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Roar Rookie
Joined June 2013
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“Your comments are bordering on insulting to Australian soccer.”
Jorji, I’m sorry you got that impression – I have nothing but good things to say about Australian soccer. I was simply stating a scenario that might arise if the remaining OFC teams join Asia.
“NZ is not even the population of Melbourne”
Not sure what your point is here. The population of Guam is 160.000 and they are a full AFC member.
“My advice is make soccer your biggest sport, have a fully pro league with multi divisions and qualify for all tournaments and you might be worth talking to.”
Currently there are 6 divisions in NZ + a separate franchise league. I’d be all for the NRFL Premier to go Pro (Currently semi-pro) They also have the second largest participation in soccer at grassroot levels (boys & girls). The thing is, why should NZ meet all these criterias when most AFC members can’t? I’d be shocked if half of the AFC members meet all the points that you’ve outlined and Australia isn’t one of them.
Is it time to farewell Oceania?
They qualified for the 1982 WC via Asia with an almost amatuer team so it’s definitely possible. Even Fiji managed a respectable 3-3 draw in Jakarta against Indonesia while Australia left Jakarta with a 1-0 loss. Sure, that was 32 years ago but it just shows that anything is possible.
Is it time to farewell Oceania?
I find it amusing how (some) believe that the FFA is worthy of being in Asia buf NZF isn’t. Look at the AFC member list – plenty of countries with no true professional leagues (as in getting a wage).
NZ+ all other OFC nations can bring something to the table which Australia on it’s own couldn’t – an extra WC spot – giving the AFC 5 guaranteed spots.
New Zealand has played in AFC WCQ before – from 1970 until 1990 (and successfully qualified in 1982) where they had to go through teams such as Iraq, Indonesia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China etc
There’s a few theories going around on how the OFC can be “merged” with AFC and the best one I’ve seen yet involves the two finalists from the OFC Nations Cup advancing to the third round of AFC WCQ qualifying (Credit to Matt Rowan @MattRFootball for the idea – http://www.fromthestandsal.com/2013/11/19/absorbing-ofc-afc-beneficial/)
I am personally against NZ moving to the AFC without the rest of the OFC nations (AFC probably wouldn’t allow it anyhow) or, even worse, giving OFC an automatic WC spot. That’s a total disaster long term and a false economy. Oceania teams need more meaningful games against better sides and the odd friendly every 6 months just don’t cut it anymore.
Is it time to farewell Oceania?
For the record, there are more people in New Zealand than in Greater Melbourne according to the latest census (3,999,982 vs 4,242,048).
Is it time to farewell Oceania?