The Young All Whites avoided all the traditional heavyweights in this weekend’s draw for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria but coach Steve Cain is still wary of their African, European and Central American opposition.
Based in the southern Nigerian city of Enugu, New Zealand open their Group D account against Costa Rica on October 25, before taking on African qualifiers Burkina Faso three days later and rounding out pool play against Turkey on October 31.
Hosts and reigning champions Nigeria kick off the tournament against Germany on October 24 in Abuja, and while Oceania champions New Zealand managed to sidestep those two big guns along with Argentina, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Brazil, Cain says the unpredictable nature of age-group World Cups means there are no easy groups.
“This tournament has been won by teams from North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia so we know that the winner could come from anywhere, including our group,” Cain said.
“African teams have won it five times and tended to dominate, so on African soil I think Burkina Faso will be the team to watch in our pool.”
“Turkey knocked out England in qualifying and have got the potential to go all the way in this World Cup, while Costa Rica’s stock is rising quickly in world football and will in no doubt bring a technically gifted team to the event.
At the draw in Abuja, the 24 teams were divided into six groups of four, from which the top two teams from each, and the four best third-placed teams, will progress to round of 16.
Having seen the match-ups in other groups Cain admitted there was a “glimmer of light” that the Young All Whites could become the first New Zealand team to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup.
“Our aim was always to make it through to the second round, regardless of who we drew, and our goals for the tournament haven’t changed.”
FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nigeria 2009
October 24 – November 15, 2009
Group A: Nigeria, Germany, Honduras, Argentina
Group B: Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland
Group C: Iran, Gambia, Colombia, Netherlands
Group D: Turkey, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, New Zealand
Group E: UAE, Malawi, Spain, USA
Group F: Uruguay, Korea Republic, Algeria, Italy
Young All Whites FIFA U-17 World Cup Schedule – Group D
October 25 – New Zealand v Costa Rica
October 28 – New Zealand v Burkina Faso
October 31 – New Zealand v Turkey
Story courtesy of NZF Media
For the latest in NZ Football news visit www.nzfootball.co.nz