NZ U20s

Andora je pobjedila Makedoniju 1-0 jednom...i Farski Otoci Austriju...Lihtenstajn 2-2 sa Portugalom...Luksemburg pobjedio Svicarce 2-1 nedavno...Ima nade!

Oi you two...  No speako Boxhead (sorry - kidding).

Easy there, Teske Vijesti.
















Shame only about 3 people on this forum will get that.

very very disappointing

It is dissapointing, in a way though I think Tahiti now deserve to win the tournement and go through.

Well London Chris, Tahiti it is.

Tahiti beat fiji 2-0, and NZ drew 2-2 with New Caledonia.

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/

While never good to fail to progress from these tournaments, I do think we sometimes underestimate the abilities of some of the other oceania teams (or overestimate ours).

Hopefully Tahiti can get some decent buildup and do well at the U20 world cup.

Vijesti = News ?

Well good luck to Tahiti at the U20 World Cup next year. They'll probably get done in all 3 games but i hope they put in some decent performances more for the own sake than Oceania's.

As for us, it should be a future lesson to never underestimate these island nations. Especially away from home.

The island teams will always be hard to beat in there own environment, the heat but also the fans are something else. Lets hope NZ Soccer looks to put in place better buildups and systems to learn from this - in the meantime allez allez Tahiti....

Its time for NZ Football to stop hiding behind every youth team that qualifys for a world cup tourn beating Tonga or Papa  New Guinee or Fiji New caladonia etc does nothing for advancing the game forward. We go to world cups and defend for 90 minutes and talk it up. Granted it is different for the girls, but we would really benefit all teams if NZ Football commited themselves to entering the asia con fed. Playing in quality world cup groups is what is needed if we are to get better in playing terms.

Very poor result no matter which way you look at it.

And Teske = Hard (as in difficult). Or heavy.

BUGGER.

Ah well. Good luck to Tahiti.

Or it could be good if they're ruthlessly slaughtered 20-0 three games in a row because that would put the spotlight on the validity of the Oceania region.

This has set the development of the under 20s back abit. Some of these kids could have been scouted by Euro clubs from the exposer of this under 20`s WC.

At the end of the day it must be the coach that is to blame. Why say its NZF fault when Stu never attemped to build a stronger side.

have you thought that perhaps this years crop just werent good enough??

You have got to be kidding here!!!! Stu can only do what he can with the program and financial budget he has been allocated from NZ Soccer - so if you are looking to put any onus on where it should be - then start with the administration!!!

In terms of the Tahiti team it would have been logistically easier to house everyone in a central location to achieve the goals they set out - if only the U20s had a similar buildup then perhaps we could compare apples with apples (or pineapples in this case) ....

I too am disappointed for the team because there is some very talented lads in the squad.....But at the same time its gotta be good for Oceania overall. It shows we can longer be complacent about where we stand in the federation and take it for granted - lets see some real progress here from the administration or suffer the consequences and future disappointment.

We assume too much on how weak the other Oceania nations are and never on how weak we are. One week preparation? You got to be kidding me?! Most of those U20 players were available for an early training camp at least, where was the sacrifice?

I can,t believe how far the standards and level of nz soccer have fallen

I must admit I feel sorry for the boys. I know there are some very talented young players. Unfortunately, the fact is that Tahiti (population 262,000) and New Caledonia (population 221,000) have put more funds and effort than New Zealand.
Another thing is that we, instead of trying to catch up with the rest of the world (remember the last under 17 and under 20 world cups), are struggling with Oceania teams (with no disrespect to Tahiti or New Caledonia). It is OK to say that they have improved significantly, technically, speed etc, but what did we do improve our game? Lack of preparation time? We knew that this competition will take place in Tahiti at least a year ago.
Remember that in the past Australia beat those teams 10 or 12 NIL.
Our aim should be to close the gap with the best in the world. If we don't know how to do it we should try to copy the best football schools in the world.
 

Big Pete 65 that is a very well reasoned summary.

This U20s failure also shows, as someone else said, that we can't expect to turn up with a team and qualify.  Meaningful preparation is needed.  A salutory lesson for the future.

Thanks Big Pete
I agree with Smithy that is a very well reasoned summary, but, as Smithy said, we can't expect to turn up and qualify.
Just a matter of clarification, I do not expect our team to qualify and win under 20 world cup tournament, but do expect short, medium and long term planning. Knowing that football is the most popular sport in NZ for teenagers up to 15, one would think that there is a base to build on. Apart from some youngsters switching to Rugby or Rugby Union, what we are lacking is a future that some of those kids can dream of.
As a short term, I would see a proper minimum 6 months preparations for such a qualifying tournament (not 4 days with only two friendly games, where some players hardly know each other). Based on success and qualifying we could achieve our medium term, get public attention (like girls football), and financial support. Our long term aim should be to try to reach the quarterfinals. That could be achieved by arranging regular simultaneous trainings/camps in Auckland and Wellington where each camp would have a pool of 15/18 players competing for the spots in Under 20s.
Going back to original topic, I can't believe that Tahiti, Fiji New Caledonia or any other Pacific nation has more resources (Africa?) , but probably more passion for the game and desire to win.
The last thing that probably need to be mentioned is refereeing . NZ Football should officially request that Oceania tournaments be refereed by  refs from Australia, Asia or Europe and not from the nations which are attempting to qualify for the world cup. That is the only way to clear any doubts on impartiality.

Hika I agree that the Pacific countries have more passion but also the desire for the game, they can see the opportunities that can get them somewhere playing a sport they love and play on a daily basis (as they do in the villages and on surfaces which would be deemed unplayable in NZ)...

BUT please dont bring the refs into it ...thats just so a real lame excuse!!!!! At the end of the day we should be good enough to overcome anything a ref can influence so dont even go there - lets get back to seeking out funding etc to set up programmes and time to prepare correctly for a tournament which should be given the respect it deserves.

NZ Football (national body) - TAKE NOTE!!! It is not a given right that we turn up and qualify anymore!!! The Pacific Islands will be the next Africans of the region and will surpass NZ Football if we do not setup the right systems!!!!   

Sadly, we have made that mistake in the past and not learnt from it.

One thing about youths and even the elite youths, is that adapting to change and getting familiar to team members and the environment is difficult to the adolescent mind and body. Any school teacher should tell you that.

Hence the need for longer meaningful preparation to any age group tournament or they will be caught out by teams that are not as talented but are more organised. In a tournament, you have to assume that there is going to be well prepared teams for it.

Its hard to prepare a team on no dollars. Our National Assn cant afford to prepare these teams so we have to accept these results untill (if ever) there is money available in the sport.

This is really a major problem for NZ football. Assuming that we have more talent than the Pacific Island nations.

losing 5 teams out of the national youth league is a big set back.

The NZFC should have a bigger youth allocation anyway and should be setup as such with at least compulsory 4-6 under 23 spots on the playing line up and the national youth league based as under 17s , were the best of that group will filter up when they turn 18.

disagree sloth

they dont need an excuse to increase fees

They could of played the NZSS u19s the day before they flew to the UK would of been good for both squads