U-20 World Cup - NZ opener

U-20 World Cup - NZ opener

...vs Nigeria 06:45 Thursday AM

Live on Sky
Hard News2008-11-18 16:13:29

sweet. finish work at 7am so will be there! realistically, what do you think (i'm also asking for betting purposes).
perhaps will both teams score in the game?

Wonder how many times we'll hear the stock phrase whenever an African team's playing: "They have loads of natural ability but tactically they're a bit naive".

Hopefully they will finish like the U-17's did against England and we'll nick it.

Preview.

http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=25762

Or that Italians will defend staunchly and counterattack??

hey HN, you who know everything. Do you think only the NZ games will be televised? or can we hope to see more games?

I suspect NZ, then maybe Semi's and final ?

Send Sky an email or NZ football and ask them.

...and dive.

They are ranked one place below us in the women world rankings but there could be many reasons for that (such as the position of women in Nigeria leads them to not get as many games as the males or whatever).

Also rankings are pretty unreliable.  It's what happens on the day that counts, so based on that I'm going to be optimistic and hope for a 2-1 victory to NZ.

haah you read my thoughts! i actually meant to say "defend staunchly, counterattack and dive"! but I forgot.

Watching the Rome derby the other day I was really appalled. Every time someone raised their elbow by an inch, another player would drop as if he'd been shot.

I have to say I love our flair and passion for the game, but I really enjoy playing (and watching) my footy here - where people don't pretend and just get on with it!

Not true... I'm a salad free zone.

Just Spoke to Sarah,Shes Got her starting spot

shes absolutely stoked

Thank f**k my exam is at 1 40 pm tomorrow

Pretty shocking defence for the two goals (first Campbell then the keeper). But the goal we got back was decent (Hannah Wall cross to someone's header).

2-1 HT

2-1 Nigeria at half time.

2-2

great game so far, very entertaining

BUGGER!

Kiwis really unlucky to not get a point. 50/50 possesion and both side 9 shots on goal. Kiwis played well but looked real shakey in defense....Nigerians pace too much down the flanks. The girls must be gutted to concede in the last minute.

Thought we'd dodged the bullet when the Nigerian girl hit the post with a free header from 5-6 yards out...but obviously not.
The girls played well, pity about the defensive errors in the first half which proved decisive in the end.

sh*t way to lose

We did score the best goal of the game though.

Gutting stuff.

Our left back was getting turned over all game so it wasn�t surprising to see the killer blow come from there.

Why didn't Longo start? That girl is quality, but from the bits I saw our Midfield did an alright job

Too many experienced mid's maybe

but she didnt look her normal self coming on and playing aswell

I've talked to her a-lot recently and shes normally a really focused but Laughable person

She was injured through the U-17's maybe she's still not 100% and unlike the U-17's they have some cover for her.

To add insult to the loss, the commentator was irritating.  Always clearing his throat.

Argh i know! He didnt seem to hide it either...

Get John Helm over there! He doesnt need a brake

GK was very poor, she should sit the bench for the next game, what was she doing with the shot that resulted in the second goal?

bring in vic essen

Did anyone watch the game replay on tvone last night? Apart from the awful throat clearing commentator, did they show an hour of the football, and then go back to the start and show it all over again?  I had had a few beers but pretty sure thats what happened.....

I taped it in the morning (yeah, on video!) and the first 20 mins had no commentary at all (tech difficulties there apparently). But that was preferable to the guy that did it. Obviously didn't know how to work a microphone, was talking to his director (or someone) at half time. Poor coverage. Small crowd. We do it so much better here in NZ!