WHAT WILL OUR OPPONENTS BE LIKE?
Ryan is realistic about our chances:
The Oly-Whites have been drawn in the same group as Belarus, Egypt and Brazil but Nelsen said it was "hard to get a handle on how good these teams are at this level''.
"But what we can expect is we'll be the under-dogs in every single game. It will be very tough, we'll be up against it. We'll be favourite to lose all three games but Kiwis like those challenges, we thrive on them.
"I think it will be a good experience and an opportunity to challenge yourself on the world stage against all the odds and we'll see what can happen.''
Compared to Emblen who is talking about making the second round and comes across as a little naive:
"It's a strong team for an Olympic Games," Emblen said. "There's definitely the ability there to progress through the tournament and I'm confident of success if we play like I've seen these players play."
I'm more with Ryan - it's unlikely we'll get any results, so don't expect too much and be pleasantly surprised if we get a point. Much like before the World Cup in S.A. (when no realistic supporter expected anything like three draws).
We'll be one of the worst prepared sides with only three friendlies from July 11 (very late to start preparing)- some have played dozens of friendlies over the last year. Most finalists see the u-23's as a useful chance to develop new players for their senior side and give it a lot of emphasis (except for Great Britain who have massive problems getting players released by clubs and are only playing two friendlies).
Excellent chance to see Egypt and Belarus (and teams we're playing in friendlies) in the French Toulon tournie last month. All games highlights here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2o00TNiJVU&feature=plcp
BELARUS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_national_under-23_football_team
http://www.bff.by/sborn/molk/
Qualified a year ago by coming third in the UEFA u-21 Finals last June (UEFA allow players up to age 22 in their "u-21" tournaments and qualifiers as a compromise with the Olympics u-23 category). Belarus are regularly a top country at u-21 level in Europe and have qualified for the UEFA u-21 Finals in 2004, 2009, 2011 (is held every two years).
Their youth strength is indicated by fact their u-19 team were runners-up to Russia u-21 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Cup, an annual u-21 event, in January. Beat Ukraine u-21 in the semi-final.
Qualified for the UEFA finals last year by finishing equal on top of their group with Scotland and finishing second on goal diff. , losing only once in 8 games. Progressed to the next qualifying round as the third best second-placed team of the ten groups behind Spain and England. Then beat Italy 3-2 on aggregate home and away (3-0; 0-2) to make the Finals.
UEFA u-21 Finals: Only 8 teams in two groups. 2nd place in their group behind Switzerland and ahead of Iceland and Denmark. Then straight to the semis where they scored early and lead Spain 1-0 until the 89th min. when Sp. equalised and won eventually after extra time. Beat Czech Repub. 1-0 in third- fourth play-off. (Spain champions, Switzerland runners-up)
Started their friendlies in prep. for the Olympics last September and have played every month since then, including 5/9/11 v Russia B, 15/11/11 v UAE senior side, 12/11/11 v Saudi Arabia u-23, 1/3/12 FC Ural (Rus. Div. 1), Belarus club sides, Kasakhstan senior side 1/5/12.
Toulon Tournament, France: Invited to participate in France's premier annual friendly youth tournament last month: 1-3 v France, 0-0 v Morocco, 1-2 v Mexico
Belarus are also fortunate the qualifiers for the 2013 UEFA u-21 Finals are well underway and have fielded Olympic squad players in those games this year: Group includes Germany, Bosnia and Greece. 7 games played so far.
Belarus: pop. : 9.5 million; Language: Russian; senior team FIFA ranking: 69 (sandwiched between South Africa and Morocco); Euro 2012 qualifying: did well in a tough group, finishing one point behind Romania (France, Bosnia, Romania). Beat France away and drew at home. Have beaten Netherlands twice in 6 meetings since 1994.
Most Prominant Clubs: BATE Borisov, Dinamo Minsk. BATE: Breeding ground for most of the national team before they leave for bigger clubs in Russia etc. Group stage Chmps Lge 2008- 2009, 2011-2012. Group stage Europa Lge. 2009-2010, 2010-2011 Chmps Lge 2009-2010: drew both games v Juventus, only lost 0-1 (H) and 0-2 (A) to Real Madrid. 2009-2010 Europa: beat Everton 1-0 away, beat AEK Athens 2-1 (H) 2-2 (A); 2010-2011 Europa: beat AZ Alkmaar 4-1 (H), made the knockout stage and only eliminated on away goals v Paris- Saint Germain (2 draws). 2011-2012 Chmps Lge: unlucky to have Barca and AC Milan in their group (drew 1-1 H v AC Milan).
Possible Players for Olympic Side: Over-age: Alexander Hleb (KSS, Russian Premier Lge, 31 years MF, former Stuttgart, Arsenal, Barcelona player) - won la Liga, Copa and Chmps Lge (2009), League Cup Birmingham 2011; Mikhail Sivakov (MF, Waregam, Belgium); Stanislaw Drahun (Dinamo Minsk). Star u-23 player: Pavel Nyakhaychyk (Dynamo Moscow) - Chmps Lge experience, stand-out midfielder at the UEFA u-21 Finals. Most players otherwise come from the Belarus Lge.
vs Italy second leg qualifying play-off for u-21 Finals :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=M0KQBIM36mE&NR=1
vs. Iceland UEFA u-21 Finals (two parts):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewHcVn18YJ4&list=UUfbmKZ-dYkjiqIrIWfESn8w&index=10&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cITfY4YKywg&list=UUfbmKZ-dYkjiqIrIWfESn8w&index=9&feature=plcp
UEFA u-21 Semi vs. Spain highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94U-h7MnZaI
Toulon Tournament, France May 2012 - all teams video highlights here, incl. Belarus:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FUTBISION2/videos?query=toulon+2012
Various videos Belarus teams, incl. u-21's:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BelarusHighlights?feature=watch
EGYPT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt_national_under-23_football_team
Video comp. of Egypt national sides highlights (5.30 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIJ4DeTGRe0
Senior side FIFA ranking: 48 (between Tunisia and Gabon) Pop. : 83 million; Winner African Cup of Nations : 7 times (most) incl. 2006, 2008, 2010; Olympic Finals : 10th appearance
Daily Telegraph (UK) : "could reach the quarterfinals."
Qualifying: Made it to the CAF (Africa) u-23 Finals Nov.- Dec. 2011, Morocco by beating Botswana and Sudan home and away March - June 2011. Topped their group in pool play in the finals (two groups of four) ahead of Gabon, Ivory Coast and South Africa. Straight to the semis: lost 2-3 to hosts Morocco. Beat Senegal 2-0 in third-fourth play-off. (Gabon beat Morocco 2-1 in the Final)
Big emphasis on youth development means Egypt have played the most u-23 games of all finalists for London: 35 competitive matches and friendlies to date since the current u-23's started their preparations for African qualifying with friendlies from July 2010. P: 35 W: 20 D: 7 L: 8
Results in friendlies since CAF Finals in Dec.:
21 February 2012:Romania U-23 D 1-1 ( Dubai, UAE); 24 February 2012: Uzbekistan U-23 W 3-1 (Dubai, UAE); 28 February 2012: Spain U-23 L 1-3 (Torrelavega, Spain); 13 March 2012: Egypt (senior side) W 2-1 (Cairo , Egypt); 16 March 2012: FC Basel[1]W 4-3 ( Basel, Switzerland); 19 April 2012: Costa Rica U-23 W 1-0 ( Cartago,Costa Rica) 25 April 2012 Uruguay U-23 D 0-0 (Paysandu, Uruguay)
Toulon Tournament, France, May 2012:
23 May 2012: Netherlands U-21 L 0-3 ; 25 May 2012: Turkey U-23 D 1-1 ; 27 May 2012: Japan U-23 W 3-2
Possible Players for Olympic Side: Over-age players: El Muhammady (MF, 24 yrs, Sunderland), Ahmed Said Okka (Lierse, Belgium), Doody El-Gabbas (Lierse, Belgium), Mohamad Zidan (Mainz, Germany), Ahmad Hassan (MF, Zamalek, 36 yrs, record 183 caps, long career in Turkey and Anderlecht, Belgium). Star u-23 players: Ahmed Hegazy (CB, 20 yrs, Fiorentina, Italy), Mohamed Salah (FW, 20 yrs, FC Basel, Switzerland), Ahmed Hassan Mahgoub (FW, 19 yrs, Rio Ave, Portugal)
Coach: Hany Ramzy, Wynton Rufer's team-mate at Werder Bremen early '90's.
Forthcoming friendlies: Arab Nations Cup starting this weekend (fielding their Olympic side) vs. Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon
July in Spain: vs. Italy, Mexico, Honduras, Switzerland u-23 sides.
.Video of 2-3 semi loss to Morocco, CAF Finals: 53 mins extended highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C641-MdsvC0&feature=related
1st half shorter highs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3Tx-eiN50&feature=channel&list=UL
2nd half highs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GV4K5pmLUqE&feature=endscreen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYFcQVieHE&feature=related
Video of 2-0 victory v Senegal CAF Finals third- fourth play-off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so7p6wHEzV8
Toulon Tournament France May 2012 - all teams highlights here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FUTBISION2/videos?query=toulon+2012
Egypt senior side v Brazil 3-4 Confeds Cup South Africa June 2009 (53 mins extended highlights) - great game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=iGyRLKBPa-4
BRAZIL OLYMPIC SIDE: See my previous postings here (p. 24 of thread):
http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/forums/all-whites-and-other-nz-international-teams/new-zealand-u-23s-olympics?page=23