The New Zealand U-17 side will face Croatia on May 26 and hosts Qatar on May 27 at the Aspire Academy as the team continues their preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in October.
Head coach Danny Hay said the squad has been working hard since his appointment to get up to speed with the team’s philosophy.
“For us it’s really been about trying to implement as quickly as possible an understanding of the style of play,” Hay said.
“The All Whites, the U-23s, the U-20s and the U-17s are all playing the same style, so for us it’s been working to implement that and give the players a base understanding of what’s expected of each player in their positions.”
Hay says the group will be tested in both fixtures with Croatia and Qatar set to examine the international credentials of his players.
“They are a going to be incredibly challenging games. The players will arrive, play two quick games and then get on a plane and head back again. So that in itself is going to be very difficult and then you chuck in the quality of the opposition.
“I think it’s going to be a real test for our boys and this will be the first time they are really going to see some top quality international opposition and I guess it will give them a little bit of an eye opener as to what they’ve got to expect when they get to Chile.”
“At this stage of the team’s development, performance is going to be more important than result. While the two generally go hand in hand, the focus is about implementing the style of play in a real setting against world class opposition.”
Assistant coach Chris Zoricich will lead the side with Hay unavailable for the trip due to a pre-existing family commitment.
New Zealand U-17 squad – Aspire Tri-Series, Qatar
May 22-29
Goalkeepers
Reuben Clark (Onehunga Sports)
Michael Woud (Bay Olympic)
Defenders
Luke Johnson (North Shore Utd AFC)
Ben Mata (Onehunga Sports)
Jack-Henry Sinclair (North Shore Utd AFC)
Ben Stroud (Wellington Phoenix)
Sam Wilson (Wellington Phoenix)
Midfielders
Joe Bell (Wellington Phoenix)
Oliver Ceci (North Shore Utd AFC)
Dane Schnell (Western Springs AFC)
Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix)
Forwards
Jack Anderson (East Coast Bays AFC)
James McGarry (Wellington Phoenix)
Connor Probert (Western Springs AFC)
Logan Rogerson (Wellington Phoenix)
Sean Skeens (Birkenhead Utd AFC)
Management staff
Head coach: Chris Zoricich
Assistant coach: Alex Armstrong
Goalkeeper Coach: Adam Bannister
Manager: Gavin Findlay
Physiotherapist: Luke Burgess
Sports Scientist: Tim Wilson
Match schedule
Men’s U-17s v Croatia
May 26
Men’s U-17s v Qatar
May 27
Courtesy NZF Media.
For more on New Zealand football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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