New Zealand are in the same group as Czech Republic, USA and Uzbekistan. Photo / Kenny Rodger
New Zealand will play, the Czech Republic, USA and Uzbekistan in Group D of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico next month following this morning's draw in Mexico City.
New Zealand open their campaign on June 19 against Asian runners-up Uzbekistan in Torreon, play Czech Republic at the same
venue three days later before wrapping up pool play against group seed USA in Pachuca on June 25.
The 2009 Young All Whites became the first New Zealand team to reach the second round of a FIFA event and head coach Aaron McFarland, an assistant for that campaign, says the ambitious current squad have set their sights on going one better.
"The names might not be ones that the players will fear but outside one or two really tough groups, ours is no easier or harder than any of the others.
"Even before I took over, this group had set themselves a goal of reaching the quarterfinals and this draw won't have changed anything."
"We've got a team who was unbeaten in European qualifying, the second best team in Asia and the North American champions and we'll be looking to get at least four points to make the next round."
"There'll also be some stepping stone goals on the way; getting out of our group like the 2009 team and getting a victory like the team of 1999."
The top two teams from each of the six pools qualify for the round of 16 along with the four best third place getters, and McFarland says the opening game against Uzbekistan is key to New Zealand's hopes.
"Typically teams approach the first game cautiously and a lot of things at this level are unknown when you head into the tournament but that can play into our favour.
"We'll both be unknown quantities but if we do our homework we may well know more about them than they do about us."
FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011 - June 18 - July 10
Groups
Group A: Mexico, Korea DPR, Congo, Netherlands
Group B: Japan, Jamaica, France, Argentina
Group C: Uruguay, Canada, Rwanda, England
Group D: USA, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, New Zealand
Group E: Burkina Faso, Panama, Germany, Ecuador
Group F: Australia, Côte d'Ivoire, Brazil, Denmark
- HERALD ONLINE
