Soccer: Tipped to win, talented, but it's one game at a time for coach

Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand coach Steve Cain is deliberately not letting himself or his players get ahead of themselves in preparing for the 13th Oceania Under-17 Championships at North Harbour Stadium.

As the top-ranked team in the tournament and with the decided home advantage, the New Zealanders go in as favourites with their sights firmly set on a return to the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Mexico from June 18 to July 10.

Cain, who had the distinction of steering a New Zealand team beyond the group stage at a Fifa tournament for the first time when the under-17s reached the last 16 in Nigeria in 2009, is taking it very much a "game at a time" as he prepares for potentially the toughest group A match, against Vanuatu on Monday.

"We've had New Zealand teams who haven't won these Oceania tournaments in the past," said Cain. "You can't afford to look too far ahead. Given the make-up of the tournament with only the group winners qualifying for the final, one loss could have you in real trouble.

"We're deliberately not looking at the big picture. In the past, New Zealand Football has planned ahead and then not qualified. We don't want to find ourselves in that situation."

Asked whether he felt this team, captained by Waitakere United's Luke Adams who has already been signed by Birmingham City, is better than the team who won the last qualifying tournament and went on to play in Nigeria, Cain was a little cagey.

"It's difficult to say. On the ball they're better. Pace and technique-wise, I feel they are also better but are they a better team? Ask me at the end, although I would have to say there is greater depth this time.

"As coaches, we feel we could pick any of the 20 players and not lose anything," said Cain." Physically, I'm confident we can match any team and I'm sure we will have as much, or more, pace than the other teams. We have four players capable of giving us really attacking width which should be a bonus."

Cain is well-served with the standard of his utility players and goalkeepers.

"The two goalkeepers in this squad are very good. In the greater squad, we have five capable keepers. The depth is very encouraging and, in tournaments like this, utility players are worth their weight in gold."

The team who qualifies for Mexico must bring in a third goalkeeper - and two outfield players - to tick off the 23-strong World Cup squad.

Having the first day as a bye, New Zealand has a big advantage in that they will see all their opponents in action before they play their first game.

It seems Vanuatu and Fiji - New Zealand's first opposition - will provide their sternest tests. Maximum points from those games would have the hosts well-placed going into their last group matches against American Samoa and Papua New Guinea.

Tahiti will start as favourites in group B with their match against New Caledonia a week today likely to be the group decider.

Solomon Islands rate as perhaps the other serious contender ahead of Tonga and the Cook Islands.

Under-17 Champs

Where: North Harbour Stadium.
When: Today-January 19.
Group A: New Zealand, American Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea.
Group B: New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tahiti, Cook Islands.

New Zealand's games

*Monday: v Vanuatu 4pm.
*Wednesday: v Fiji 1.30pm.
*Friday: v American Samoa 1.30pm.
*Sunday: v Papua New Guinea 1pm.
*Final/play-off for third: January 19.