FIFA U 20 World Cup

Charlot Salwai confirmed that the Council of Ministers will organise a formal reception to recognise the players and management of the Vanuatu Football Federation for their performance at the World Cup in South Korea.

He made the statement on Sunday in front of more than 1000 football fans who gathered at the Independence Park in Port Vila to welcome the team home.

RNZI reports the Wantoks were narrowly beaten 3-2 against both Mexico and Germany either side of a 7-0 thrashing by Venezuela during their maiden appearance at an eleven-a-side FIFA tournament.

Hundreds of football fans and the players' families were at Bauerfield International Airport to welcome back the young heroes who represented Vanuatu well in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea.

Although Vanuatu lost all their three matches in Pool B, they won the hearts of many Ni-Vanuatu football fans including the Vanuatu government.

The Government hosted a welcome ceremony at Independence Park where many more fans greeted the players. .

Photos by Vanuafoot

But Germany will have to wait to see if they have reached the knockout stage as they finished third in Group B.

While even a win would have potentially needed mathematical miracles to see Vanuatu through, owing to their goal difference, Germany knew that three points would certainly put them in the mix for, if not guarantee, progression.

After representing their nation at a World Cup for the first time in history – and giving football giants Mexico a good run for their money – Vanuatu Football Federation president Lambert Maltock was very proud of the performances displayed by the young side.

“We know where we are now on the world map of football,” he said.

“We have to look at it game by game. The first one we already did really well so we are really proud and that’s what we wanted to do for Oceania and Vanuatu.”

Sergio Cordova jumped to the top of the tournament goalscoring list with a brace of his own, while goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez also got in on the act after he successfully converted a penalty kick in the second half.

The match also featured a goal confirmed with the assistance of VAR (video assistant referee). Cordova's first was initially called for offside, but VAR confirmed his effort as the pass in question had come off a Vanuatu defender.

Vanuatu will take on Venezuela in their second pool match at Daejeon World Cup Stadium tonight.

According to VBTC acting General Manager Stevenson Liu, they are working on bookings for the matches.

“And not just that we also working with our partners from Pasifika Channel and TVNZ to get a turnaround of the signal from NZ as the satellite transmitting the content is further west and we unable to get the signal strength from Vanuatu,” Liu said.

Kava, a traditional celebratory drink in the South Pacific, made of the roots of the eponymous plant, flowed as it would on the biggest of occasions.

The fact that Vanuatu had zero points in Group A at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 was irrelevant.

The nation’s debut at the tournament had been an historic moment.