Two young footballers, Conor von Keisenburg and Dale Bennetto, have beaten the odds and have been named in the national world cup age-group training squads after competing in the recent federation nationals in Napier.
Bennetto had a successful under-14 tournament, with his Soccer 2 (Auckland federation) team winning the competition by going unbeaten in six games.
Bennetto, who attends Auckland Grammar and therefore plays for Auckland rather than United Soccer One (North Harbour/Northland federation), also went close to claiming the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals at the tournament.
The McLeod Bay striker scored five goals and was just outstripped by a Soccer Three (Waikato-Bay of Plenty) player, who scored six.
Bennetto is confident of making the New Zealand squad when it is announced after the players go into camp at Auckland's Kings College next month.
The three squads are currently made up of around 30 players each and they will be culled to around 20, for some international games that have yet to be organised.
Von Keisenberg said he was "quite surprised" he made the cut after missing three of his under-13 games in Napier with a knee injury.
"I went up for a header and I kneed some guy in the head and damaged a few things in my knee," he said.
But he must have impressed selectors in his two opening games and made the cut for the squad.
The right winger, who plays striker for FC Whangarei, played the final match of the tournament carrying the injury because his United Soccer One team had been decimated by injury and suspension. They finished third in the competition.
A total of 97 players were named in three squads: the U13, U15 boys and the U14 girls.
New Zealand Soccer are close to confirming a series of offshore matches for the squads.
All Whites coach Riki Herbert, who doubles as the organisation's development manager, sees that as the launching pad toward the 2010 senior men's world cup in South Africa and beyond.
"Hopefully we'll breed a foundation of players that have played 30 or 40 international matches before they become an All White or a senior New Zealand women's player," Herbert said.
Youngsters singled out for bigger things by NZ Soccer
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