AUCKLAND– The coaches of the Thai Airways Oly-Whites and the Football Ferns are both describing their groups as “mouth-watering” following the football draw for the XXVIII Olympiad in Beijing on Monday morning (NZT).
The Thai Airways Oly-Whites begin their campaign on August 7 against their Chinese hosts in front of 60,000 fans in Shengyang before facing a glamour match-up against Brazil on August 10 and a final group match against unknown quantity Belgium on August 13.
Meanwhile the Football Ferns are the first Kiwi Olympians in action, playing their first game against 10th ranked Japan two days before the opening ceremony, with matches against the only two teams to win the women’s gold medal – Norway on August 9 and world number one USA on August 12 – rounding out group play.
“It’s really mouth-watering to think about the match-ups” Oly-Whites head coach Stu Jacobs said.
“You talk about World Cups and international tournaments like the Olympics and Brazil is a team that really fires the imagination due to their history, while China in front of home fans will be tough.”
“At this stage we haven’t thought about who we’re going to target. The focus is on piecing together a build-up first and then we can look at [our first game against] China in Shengyang.
With names of overage players like Kaka, Robinho or Ronaldinho likely to be added to Brazil’s teamsheet along side AC Milan’s rising star Alexandre Pato, Jacobs acknowledges the opposition for the August 10 match will be star-studded as they chase the only men’s football title to elude them.
“It’s exciting to think about the who they may bring in as their overage players, but even at U-23 level the calibre of players is high.”
Football Ferns head coach John Herdman was equally buoyant about the match-ups awaiting his world number 23 side.
“It’s a good pool for New Zealand. We haven’t played Norway or Japan for a long time, so that unknown quantity will work in our favour,” Herdman said.
“Japan’s a great start for us – all the teams are strong but we have to have a go at them.”
Both coaches are currently working on arranging warm up matches against fellow Olympic-bound opposition.
Jacobs is expected to name an extended 25 man Oly-White squad later this week while Herdman will name his Football Ferns side in early July.
Men’s Draw
Group A: Côte d’Ivoire, Argentina, Australia, Serbia
Group B: Netherlands, Nigeria, Japan, USA
Group C: China, New Zealand, Brazil, Belgium
Group D: Korea Republic, Cameroon, Honduras, Italy
The top two teams from each pool qualify for the quarterfinals
Men’s Schedule
August 7: New Zealand v China PR – Shengyang, 7:45pm (11:45pm NZT)
August 10: New Zealand v Brazil – Shengyang, 5pm (9pm NZT)
August 13: New Zealand v Belgium – Shanghai, 7:45pm (11:45pm NZT)
Women’s Draw
Group E: China, Sweden, Argentina, Canada
Group F: Korea DPR, Nigeria, Germany, Brazil
Group G: Norway, USA, Japan, New Zealand
The top two teams from each pool and the best two third-placed teams qualify for the quarterfinals
Women’s Schedule
August 6: New Zealand v Japan – Qinhuangdao, 5pm (9pm NZT)
August 9: New Zealand v Norway – Qinhuangdao, 7.45pm (11.45pm NZT)
August 12: New Zealand v USA – Shengyang, 7.45pm (11.45pm NZT)
Story courtesy of NZF Media. For full story and information visit www.nzsoccer.com