History-making NZ under-20 team eye Ghana or Portugal in World Cup last 16
Whatever happens from here, this New Zealand under-20 football team are history-makers.
Less than a day after becoming the first Junior All Whites side to win a match at the Fifa under-20 World Cup, Darren Bazeley's outfit also became the first Kiwi team to advance past the group stages in the 38-year history of the event.
In three previous trips to the tournament, New Zealand had only managed a two draw, seven loss record and returned home after just three matches on each occasion.
This year's hosts put themselves in the equation to go through by pouring in four second half goals to overwhelm Myanmar 5-1 in Wellington on Friday night, before their place in the last 16 was secured when Senegal could only manage a 2-1 victory over Qatar on Saturday afternoon.
New Zealand's opponent at the next stage will be group B winners Ghana in Wellington on Wednesday afternoon or group C winners Portugal in Hamilton on Thursday evening, but which one will not be confirmed until the completion of all group stage matches on Sunday.
Either-way, the Junior All Whites will need a mammoth effort to advance to the quarterfinals.
The Ghanians knocked over South American powerhouse Argentina and drew with strong European outfit Austria 1-1 on their way to topping group B. Portugal established themselves as one of the title favourites in group play, hammering Senegal 3-0, Qatar 4-0 and Colombia 3-1.
Bazeley said their gutsy 0-0 draw with Ukraine first-up gave his side confidence they could overcome Myanmar and enter the frame to go through to the last 16.
And after battling back from a 4-0 thumping from the USA and a goal down against the fast-starting Asian minnows before powering away, the Kiwi coach reflected on the group stages in positive fashion.
"It's a really proud evening. We said all the way along it was going to be a really tough challenge to get out of the group.
"We started with a good performance against Ukraine and could have stole that on the opening day and then we had a tough evening against the US, that was hard and we didn't perform as well as we wanted to."
"We started a little bit edgy again tonight, but once we got into the game we played quite well in the second half and I thought we were quite dominant."
The New Zealand players went through a recovery session in Wellington on Saturday morning.
Midfielder Andre de Jong felt it was much needed for those of the squad who had played the majority of their three matches so far and said the team were looking forward to the huge task awaiting them in their next outing.
"It will be a massive challenge for us but hopefully we can get up for the game and really give it our all and hopefully make the country proud."
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