New Zealand might not have things all their own way when they host an Olympic qualifying series over the next fortnight, Tongan manager Milan Jankovic said yesterday.
He isn't expecting his team to produce a shock against the Oceania group B favourites, but he said the New Zealand under-23 side should
be wary of Vanuatu.
"That's not going to be any easy game in my opinion," he said.
"Vanuatu play very good technically and in the South Pacific Games they probably played the best soccer. They might cause a few problems."
Vanuatu were knocked out after extra time in the semifinal stages of the South Pacific tournament won by hosts Fiji last year.
In 2002, they pushed Australia close in the Oceania Nations Cup, before conceding two late goals to lose 2-0.
Early last year, their under-17 side held New Zealand to a 1-1 draw in Queensland.
Tonga's squad have been the first to begin training ahead of the Olympic qualifying event, arriving in Auckland on Monday.
Vanuatu arrived yesterday, while the other nations in the group - the Cook Islands, American Samoa and the Ricki Herbert-coached New Zealanders - assemble today.
The round-robin schedule at North Harbour Stadium begins next Wednesday with American Samoa meeting Tonga, and New Zealand facing the Cook Islands.
The final round is on January 22 and the group winners will go on to meet the top side from group A, which will be contested over the same period in Sydney.
Those two teams, likely to be New Zealand and Australia, will face off in a two-leg tie on January 26 and 30 to decide a place for Athens.
Jankovic said Tonga would be looking for wins against American Samoa and the Cooks Islands.
"Against New Zealand and Vanuatu, we just want to play the game and give them a hard time," he said.
"I've heard New Zealand have overseas players and players who have played at the highest level, and that's a big advantage."
The New Zealand Olympic squad includes six All Whites, including Dave Mulligan and Shane Smeltz, who competed at last year's Confederations Cup in France.
- NZPA
