Mumbai: New Zealand will have a hard task at hand when they take on Turkey in a Group B clash of the U-17 World Cup at the DY Patil stadium in Mumbai. It is expected to be an open match between two sides in which one is technical and the other reiles on physicality.
One of the first teams to land in India, the Oceania champions have already played two practice matches against Brazil and England, losing both with scores of 1-2 and 2-3 respectively. Turkey on the other hand will completely rely on the training sessions they have had after landing in India just three days prior to the start of the tournament.
Neither of the sides have a good record to speak of in the World Cup thus far. While New Zealand will be participating for just the eight time, Turkey had qualified just twice in 2005 and 2009, with a fourth-place finish in 2005 being their best ever record in the tournament.
Turkey coach Hacioglu Mehmet, sounded confident of his team’s performance agent the Kiwis. “We are much more technical. The New Zealand players and other rivals in our group have important physical capabilities. They’re much bigger in size than us but we have an advantage against them. We prepared ourselves for this physical challenge during our preparatory camp. We have a dedicated gameplan in advance with our focus on both, offensive and defensive side of the game,” he said.
But with the likes of Oliver Whyte and skipper Max Mata in the line-up, the Kiwi team already has a strong attack. Their mid-fielders and defenders will also join party to give a tough competition to Turkey.
Having already played two practise games, Kiwi coach Danny Hay expects his boys to avoid the mistakes done by the previous New Zealand teams and create a new history. “I have the feeling that this bunch will avoid the mistakes that the 2015 World Cup team made. They (the 2015 bunch) were bit like deer caught in the headlights,” said Hay hopeful that they can cross the pre-quarter hurdle this time around.
The two face square-off for the first time in the history of the U-17 World Cup 2017 and will look to take the early lead in their quest for the first ever World Cup.
New Zealand vs Turkey: 5:00 P.m.
Live On: SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY ESPN, SONY ESPN HD for English commentary
SONY TEN 3, SONY TEN 3 HD and DD Sports for Hindi Commentary.