Head coach Martin Bullock says he hopes supporters watching from New Zealand saw the amount of effort his players put in, despite their 3-0 loss to Venezuela in their first game at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup.
Speaking after the match in Indonesia, Bullock said: “The boys gave their all.”
He said the conditions were tiring, evidenced by the number of players suffering cramp as the game wore on.
The pace of the game was “a huge step up” from what the players were used to, he said, and they did their best.
“Even though the result did not go our way, I hope they enjoyed it, and learned from the experience,” he said.
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Results
Group F
Game played on Sunday November 12, 2023 (NZT)
Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung
New Zealand 0
Venezuela 3 (David Martinez 29′, Leenhan Romero 87′, 90+7′)
Game played on Monday November 13, 2023 (NZT)
Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung
Mexico 1 (Tahiel Adrián Jiménez Sánchez 75′)
Germany 3 (Noah Darvich 29′ Max Moerstedt 38′, Eric Emanuel da Silva Moreira 53*)
Standings
Fixtures
Game to be played on Thursday November 16, 2023 (NZT)
New Zealand v Germany
Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung (1am, NZT)
Game to be played on Saturday November 18, 2023
New Zealand v Mexico
Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung (10pm NZT)
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