New Zealand to face group favourites Germany at FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup

posted in: FIFA U-17 Men's World Cup, National teams, News |

New Zealand’s next opponents at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, Germany, are among the favourites to win the tournament.

Germany are the current European champions in this age group, having won the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in June, beating holders France 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out in the final.

In their first pool game, Germany beat Mexico 3-1, while New Zealand lost 3-0 to Venezuela.

The opposition

Like New Zealand, Germany are playing at their 11th FIFA U-17 World Cup.

This equals the most appearances by a European nation, alongside Spain, who are also at the Indonesian tournament.

Germany’s best performance at a finals was at the first-ever edition of the tournament (then, the FIFA U-16 World Championship) when Germany FR finished as runners-up to Nigeria.

They have also reached the semi-finals on three occasions – finishing fourth in 1997 and third in 2007 and 2011.

Germany finished as top scorers at the 2007 and 2011 U-17 World Cups.

Their tally of 24 goals at the 2011 finals has only been bettered by one other nation, when Nigeria scored 26 two years later.

Two German players have won major individual awards at the finals; Marcel Witeczek won the Golden Boot in 1985 after scoring eight goals, including back-to-back hat-tricks in the knockout phase against China PR and Brazil – just two days apart.

In 2007, Toni Kroos was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament.

Squads

New Zealand

Goalkeepers
12 Josh Brown, Western Suburbs, New Zealand
1 Matt Foord, Cashmere Technical, New Zealand
21 Eamonn McCarron, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Defenders
4 Luka Coveny, Western United, Australia
13 Noah DuPont, West Bromwich Albion, England
16 Jesper Edwards, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
6 Dylan Gardiner, Hamilton Wanderers, New Zealand
15 Athan Thompson, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Midfielders
19 Anaru Cassidy, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
7 Matt D’Hotman, Melville United, New Zealand
8 Paris Domfeh, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
5 Anton Isaako, Sydney FC, Australia
3 Marley Leuluai, Burnley, England
20 Luke Mitchell, Hamilton Wanderers, New Zealand
14 Nick Murphy, Christchurch United, New Zealand
2 Mac Prathumphithak, Christchurch United, New Zealand

Forwards
18 Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
11 Luke Supyk, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
9 Stipe Ukich, Auckland City, New Zealand
17 Nathan Walker, Fencibles United, New Zealand
10 Adam Watson, Stoke City, England

Staff
Head coach: Martin Bullock
Assistant coach: Aaron Clapham
Goalkeeper coach: Daniel Knight

Germany

Goalkeepers
1 Max-joseph Schmitt, FC Bayern München, Germany
12 Konstantin Heide, Spvgg Unterhaching, Germany
21 Louis Babatz, FSV Mainz 05, Germany

Defenders
3 Almimer Kabar, Borussia Dortmund, Germany
4 Finn Jeltsch, FC Nürnberg, Germany
5 Maxim Dal, FSV Mainz 05, Germany
8 Maximillian Herwerth, VFB Stuttgaart, Germany
13 Maximilian Hennig, FC Bayern München, Germany
14 David Odogu, VFL Wolfsburg, Germany
15 Justin Von Der Hitz, FC Köln, Germany
17 Eric Da Silva Moreira, FC St. Pauli, Germany

Midfielders
2 Kurt Rüger, FC Bayern München, Germany
6 Fayssai Harchaoui, FC Köln, Germany
10 Noah Darvich, FC Barcelona, Spain
11 Charles Herrmann, Borussia Dortmund, Germany
16 Winners Osawei, RB Leipzig, Germany
18 Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, Manchester City, England
19 Forzan Ouedraogo, FC Schalke 04, Germany

Forwards
7 Pans Brunner, Borussia Dortmund, Germany
9 Max Moerstedt, 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany
20 Robert Palasak, FC Bayern München, Germany

Staff
Head coach: Christian Wuck
Assistant coach: Jens Nowotny
Assistant coach: Rainer Zietsch
Goalkeeper coach: Nico Stremlau