New Zealand have targeted more composure on the ball and better finishing as their passport to a place in history when they face Gambia in their `win or bust’ FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup match on
Friday (9am NZT).
The winner of the BOM Field clash will remain an outside chance to automatically qualify for the second round by finishing first or second in group C – a feat New Zealand has not achieved in five
previous World Cups.
But the two first round losers – New Zealand were beaten 2-0 by Portugal and Gambia lost 3-0 to Mexico – are more realistically chasing one of the four (out of six) second round spots open to the
tournament’s best third place finishers.
Gambia’s off-the-cuff attacking style will see them start firm favourites before what is expected to be another sell-out crowd of 21,000. But New Zealand believe a repeat of the defensive discipline
that frustrated Portugal – both of the European’s goals on Tuesday (NZT) came from set pieces – and more care in front of goal gives them a “real chance”.
Story courtesy NZF Media…