NZ U17 V HUNGARY U17 0-1

NZ U17 V HUNGARY U17 0-1

From the report on the NZ Soccer website sounds like our lads competed well against the Hungarians.  Still need to nail those chances and half chances.  There's no points for hitting the woodwork!!!! Looks like Hungary were quite lucky not to have a man sent off and have a penalty given against them to boot!

Two injuries, who will Tua'a replace them with?

Like the AB's I think the U17s will benefit from having an expanded squad and with the rotations he has had around the core players (e.g. Costa, Cory, Colson, Myers, Corliss and keepers O'Keefe and Gleeson etc) I think anyone of the extended squad can fit in - while it is disappointing to the players who are injured its a great opportunity for other players to step up to the mark - the key question is though who else outside the 26 is still playing at a good level....

Still building well towards the World Cup and youre right about nailing the opportunities when they come...chareimos2007-07-14 13:21:32

Chris Woods seems to have the goods, killing in northerm premier league got a goal in the last warm up game and hit the bar against hungary and he has only recently joined the squad.

I don't want to jinx the U17's. But I have always felt the are going to be the most likely team to get a result in their respective world cup.

You are not wrong there with Woods - the team lacked a player with genuine height in a centre forward role and let Costa and the other strikers to play off him but from what I also hear Chris also has good balance for a big guy. Just shows you, Draper, Woods etc that even if you are not part of the original squad, players still have the ability to break through.

Londonchris like you, I hope the youngsters do one better than the 20s and gain a result in what is a tough pool - would be great to get one against England with ex NZer Tom Smith. chareimos2007-07-15 09:00:36

Who in the 26 is playing at a gud level???

All valid questions for sure - in terms of playing at a good level from what I understand the U17 management team have organised players to be included in most clubs playing premier comps around NZ - so outside A League (excpetion Costa) and the NZFC, these boys are playing at the next best level in NZ - but whether this is good enough at this stage of there careers will be seen - I guess its what these boys do in the couple of years (including playing offshore where possible) that will make the difference in the next U20s world cup - add to that squad, (current 20s) Peters, Hogg, Draper, Keane and other players currently playing in NZFC - these boys should be better prepared for the next 20s World Cup (given they qualify through Oceania of course). Defence may be a bit suspect but they will only get better with the expereince they are getting now playing pre tournaments. Adding Woods will also give them another option up front from Costa. So all is not lost and I hope we all keep positive for this team and the womans as they not only participate but hopefully compete well at there respective World Cups!

Yes the next under 20s will be very interesting. This tournament is completely different to the Under 17s which sometimes results can look better than they are. AT the under 17s there are very little players who are actually playing in 1st teams professionally there are a couple in most teams but generally there are in in the academys or youth teams etc. When you get to the Under 20 world cup you are playing aginst alot more players who play week in week out for big teams in big leagues and are already worldwide superstars. You look at guys like:

Aguero (30 million euros to Athletico and he played a lot in the la liga) Ive watched some games over the net and he is something else like not quite messi but as close as you will get.
Pato (Expected to go to big european club for $20 million he plays week in week out and stars in the brazilian league.
Plus add to that a host of players in the Mexian side that start in there league, Portugues had 3 players worth $10 million dollars. These are big time players and I dont think we understand in New Zealand how big that World Cup is. Its meant to be the biggest sports tournament in the World in 2007. So I think our Under 20 team with 20 amatuer players did mighty well considering. Thats right not 1 of our players was a professional heading into that world cup so before you go on and sl*g them off for only have possession for 35 percent of the time think about that and actaully on Fifa.com our stats were 64-36 vs portugal, We had more possession in the Gambia game 51-49 and then Mexico was 65-35. These guys are not professional players and I think NZ soccer is doing very little for them. A good example is Canada they finished with alot worse record than NZ after being built up as potential 1/4 finalists there Squad had 5 players at Toronto FC in the MLS, 3 US College players then the rest of there team in good good European clubs Heerenveen, Newcastle Utd, 1860 Munich in Bundisliga because they know if they have any chance of becming competitive they need there players in those types of Environments. It didnt work for them this time but it will pay off for them down the track. Whats NZ football doing for these players? Jack all Ricki Herbet is struggling to want to sign any of them for the Phoenix even after they dicked them 5-1 and 2-1 although you can use it was there 1st game a pro club should not lose to a bunch of 17, 18 and 19 yea olds who are deemed not good enough to play professional football when there are. I think that the Under 17 have the potential to get some decent results at the World Cup but we will see and as I have already said the Under 17 world cup is miles easier to compete in for a smaller nation that the 20s when your playing with the big fish so overall I think the Under 20s performed extremely well (also take into account there tough group) and who knows with some better finishing and composure on the ball could have done even better!