I'd also love to see that.India
Every Indian I've ever met loves football, it's baffling to me how the the national team are so bad. I know cricket is number 1 by a mile but there's a billion people there!
I'd also love to see that.India
That's very interesting, man.About 20 years ago there was a major shift towards trying to produce more technically proficient players rather than our usual athletic approach with a focus on the mentally tough. Each WC FIFA does a technical report for every team for every age group or sex. The common theme was FIFAs technical report referring to NZ teams as being hard working and determined but never once was there any mention of technical ability.
We also benefitted from the connections started by former Aberdeen Goalkeeper Bobby Clarke who had spent a year as the coach of the mens National team but never got to manage any games. He went to the USA at college level and helped get a number of younger NZ players college scholarships. Ryan Nelsen being the most notable player who ended up captaining Blackburn Rovers in the EPl.
The change to a technical focus in coaching of kids and youth means that right now the current mens National team is arguably our most talented but the yearly problem of meaningful games for the National team makes it hard for them to get any traction.
So we are getting better from a technical position but still someway from being a top 50 nation etc. Our best players are now playing professionally all over the planet but our local domestic competitions are still relatively weak.
Senegal were in 2018 and didn’t make it out the groupI would really like to see Zambia in a Fifa Word Cup Finals tournament. Out of the countries in the Southern African subcontinental region, only South Africa and Angola have participated. Such a shame.
Senegal have a decent squad nowadays, so hopefully they can qualify for Qatar 2022, 20 years after they shocked Zizou and Co.
I wonder if Venezuela will ever appear on the World stage. Can't be easy being the only team from your confederation never to have qualified.
This, also the International Space StationAntarctica if they can get their act together
It is very frustrating - the India captain came out on twitter some time ago to beg Indians to support the team. He even said he'll take shouts and abuse if they play crap, as long as they just turn up to encourage and talk about the game.I'd also love to see that.
Every Indian I've ever met loves football, it's baffling to me how the the national team are so bad. I know cricket is number 1 by a mile but there's a billion people there!
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I do now.You do know they are co-hosting the 2026 world with the US and Mexico
I think they would just get frozen out by Fifa. Sorry.Antarctica if they can get their act together
I doubt we can ever catch Australia, we just never get enough international games. Our current squad is capable of beating them but in a set of 5 games we would win 1, draw 1 and lose 3. In European qualifiers I would think we would be a team that might finish 3rd or 4th out of a group. I think 2 years ago we would have given Scotland a close game if that helps with our level. Our best 11 are reasonably decent but we lack depth. If we keep trying to improve our players technical abilities we might see more depth.That's very interesting, man.
How far are you guys from catching up to Australia's level for example ?
And I know it will never happen, but could New Zealand do well if they went into the european qualifiers ?
Any chance of New Zealand trying to go to the Asian qualifiers like Australia did? It helped them massively become a very competent team.I doubt we can ever catch Australia, we just never get enough international games. Our current squad is capable of beating them but in a set of 5 games we would win 1, draw 1 and lose 3. In European qualifiers I would think we would be a team that might finish 3rd or 4th out of a group. I think 2 years ago we would have given Scotland a close game if that helps with our level. Our best 11 are reasonably decent but we lack depth. If we keep trying to improve our players technical abilities we might see more depth.
It appears that the more the players go to europe, the more they improve. But any foreign experience could be good. Don't think there is a market for players from New Zealand in places like Asia or South America yet though.I doubt we can ever catch Australia, we just never get enough international games. Our current squad is capable of beating them but in a set of 5 games we would win 1, draw 1 and lose 3. In European qualifiers I would think we would be a team that might finish 3rd or 4th out of a group. I think 2 years ago we would have given Scotland a close game if that helps with our level. Our best 11 are reasonably decent but we lack depth. If we keep trying to improve our players technical abilities we might see more depth.
Well, Japan had next to no football development in the 80's and from the 90's onwards improved massively.I would like to see Bulgaria again.
We set the world on fire in mid 90's. Before that we had a good run of 4 WC qualifications in a row or so.
Unfortunately football here has been on the decline dramatically with insanely corrupt leaders, corrupt league and also - no desire for success whatsoever from the young footballers.
They are absolutely content with playing in embarrassing league and making idiots out of themselves in the national team as long as they get their wages. Most of the population has been alienated from the stadiums.
We used to have players in every top league and produced legends like Asparuhov, Balakov, Penev, Kostadinov, Stoitchkov, Stan Petrov, Berbatov..
Now our very best footballers barely look like average Northampton players.
The last guy that got a sniff of the Premier league was Tonev, who had a laughable spell at Aston Villa.
We are part of Oceania confederation and those are teams we have to play. We cant leave Oceania, FIFA wont let us. However on the positive side it means that we get our age group mens and womens u17s, u20s and Olympic teams to wolrd cups and Olympics every time which has helped massively with our player development. So its 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other.Any chance of New Zealand trying to go to the Asian qualifiers like Australia did? It helped them massively become a very competent team.
With all due respect I don’t get what New Zealand learn from playing Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea etc
We have players all over the place. A bunch in Australia, a few in South Africa, a bunch in the US at both college and MLS level, as well as a group in Europe. 20 years ago it was just a few players in Australia and the MLSIt appears that the more the players go to europe, the more they improve. But any foreign experience could be good. Don't think there is a market for players from New Zealand in places like Asia or South America yet though.
Why were Australia allowed to move?We are part of Oceania confederation and those are teams we have to play. We cant leave Oceania, FIFA wont let us. However on the positive side it means that we get our age group mens and womens u17s, u20s and Olympic teams to wolrd cups and Olympics every time which has helped massively with our player development. So its 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other.
They did it a long time ago, successfully lobbied and got to leave. that doors now been closedWhy were Australia allowed to move?
Has it? Always rumours of New Zealand joining South America.They did it a long time ago, successfully lobbied and got to leave. that doors now been closed
Youth teams are improving a lot, probably won't be too long until they have a golden gen of some sorts. Coaching at a very young age is improving a lot over there. National team is being boosted currently by a couple naturalised players as well as trying to integrate the likes of Yennaris and Browning due to Chinese ancestors. That's probably the more likely route for them long term really as those players will always have higher quality coaching with being in Europe from a young age. These players going to China will be way more common over next couple years with the new salary cap as the quality of foreign players will drop so SIPG/Guaon/Evergrande will be trying to get as many good 'local' players as possible. Not sure that will benefit their development but China weren't letting them play for the national team unless they moved to China. Not sure if that stance has softened yet though, they just change their mind as they go to try and reach goals earlier.How is the development of football in China these days ? As far as chinese players go. I know that alot of foreign players have been playing in their league. But what about their national team and youth players ?
That would be perfect if it were to happen but I have long given up on that dreamHas it? Always rumours of New Zealand joining South America.
New Zealand and Australia being in different confederations is insane. Oceania needs to be absorbed by Asia
Needs to happen.That would be perfect if it were to happen but I have long given up on that dream