The groups for the Tokyo Olympics were drawn on thursday, and it was a tough draw for the two NZ teams.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand womens team, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics thanks to an impressive OFC Nations Cup performance in New Caledonia a little over two years ago.<\/p>\n
But it will not be easy for them as the draw set up a trans-Tasman derby with Australia, as well as powerhouse, and gold medal favourites, USA and Rio 2016 finalists Sweden.<\/p>\n
It will take a huge effort for the Football Ferns to get out of the group, but anything is possible at the Olympics.<\/p>\n
For the mens U23 side, it was a slightly easier draw, for what that is worth, as they managed to avoid any of the really big names.<\/p>\n
Yet their group is still a tough one; with one of Asias best sides in South Korea, able to draw on overage players such as Heung-min Son of Tottenham, alongside U21 European Championship surprise package Romania.<\/p>\n
Honduras, whom the U20 NZ team beat 5-0 at the U20 World Cup in 2019, is the last team in the group.<\/p>\n
The draw looks a little kinder to the mens side, but it is still a formidable task at hand for the junior All Whites. If they can bring the likes of Chris Wood as one of their overage players, however, that could help tip a potential knockout round appearance in their favour.<\/p>\n
In the mens competition, the top two teams go through, while the women also have the two best third placed teams move on to the knockout stage.<\/p>\n
Group A: Japan, South Africa, Mexico, France<\/p>\n
Group B: New Zealand, Korea Republic, Honduras, Romania<\/p>\n
Group C: Egypt, Spain, Argentina, Australia<\/p>\n
Group D: Brazil, Germany, Cte dIvoire, Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
Group E: Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Chile<\/p>\n
Group F: China PR, Brazil, Zambia, Netherlands<\/p>\n
Group G: Sweden, USA, Australia, New Zealand<\/p>\n
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Tokyo Olympic draw held: Trans-Tasman derby and avoiding the big boys - Football in Oceania<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The groups for the Tokyo Olympics were drawn on thursday, and it was a tough draw for the two NZ teams. The New Zealand womens team, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics thanks to an impressive OFC Nations Cup performance in New Caledonia a little over two years ago. But it will not be easy for them as the draw set up a trans-Tasman derby with Australia, as well as powerhouse, and gold medal favourites, USA and Rio 2016 finalists Sweden Continue reading