New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

Robb, Azevo and myself are looking at catching a bus up on the Friday to watch the final.

Third place play off at 1pm and final at 4pm on Saturday. I imagine entry will get you both games. Will probably drive up from Palmy on Saturday morning if NZ make the final.

if it's anything like the previous OFC tournaments in Auckland then there won't be gate sales because there won't be a gate!  Just turn up and find somewhere to sit/stand has been how it's worked up here...and keep an eye out for the tournament programmes, as they can be hard to find.

Thought he looked pretty limited at the FIFA u20s, but that is limited evidence I acknowledge

I put Rowe looking limited at the U20's mainly down to the limitations of the coach.

Didn't he win the U18 player of the year a coupe years back at Birmingham... must have some quality to win that.

Herbert won't be taking over Olympic team too

Updated at 6:26 am today

The All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has told Australian television that he won't be taking over from Neil Emblen as coach of the New Zealand Olympic football team.

In an appearance on ABC's Breakfast Show in his other role as Wellington Phoenix coach, Herbert said he would "definitely not" be taking the reigns for the OlyWhites from his sometime-assistant with the senior national team.

Emblen is in charge of the under-23 team as it prepares for the London Games qualifying campaign in Taupo, which starts against Papua New Guinea tomorrow.

Herbert went on to explain that should the team qualify for London he would be a technical director to the team and would work alongside Emblem.

The Olympic football competition is made up of mainly under-23 players with three senior players allowed in the XI.

Bit embarrasing for some of those football commentators 2ndBest2012-03-15 08:36:39

Don't think so. I think they are beyond being embarrassed, they will probably just twist it in a way to keep knocking him - waiting for 'Herbert shows lack of commitment to national teams'.

...and some Auckland posters on here.

Was hoping the final would be 14:00 then I could get to Palmy for Speedway on the way back... 16:00 would make that tricky.

Sounds like there's a lot of us going up for the final. Time for another White Noise Zone?

Might not be much room in Owen Delaney Parks one grandstand

It's not the journalists though macman.

It's opinion pieces from a.group of people who are perpetually wrong, generally have rival agendas and are given more airtime than their writing or recent involvement wih the sport justifies.

Well I had been told months ago that Ricki wasn't interested in taking over.  The only people pushing this scenario are columnists.

Roja's release provides a chance to live out Olympic dream
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10792303

pity he's not released in time to play PNG

Has Her indoors given you permission to go?

who's that in this picture?

Dave Burgess - ace investigative journalist and undercover poor person.

oh, i see... thought it might have been a sad tale of all white gone nuts

You are correct.

PNG a potential Banana Skin. Fwank in charge, average Oceania refs, and raw talent. We need to be switched on.

Someone mentioned earlier that it will be streamed live on the OFC site. assume overseas viewers will also have access to this content?

LondonChris - are you actually in London and have you purchased any tickets to this?  Is there any inkling at all where we will be playing or is it all dependant on the draw after qualification? I tell you what I will be leading one of Feverish's infamous kickoi's to the new zealand embassy if we don't qualify for probably the only tournament where I'm living in the host country.james dean2012-03-16 00:14:04

Nah. live in Berlin now and dont have any tickets to the games. dont think there is too much details on fixtures. LondonChris2012-03-16 00:29:00

PNGs u23 Build up.

http://ofctv.e-cast.co.nz/

site for streaming - you have to register first. First game about to kickoff (Solomons v Fiji)

Official streams of all the games here: http://ofctv.e-cast.co.nz

EDIT: Ninja'd by Barrypatrick4782012-03-16 12:04:12

The audio is way ahead of the video. Incredibly frustrating when the commentator tells you what is going to happen before you watch it.

Just mute it and listen to the cricket at the same time. You don't want to hear that hack commentary anyway

Good point, and great suggestion :)

what did Raul do wrong?