Vanuatu U 20

Formal reception for Vanuatu U20 footballers

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.

Ronaldo’s lasting legacy on show in Korea Republic

It started with initial rumours of the existence of a future superstar at Cruzeiro, which were in no way dispelled by reports of his fine performances for PSV Eindhoven once he had moved to Europe.

His subsequent eye-catching displays with Barcelona and Inter Milan, and his explosive appearances at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™, which coincided with the growth of satellite television, served to propel the dynamic Brazilian to global stardom.

Vanuatu beaten by Germany at FIFA Under 20

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.

Vanuatu U20s expect Germany to be toughest test

The Melanesians suffered a last minute 3-2 defeat against Mexico in their tournament opener before a 7-0 thrashing by Venezuela on Tuesday.

RNZI reports the Germans are also searching for their first win in Group B, following a loss and a draw.

The President of the Vanuatu Football Federation, Lambert Maltock, expected this would be their toughest match.

"The worst game we will try out best because Germany is professional with all the professional players," he said.

President’s pride over valiant Vanuatu

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.”

Venezuela put seven past 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.

Maltock confident Vanuatu can win against Venezuela

Vanuatu Football Federation president Lambert Maltock said there is no reason why Vanuatu cannot beat Venezuela.

He said Fiji U 20 beat Honduras at the last World Cup in New Zealand (2015), so why can’t Vanuatu do the same.

“We believe in what our Head Coach (Dejan Gluščević) is putting in place after analysing (the) last Venezuela match vs Germany and also in our team strength and row talents which can make the difference like the duo, Captain Bong Kalo and Ronaldo Wilkins did with Mexico.”

VBTC works on live coverage of remaining Vanuatu U 20 matches

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.

Kalo, the magician for surprise package Vanuatu

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.

Anger in Vanuatu over World Cup soccer TV blackout

The national broadcaster Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation had said late on Friday, that matters were in hand and the match would be shown.

However, Pacific Beat reports they failed to deliver and there are lot of very angry people in Vanuatu.

Harry Attison from Capital 107 FM in Port Vila says he fielded a series of calls from people wanting to know where the TV pictures were, while trying to keep his radio audience up to speed.

The President of the Vanuatu Olympic Committee, Antoine Boudier, says the state broadcaster has let the nation down.