Now boys, give us something to cheer for

The Fifa U-20 World Cup is the biggest footballing event New Zealand is ever likely to host. Photo / Supplied

The only thing that really matters for New Zealand football over the next seven days is results.

The Junior All Whites simply have to grasp this rare opportunity and achieve positive results. It's almost non-negotiable. We have heard lots about "style of play", "alignment" and developing future All Whites. Those things are all admirable but they can't be top of mind and certainly can't be prioritised.

Sure, it would be great to see "beautiful football" or "play in a way that the country will be proud of", as NZF chief executive Andy Martin and coach Darren Bazeley have recently said. But nothing stirs the emotions, or boosts national pride like a win, like beating great odds. And it doesn't really matter how it is achieved.

While it is important to build the All Whites' talent base, this tournament isn't a development tool. It's the biggest footballing event New Zealand is ever likely to host and needs to be regarded as a single entity.

Bazeley's team have to find a way out of their group. And it starts today against Ukraine.

It's not easy - it never is - but that's tournament football. They've also avoided the really big guns in their pool and the ultra-competitive groups, such as Group B (Argentina, Panama, Ghana and Austria), Group C (Colombia, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal) and Group D (Mexico, Uruguay, Serbia and Mali).

Host nations have a responsibility to succeed, but also an advantage. There are some templates to follow, even at this event. Myanmar are here. Myanmar! The last time they were on the world footballing stage, John Key was an 11-year-old at Burnside High School and Sepp Blatter was an unknown office worker at a Swiss watchmaker.

But they hosted the Asian qualifying tournament last year and got through, achieving a result their coach labelled "the biggest for a century".

Hungary have emerged out of Europe, reaching this tournament for just the second time since 1997. They profited from hosting the European qualifying tournament. And Senegal are at the Under-20 World Cup for the first time, after hosting the African Under-20 Championships in March.

Now it's New Zealand's turn.

If Bill Tuiloma and his team can reach the second round, it will be a massive, immeasurable boost for the game in this country. If they can - somehow - make the quarter-finals, the country will be doing cartwheels.