This should be the first litmus test for Hay as a national coach, those games in November 2019 realistically counted for nothing but a meet and great. I liked him at Suburbs, but sceptical of him at this level, but, unlike some it seems who would probably be happier if he lost to prove their point, I’m willing to give him a shot.
Honduras and New Zealand have met at the last two U20 World Cups, 2017 in Korea NZ won 3-1, and, of course, the 5-0 win in Poland in 2019. The players taken to these two World Cups are all eligible to go to Tokyo, but of course should theoretically be stronger than either as the 37 players (5 players went to both) used across the two tournaments will be down to 15+3 overage, and that’s discounting bolters like Stamenic, Garbett or Sutton. Therefore, we should have definitely have the quality to beat Honduras, although they will probably be the easiest opponent.
Honduras qualified by knocking out the US, but by all accounts the US dominated but lacked a cutting edge, and used a weakened team featuring none of their European players.
South Korea won the AFC qualifiers, beating Australia in the final, as well as making the final of the 2019 U20 World Cup, although the New Zealand team did manage to draw with them in a behind-closed-doors friendly prior to that tournament. If they pick Son Heung-min that would be huge, but they also can call upon 20yo Valencia winger Lee Kangin, who won the Golden Ball (best player) in Poland. Those two alone would be a huge handful for even Reid, let alone Pijnaker/Stanger/Payne. A result in this game would be hugely important, as I reckon Romania-South Korea would be very tight.
Romania qualified on the basis of reaching the semifinals of the 2019 European U21 tournament, which can be argued as a higher level than the U20 World Cup, as you can be often have players up to the age of 23 in the squad. Romania has talented players and did very well at that tournament, topping their group which had France, England and Croatia (ie 3 of the 4 semifinalists at the last World Cup) and only losing to Germany 4-2 in the semifinal with two goals in added time. In this years group stage they only missed the knockout stage on goal difference, having 5 points, the same as Germany and the Netherlands in the group. Romania certainly don’t have the lustre of the other European qualifiers, but I sense their is an underestimation of their quality and achievements to qualify. There is also a sense amongst ‘lesser’ footballing nations that the Olympics is winnable, as historically, the best nations often disregard it, leading to Mexico, Nigeria and Cameroon all winning in recent years, this could mean Romania could well and truly gun at this tournament, which would make Hay’s job much more difficult.
If I had to bet, I would honestly bet against New Zealand making it to the quarterfinals, and that South Korea and Romania would, but on the other hand, this group doesn’t have a truly world class team, and our talent pool has never been at a better stage to compete in an Olympics, so I wouldn’t write the team off at all.
Honduras and New Zealand have met at the last two U20 World Cups, 2017 in Korea NZ won 3-1, and, of course, the 5-0 win in Poland in 2019. The players taken to these two World Cups are all eligible to go to Tokyo, but of course should theoretically be stronger than either as the 37 players (5 players went to both) used across the two tournaments will be down to 15+3 overage, and that’s discounting bolters like Stamenic, Garbett or Sutton. Therefore, we should have definitely have the quality to beat Honduras, although they will probably be the easiest opponent.
Honduras qualified by knocking out the US, but by all accounts the US dominated but lacked a cutting edge, and used a weakened team featuring none of their European players.
South Korea won the AFC qualifiers, beating Australia in the final, as well as making the final of the 2019 U20 World Cup, although the New Zealand team did manage to draw with them in a behind-closed-doors friendly prior to that tournament. If they pick Son Heung-min that would be huge, but they also can call upon 20yo Valencia winger Lee Kangin, who won the Golden Ball (best player) in Poland. Those two alone would be a huge handful for even Reid, let alone Pijnaker/Stanger/Payne. A result in this game would be hugely important, as I reckon Romania-South Korea would be very tight.
Romania qualified on the basis of reaching the semifinals of the 2019 European U21 tournament, which can be argued as a higher level than the U20 World Cup, as you can be often have players up to the age of 23 in the squad. Romania has talented players and did very well at that tournament, topping their group which had France, England and Croatia (ie 3 of the 4 semifinalists at the last World Cup) and only losing to Germany 4-2 in the semifinal with two goals in added time. In this years group stage they only missed the knockout stage on goal difference, having 5 points, the same as Germany and the Netherlands in the group. Romania certainly don’t have the lustre of the other European qualifiers, but I sense their is an underestimation of their quality and achievements to qualify. There is also a sense amongst ‘lesser’ footballing nations that the Olympics is winnable, as historically, the best nations often disregard it, leading to Mexico, Nigeria and Cameroon all winning in recent years, this could mean Romania could well and truly gun at this tournament, which would make Hay’s job much more difficult.
If I had to bet, I would honestly bet against New Zealand making it to the quarterfinals, and that South Korea and Romania would, but on the other hand, this group doesn’t have a truly world class team, and our talent pool has never been at a better stage to compete in an Olympics, so I wouldn’t write the team off at all.
Good wrap. Beware the Romanies.
Imagine Hay will be desperate to have Wood available. He could be lethal against young opposition defenders, with some decent service. Without him the goals will be so much harder to come.