Just under a year out from the age-group showcase event, the New Zealand U-20 side will face China, Brazil and Croatia at the tournament, beginning with a June 4 encounter with the hosts.
The squad includes eight players based overseas, including All Whites fullback Bill Tuiloma, while the Wellington Phoenix duo of Matthew Ridenton and Alex Rufer are also named. Both Tuiloma and Ridenton will be making the trip after being part of the All Whites squad for next week’s international against South Africa in Auckland.
Adding further international flavour to the side is Italy-based Jesse Edge (Vicenza), Japan-based Michael Den Heijer (Kashiwa Reysol) and Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town FC) while Te Atawhai Wihongi Hudson – with Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake – is also included as is Australian-based pair Brock Messenger (Sunshine Coast Fire) and Tomislav Trbuhovic (Whittlesea Rangers FC).
Meanwhile, Birhanu Taye – playing for Portugese club SC Braga – has been named for the first time. After progressing through the Capital Football development programme, the 19-year-old has earned a berth with the Portugal club after being part of the Asia Pacific Football Academy programme and Team Wellington ASB Youth League side.
Having played the 2013-2014 ASB Premiership season as Wanderers SC with a squad of players eligible for selection, and after recent matches against Fiji and Papua New Guinea, the tournament in China is the first set of international games for the group against opposition from outside Oceania since the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cup events last year.
With the overseas based players back in the mix, coach Darren Bazeley is eager for the challenge which lies ahead in early June.
“It’s out of season for most of the professional clubs now which gives us access to the overseas players including the Phoenix boys, so it’s going to be really interesting to see how they gel together and how they perform,” Bazeley said.
“It’s really exciting, we’re playing some world class opposition in Croatia, Brazil and China which means we’re going to need be at the top of our game; individually and as a team unit.”
Bazeley and the team have been working hard on instilling a possession-based philosophy, with the tournament providing a yardstick of the squad’s development.
“It’s going to be a really interesting tour to see what level some of the players are at and where we are currently at as a team and as a squad.
“We want to be competitive in every game we play as part of the selection and assessment period in the lead up to the World Cup. When you play international games at tournaments like this, we need to start performing and getting results.”
Junior All Whites – Panda Cup International Tournament, China
Goalkeepers
Damian Hirst (Birkenhead Utd AFC)
Oliver Sail (Central Utd FC)
Defenders
Cory Brown (Western Suburbs)
Jesse Edge (Vicenza Calcio, ITA)
Brock Messenger (Sunshine Coast Fire, AUS)
Adam Mitchell (Central Utd FC)
Te Atawhai Wihongi Hudson (Real Salt Lake, USA)
Midfielders
Daniel Bowkett (Miramar Rangers)
Andre de Jong (East Coast Bays AFC)
Michael den Heijer (Kashiwa Reysol, JPN)
Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town FC, ENG)
Matthew Ridenton (Wellington Phoenix)
Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix)
Birhanu Taye (Braga FC, POR)
Bill Tuiloma (L’Olympique Marseille, FRA)
Forwards
Judd Baker (East Coast Bays AFC)
Stuart Holthusen (Onehunga Sports)
Joel Stevens (Miramar Rangers)
Tomislav Trbuhovic (Whittlesea Rangers FC, AUS)
Coach: Darren Bazeley
Assistant coach: Will Gerdsen
Goalkeeper coach: Jonathan Gould
Match schedule
New Zealand v China
Phoenix Sports Centre Stadium
Dujiangyan City, China
Wednesday 4 June, 3pm (7pm NZ time)
New Zealand v Brazil
Shuangliu Stadium
Chengdu City, China
Friday 6 June, 3pm (7pm NZ time)
New Zealand v Croatia
Shuangliu Stadium
Chengdu City, China
Sunday 8 June, 3pm (7pm NZ time)
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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