France say they are still planning to compete in the Under-20 Women's World Cup next month despite a threat from Uefa to boycott Fifa competitions.
It is not known whether England will play or not, with the Football Association unable to provide a comment when asked by BBC Sport if the team will take part in the tournament in Poland, which is due to start in 29 days.
We’ll have to get out of Group D (Italy, Japan, USA) to have any chance of facing them.
New Zealand has joined France in confirming it intends to compete at next month's Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, as the tournament prepares to become the first FIFA event staged amid the backlash against global football chief Gianni Infantino.
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"New Zealand Football is sending a team to the U20 FIFA Women's World Cup in Poland next month, the tournament is critical in the development for the women's game," a New Zealand Football spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday.
Uefa is set to drop its threat of boycotting Fifa competitions, having received assurances there will be no repeat of Gianni Infantino's plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors, BBC Sport has been told.
Fifa has welcomed the development, saying it is "pleased that all qualified teams will be participating in the upcoming Under-20 Women's World Cup".
The matter will be formally discussed at a meeting of Uefa's executive committee in Monaco on Thursday.
Ranix wrote: Pretty good going to draw with Korea Rupublic. They won the last U20 tournament 2 years ago and won the last two U17 tournaments....image.png370.23 KB
Good preparation encouraging that they were organized enough for a clean sheet up to penalties. Next to train the attackers before the tournament starts.
Ranix wrote: Pretty good going to draw with Korea Rupublic. They won the last U20 tournament 2 years ago and won the last two U17 tournaments....image.png370.23 KB
You're talking about the wrong team. We played South Korea. North Korea are the successful one that won those tournaments you mentioned.
Ranix wrote: Pretty good going to draw with Korea Rupublic. They won the last U20 tournament 2 years ago and won the last two U17 tournaments....image.png370.23 KB
Good preparation encouraging that they were organized enough for a clean sheet up to penalties. Next to train the attackers before the tournament starts.
Attackers Vlok & Benson didn’t play due to illness.
Ranix wrote: Pretty good going to draw with Korea Rupublic. They won the last U20 tournament 2 years ago and won the last two U17 tournaments....image.png370.23 KB
You're talking about the wrong team. We played South Korea. North Korea are the successful one that won those tournaments you mentioned.
Yes you suspect Vlok will be NZ's bright light at this tourney. But Japan will likely be a damage limitation exercise. The two teams met at 2024 U20 WC, with the Japanese winning 7-0!
NZ starters two years ago - Iro, McMillan, McMeeken, Findlay, Haering, Errington, Pijnenburg, Elliott, Nathan, Bercelli and Clegg. So far from the worst NZ age group side, with about 4-5 of those players now capped by the Ferns.
Agonising finish that came down to a 90th-minute penalty. Japan go up 1-0 a few minutes after the break then a brilliant run from Vlok and cross to Lily Brazendale who equalises, but Neary is judged to have tripped a Japanese striker and gets sent the wrong way.
Tough tough call on Brooke, the fact it took so long for the decision after VAR shows how close it was. But compared to our 7-0 loss last time we played Japan the team has so much to proud of.
Italy up next. That will be another tough game I'm sure. Really need a win to give ourselves any chance of advancing. But if we can somehow manage a win then we are in the mix. We looked organised defensively, both Eglington and Duncan had a strong game at CB. Eglington was great I though. Strong defender but also technical on the ball. The fact that we scored against Japan and were right in the contest until the final whistle will give the girls some confidence. This teams looks well balanced and competitive. Who knows anything can happen at these age group tournaments.
That's a great improvement on two years ago! Even though it was backs against the wall stuff. Well done girls.
This is a very tough group and there's a very high chance we're not going to get out of it, I just want to see us be competitive at this level. Two more results like this would be a big improvement.
Not quite as one-sided as our first half against Japan, but again we've had to weather the storm to keep it 0-0 at HT against Italy - 10 shots (5 on target) against us keeping Neary busy while we've only managed 2 (1 on target) against them.
Ends 3-0 to Italy who now go through, although it took them 78 minutes to open the scoring. Their third goal was particularly classy.
Even if we win against USA any chance of progression as a third-placed team will be out of our hands. It wasn't called the Group of Death for nothing...
Deserved win for Italy. We are gritty in defence, but just don't have enough quality in the middle of the park to properly compete. Still took 78 minutes for them to break us down. Eglington was player of the match for us. Some of her blocking was Fin Surmanish. I think she deserves a scholarship contract when she returns to the Nix. Of the other Nix players. Nothing special from either Pia Vlok, Brazendale or Zoe Benson, though they did put in a big shift up and down the field.
Neither New Zealand nor the USA can afford to slip up in Sosnowiec on Matchday 3. After defeats by Japan (2-1) and Italy (3-0), the Junior Football Ferns face a relatively simple equation: they must win to have any hope of finishing among the best third-placed teams. Any result other than a victory would send the OFC representatives out of the tournament. The scenario is broadly similar for the three-time champions USA, who are still without a win after two matches. While a victory would put them in a very strong position to reach the Round of 16, a draw might not be enough, while defeat would bring their campaign to an end.
Both Group D games kick off 1:00am NZT Sunday morning, with ours free on TVNZ+.
Yikes, that’s a brutal result to wake up to. Can’t help but feel for the players right now.
For all it would’ve been a tough watch, I’m still annoyed at TVNZ for screwing up the livestream - I gave up and went back to bed around 1:40 so no idea if they got it working in the end.
