, Kjaer, Wass, S.Poulsen, C.Poulsen, Zimling, Schone, Eriksen, Krohn-Dehli, Bendtner

Brazil starting lineup:- Jefferson, Danilo, Thiago Silva, Juan, Marcelo, Sandro, Romulo, Oscar, Hulk, Leandro Damiao, Lucas

BRAZIL:         Lucas          Damiao      Hulk

                  Romulo          Oscar            Sandro

    Marcelo             Juan        T. Silva               D. Silva

                                    Jefferson     

Brazil cruised to a 3-1 victory over Denmark in this international friendly match in Hamburg thanks to two goals by Hulk and a Danish own goal. Mano Menezes fielded his preferred 4-3-3 formation with Thiago Silva and Juan in central defense, accompanied by Marcelo and Danilo in the left and right fullback position, respectively. Brazil opted for two deep playing midfielders in Sandro and Romulo, who were positioned behind attacking midfielders Oscar and Lucas Moura. Leandro Damiao and Hulk formed the Brazilian strike partnership with Hulk on the right in a position similar to that which he plays for Porto. Notably, Mano Menezes started the right footed Lucas Moura on the left flank, as a left winger supplementing the Damiao-Hulk pairing.

Denmark’s Marten Olsen opted for a 4-5-1 formation with Bendtner in attack behind a five man midfield composed of Niki Zimling, Lasse Schone, Christian Eriksen, Christian Poulsen and Michael Krohn-Dehli.

Brazil played their usual swift, skilful passing and possession game but can also mix it physically. Perhaps vulnerable at the near post and when the ball is switched quickly.Hulk scored from a great 20 m strike with his left foot after 8 mins. and made it 3-0 after 39 mins after rounding several defenders after pressing on the Danes turned over possession.

Two members of the squad played with Ryan Nelsen at Spurs the past season: Sandro and Bruno Uvini.

_________________________________________________________________________________________ 

BRAZIL 0 - MEXICO 2 (Sunday am) Arlington, Texas

I also watched this game on ESPN (thankfully no Tommy Smyth).  Brazil lost but it should be noted this was Brazil's Olympic u-23 side (fielding 3 over-age players) v Mexico's senior national team

So, was in some ways boys against men. And it was Mexico's last friendly before their World Cup qualifier on the weekend.

Brazil's three over-age players: Hulk- striker (Porto/ soon Chelsea; age 25), Marcelo- leftback (Real Madrid; age 24), Thiago Silva- centreback (AC Milan; age 27)

Hulk: a stocky, compact player like Romario. Scored with great 20 m. strike after 8 mins. and made it 3-0 after 39 mins after rounding a few defenders.

Brazil played their usual swift, skilful possession and passing game but this side can also mix it physically. Their pressing on the Danes often turned over possession.  But perhaps vulnerable at the near post and when the ball is switched quickly.

Thiago Silva: fast and good reader of the game but poor header of the ball, so gives away a lot in the air.

BRAZIL LINEUP: unchanged starting lineup from the 4-1 win over senior USA side the previous week: 

Rafael, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Juan, Sandro,  Leandro Damiao, Oscar, Neymar, Hulk, Danilo

Subs on in second half: Pato (AC Milan), Washington, Bruno Uvini

BRAZIL:      4: 3: 2: 1              Damiao     Hulk

                                   Romulo        Sandro       Oscar  

                          Marcelo         Juan    T. Silva          D. Silva  

                                                        Rafael               

Mexico: Included Hernandez (Man Utd), Giovanni Dos Santos (Spurs), Pablo Barrera (West Ham), Guardado (Valencia)

Had lost only 2 of their last 22 internationals (excluding the u-23 side fielded at the 2011 Copa America). Matched Brazil in their ability to switch play and counter-attack, plus a good team defensive performance.

Dos Santos scored with a beautiful 20th  min. left-footed chip from a tight angle out to the left of the goal after a quick switch of play.

Hernandez added the second from a penalty in the 33rd min. after young centre-half Juan tripped Dos Santos in the box. Juan has been looking a bit of a weak link- clumsy defender.

Brazil had many chances and were unlucky not to score but didn't have enough shots on target. Star young striker Neymar didn't do much but on the other hand was well-marshalled. 

Both Hulk and right-midfielder Oscar looked dangerous. Brazil were denied a legitimate penalty in the 52nd min. when Oscar was taken own by the Mexican goalie.

Pato (AC Milan) came on in the second half, also centre-half Bruno Uvini (Ryan's team-mate at Spurs when on loan for three months at the end of the season - but saw no game time since Ryan was preferred. So Ryan > Bruno Uvini) Bruno Uvini captain of Brazil u-20 world champion side 2011.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZCLTXzIqBg&feature=related

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ALSO FRIENDLY ANNOUNCED JULY 20 V GREAT BRITAIN, MIDDLESBROUGH

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BRAZIL OLYMPIC SQUAD FOR RECENT GAMES (LIKELY FOR FINALS WITH SMALL TWEEKING) - TWO OVER-AGE PLAYERS TO BE EXLUDED FROM FIVE NAMED:

 

Coach: Mano Menezes (also senior Brazil team coach)

The following 22 players were called for the friendlies matches against Denmark on May 26, United States on May 30, Mexico on June 3 and Argentina on June 9, 2012.[46] 

Caps and goals as of June 3, 2012 including the match against Mexico.

 

0#0  Pos.  Player                        (Age)    Caps   Goals       Club  

1 GK Jefferson                            (age 28) 5         0      Al Qadsia /

12 GK Rafael Cabral                     (age 22)  2         0      Santos /

22 GK Neto                               (age 22)  0          0      Fiorentina /

 3 DF Thiago Silva(Captain)           (age 27)  28       1       Milan /

6 DF Marcelo                             (age 24)   12       4       Madrid /

4 DF David Luiz                           (age 25)  11       0       Chelsea /

21 DF Danilo                               (age 20)  5          0       Porto /

23 DF Alex Sandro                      (age 21)  4           0       Porto /

14 DF Juan Jesus                        (age 20)  3           0       Internazionale /

13 DF Bruno Uvini                         (age 21)  2          0      Tottenham Hotspur /

2 DF Rafael da Silva                     (age 21)   1           0      Manchester United /  

7 MF Lucas Moura                       (age 19)  14           1       São Paulo /

5 MFSandro                               (age 23)  12           1       Tottenham Hotspur /

10 MF Oscar                          (age 20)   5          0       Internacional /

18 MF Giuliano                             (age 22)   4          0        Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk /

15 MF Casemiro                            (age 20)   4          0       São Paulo /

8 MF Rômulo                              (age 21)    4           0       Vasco da Gama /   

19 FW Alexandre Pato                 (age 22)   20           7       Milan /

11 FW Neymar                          (age 20)    18            9       Santos /

20 FW Hulk                               (age 25)    12           2       Porto /

9 FW Leandro Damião                  (age 22)     8           1        Internacional /

17 FW Wellington Nem                (age 20)     2           0        Fluminense

BRAZIL OLYMPIC V ARGENTINA: LIVE ON ESPN (SKY CH.34) 7AM SUNDAY

Probable Lineups:

 

Venue: Red Bulls Stadium, New Jersey 

Alejandro Sabella's side are coming into the match off the back off an impressive 4-0 win over Ecuador in World Cup qualifying. Despite that the Argentina coach has sought to shake things up and has been testing out a 5-3-2 in training that would see Javier Mascherano move into the defence.

However, with Mascherano and Sergio Aguero picking up bookings in that match that rule them out of the Albiceleste's next qualifier, Sabella could choose to line up in a 4-4-2 but opt for different personnel. Agustin Orion is likely to be given a chance between the sticks at the expense of Sergio Romero.

Brazil's Olympic hopefuls impressed with wins over both Denmark and the United States in the past two weeks before a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mexico brought expectations back down to earth.

Mano Menezes faces one key injury worry with Thiago Silva unlikely to recover from a knock in time for the clash. Bruno Uvini will thus partner Juan Jesus at the back, giving Brazil a defence with an average age of just over 21.

The rest of the team is likely to remain the same but Menezes may decide to bring in a new name to the attack with Hulk possibly making way for Wellington Nem. 

BRAZIL OLYMPIC 3 V ARGENTINA (FULL NATIONAL TEAM) 4

Metlife Red Bulls Stadium, New Jersey, 2012

Sat June 9 (was live on ESPN)

 

Argentina starting lineup:- Romero, Zabaleta, F. Fernandez, Garay, C. Rodriguez, Mascherano, Gago, Sosa, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain

Brazil starting lineup:- Rafael, Rafael Silva, Bruno, Juan, Marcelo, Sandro, Romulo, Oscar; Hulk, Damiao, Neymar

Thiago Silva out injured. Subs used: Pato, Guiliano, Danilo

                                 Neymar         Damiao          Hulk

                          Oscar                     Sandro                Romulo    

           Marcelo                Juan               Bruno Uvini                     Rafael

 

• Argentina vs Brazil 0-1 ( Romulo goal v Argentina 23′)
• Argentina vs Brazil 1-1 ( Messi goal v Brazil 31′)
• Argentina vs Brazil 2-1 ( Messi goal v Brazil 34′)
• Argentina vs Brazil 2-2 ( Oscar goal v Argentina 56′)
• Argentina vs Brazil 2-3 ( Hulk goal v Argentina 72′)
• Argentina vs Brazil 3-3 ( Fernandez goal v Brazil 76′)
• Argentina vs Brazil 4-3 ( Messi hat trick thrid goal v Brazil 84′)
•  
• Attendance:- 81,994 

Awesome game which many are describing as Messi's best- ever for Argentina (he's been criticized a lot in his home country for not performing to the same standard for his national team as he does for Barca).

First half hour was all Brazil until they inevitably scored on 23 mins. with winger Romulo's free header from a free kick. Shortly after, Neymar was denied a clear penalty... and then Messi turned it on....

Argentina counter-attacked, Higuain threaded Messi through to score on 31 mins.

Barely two minutes later, Messi scored again after some neat inter-passing with team-mates.

New Chelsea signing Hulk made a great run past four Argie defenders on 51 mins but it was a difficult angle and he shot wide. Hulk was unlucky not to score in the first half.

SECOND HALF:

Brazil's captain of their victorious u-20 side last year, midfielder Oscar, capped a very good display by scoring on 56 mins after a nice one-two with Damiao. (2-2)

Guiliano on for Oscar in 59th min. Pato (AC Milan) replaces Leandro Damiao in 68th min.

72 mins. - a lame punch from the Argie keeper from a corner goes straight to Hulk who scores from 9 metres. (3-2)

73 mins. - Casemiro (Brazil) and Aguero (Arg.) on.

76 mins. - Fernandez scores with a header from a corner after poor Brazil marking.

79 mins - Danilo on for rightback Rafael (Man. United)

84 mins. - Messi takes the ball from just inside halfway on the right sideline, dribbles through the entire Brazil midfield and defence and scores with a fierce left- foot drive from just outside the penalty box into the top left corner of goal. (4-3)

91 min. - It wouldn't be Brazil v Argentina without some argy-bargy (talk about a fiercely-contested game at a fierce tempo- yet played in a good spirit up to this point) and things finally boiled over here with both Lavezzi (Arg) and Marcelo (Bra) sent off after Lavezzi shoved over Marcelo whilst tackling him and Marcelo retaliated.

So, here we had all of the action you would get in three quality games combined with end-to-end action and scoring opportunties galore with both sides impressing.

Some defensive frailties displayed by both sides but nothing Brazil won't easily be able to iron out before the Olympics in just under six weeks.

We seemed to get ESPN Europe's commentators Dave Farrar and Frank Stapleton (Arsenal, Man Utd and Ireland legend) for this game which was a breath of fresh air. Dave Farrar on Brazil Olympic: "It's going to have to be a seriously good team to beat them or a team that gets lucky in the knockout."

Video highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwBEo75OO_E&feature=related

 

Current list of prospective players after several cut last week:

   

 

Goalkeepers:

  Diego Alves (Valencia)/ Gabriel (Milan)/ Jefferson (Botafogo)/ Neto (Fiorentina)/ Rafael (Santos)/ Renan Ribeiro (Atletico Mineiro)/

 

Defenders:

  Dani Alves (Barcelona)/ Danilo (Porto) / Dede (Vasco da Gama)/ Fagner (Vasco da Gama)/ Juan (Inter)/ Marcelo (Real Madrid)/ Marquinhos (Corinthians)/ Lucas Mendes (Cortibia)/ Alex Sandro (Porto)/ Thiago Silva (AC Milan)/ Bruno Uvini (Sao Paulo)/

 

Midfielders:

 

  Casemiro (Sao Paulo)/ Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk)/ Phillipe Coutinho (Inter)/ Fernando (Gremio)/ Ganso (Santos)/ Giuliano (Dnipro)/ Lucas (Sao Paulo)/ Oscar (Internacional)/ Romulo (Vasco da Gama)/ 

 

Attackers:

  Andre (Atletico Mineiro)/ Leandro Damiao (Internacional)/ Hulk (Porto)/ Neymar (Santos)/ Wellington Nem (Fluminese)/ Alexandre Pato (AC Milan)

July 6: Brazil due to name their 18 man squad.

July 20: Brazil v Great Britain friendly, Middlesbrough

 

It`s June 15th 

Any  "News Flash"

The above relates to the naming of the Team

and I don`t mean "Hard News Flashing"

NZ Olympic football squads supposed to be announced "by June 15" according to media reports on April 18 when our footballers were officially added to the NZ Olympic squad- so much for that deadline, eh?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10799794

"Football's Ryan Nelsen and Rebecca Smith were named as team captains with 18-player squad announcements to be made by June 15."

Nothing on the NZ Football website as of today (16 June) or anywhere in the media...

Maybe it's a misprint and it's supposed to be "July 15."

June 15 is not an IOC deadline as Brazil don't name their squad till July 6.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

POOR BUILDUP FOR OLY WHITES TO OLYMPICS

I'd be concerned at the lack of buildup games announced for our men's football side too, with only the one friendly announced v Japan in Tokyo July 11. As the weakest team in their group, the Oly Whites need as many games as possible before the tournament to avoid humiliation. (We all know Brazil are formidable opponents - and they've been playing a game-a-week the past month- see my posts above -  but Belarus qualified as the third best team in Europe at this level, only narrowly pipped by Spain and Switzerland, whilst Egypt qualified third best in Africa, narrowly losing 2-3 to Morocco in the qualifying semi)

Egypt have played TEN friendlies from Feb. 21 this year, with NINE more games scheduled before the Olympics (they're fielding their Olympic side in the Arab Nations Cup later this month), then playing four friendlies in Spain next month.

Belarus have also played several friendlies since qualifying in June last year, most recently against France, Mexico and Morocco in the Toulon tournament last month.

Reid a no show.Needs to prepare for his return to the premier league.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10814151

So who should we take? Killen to get some more time at DM 

I'd say McGlinchey could be a great option. Please no Fallon!!! 

Wonder how we will fit Smetlz, Wood, Rojas & Kosta all in? 

Well Marco and Kosta are both pretty small - so I'd imagine it could be done although a bit of a squeeze.

 

 

... we are talking about suitcases, lifts and top & tailing in the rooms aren't we?

 

We fit Smeltz, Rojas and Kosta in for the All Whites. Personally I don't see the need for Smeltz though. Not our top player, but take Dan Keat.

Really??? Substitute one of our most proven goalscorers for a fringe player who isnt even playing regular club football in a league bearly stronger than the one where Smeltz is one of the most prolific, if not the  most prolific, goal scorer the league has ever seen? Utter waste of time including Dan Keat and a ridiculous suggestion.

Also the mention of Aaron Clapham in that Herald article linked on the home page - FFS no! Hes nothing at international level and hes never going to develop any further at 25. He was clumsy in the Solomons, clumsy against El Salvador, hes going to be made to look like an absolute fool by Brazil.

I'm really starting to doubt Winston Reid's committment to playing for New Zealand. If he chooses to not show up for the World Cup qualifiers, then I would like to see Ricki and NZF invoke the stand-down period rule on him.

Can't.  Officially a yoof tournament.  They are obliged to release yoof but not the over-age players.

I meant the World Cup qualifier in September/October/March, when he could choose to stay and play for West Ham instead of the All Whites.

 

FIFA windows, so he can't choose. He could claim injury, but NZF would have the right to get their own doctors (or independent opinion) to ascertain if that really is the case.