New Zealand go into Wednesday night’s crucial OFC U-17 Championship semi-final against Fiji with confidence, says defender Luka Coveny.
“We’ve been analysing them,” Coveny told OFC Media ahead of the match.
“We don’t want to say too much but we definitely know how they’ll play and we know how we want to play, and we’re confident we can come out on top.”
Main photo: New Zealand defender Luka Coveny. Credit: Pita Simpson / Phototek.
The winner of the match gains automatic qualification to November’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru, along with either Tahiti or New Caledonia who meet in the other semi-final in Suva.
Coveny said the long-term goal of the New Zealand squad was for the players to become All Whites, but the short-term goal was to get to Peru.
“We’re in great spirits. We’re looking forward to the game.”
New Zealand will have a full squad available other than Manchester City defender and captain Marley Leuluai who picked up an injury and missed Sunday’s last-gasp quarter-final win against Vanuatu.
Coveny said the nature of that win was “nerve-wracking” but the players knew they had created plenty of chances in the game and could win it, even in the 91st minute.
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Coveny interview
How to watch the live stream of the semi-final
Fixtures
Semi-finals
Games to be played on Wednesday January 25, 2023
New Caledonia v Tahiti
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva (5pm, NZT)
New Zealand v Fiji
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva (8pm, NZT)
Play-off for third
Game to be played on Saturday January 28, 2023
TBD
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva (5pm, NZT)
Final
Game to be played on Saturday January 28, 2023
TBD
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva (5pm, NZT)
READ MORE: Here’s all our coverage of the OFC U-17 Championship >>>>
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