No doubt some of the African nations and the North Koreans are cheating.

It feel it’s going to be a massive test given all of the teams are challenging in each way.

Nigeria are 5 time champions at this level, the last time we played them in the 2015 version they beat us 6-0.

Equador will tough they physically very demanding and skilful too like any South American team at this level, Hungary are unknown but being an European team they will show tactical strength and discipline to boot so they will be tough and often European teams do well at youth level too.

They all display physical, technical and tactical challenges in each way so it will be a mighty challenge for the players, hopefully Trevor Morgan can select the best team and prepare them in the best possible way.

I think a realistic goal might be 3rd place and try to be one of the best 3rd teams as I can’t see them into the top 2 places.

It’s a problem but at u17 level often than not the physical side is a factor and age cheating is hard to find let alone stop.

Solomon Islands to top there group.

If countries cheat isn’t that just stuffing up the development of their real under 17 players?

Delusional

If Morgan follows the recent purest play-out-from-the back then we a f****.

Plus Morgan is a failed youth coach so unlikely.

Hopefully , he can be more pragmatic than recent tournaments where
The u20s failed to go the u20 world cup (under Milicic)
The women's u20s failed to go the u20 women's world cup
The men's NT failed to get out of their group
The women's NT failed to win their R16 match against Norway after losing to Italy in the group stage (under Milicic).

Pragmatism is required.

Yep, but these countries must place a high priority on youth trophies. The record of Nigeria in youth World Cups compared to open age is a pretty funny comparison.

If our u16 women qualify in a couple of months, does that mean our youth system is headed in the right direction?
looking at the nyc squads for next weeks women’s nationals, teams look to be getting deeper. same for the boys.

I know this might be clutching at straws but Mark Robertson, father of Alex of Man City fame (?), has posted the Joeys’ World Cup draw on his Instagram story. Perhaps some hope that Robertson will play for us in the World Cup. 

Or Chile...

He’s eligible for Peru not Chile. 

Top thread with good info. 

And is also pointless. I doubt the African countries would anymore. I think it's a stereotype of the past more so than a reality of the present. 

Performance isn't important in the U17 world cup IMO. It's all about development of our player and the prospect of being noticed by European scouts.

Yeah that philosophy has really worked out great the past 10 years.  

Not really, these are from the past couple of years alone:

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/nigerian-under-17-football-team-golden-eaglets-half-squad-fail-age-test-mri-scan-a7176401.html

https://m.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/15-out-of-40-nigeria-u-17-players-fail-age-test-20180817

Alexander Robertson scored for Man City u18s in a 10-0 win over Rochdale. 

I'm expecting big things from this NZ U17 side, will deff get out of the group stage, I think the best Aus U17 can hope for is a point.

Are many of the NZ players playing senior football? 

Mostly Academy and semi pro league players.

Jordan Courtney-Perkins, 16 years old and a fixture in Joeys squads and starting elevens, is starting for Brisbane tonight against Sydney in the FFA Cup. Really exciting as this indicates he will be the first Joey in this cohort to genuinely break into an A-League first team on a regular basis. Hoping for a good performance from the lad. 

Birkan Kirdar, another Joey, is on the bench for Victory. Hopefully he'll see some minutes. 

7 players in and around the Joeys squad, (Powell, Abdulahi, Simmons, Ostler, G. Popovic, Courtney Perkins and Kirdar) have now made their competitive professional debuts, and the likes of Ryan Teague, Caleb Watts and Daniel Walsh look like they will in the near future. This really bodes well for the World Cup. 

In contrast, before the 2015 U17 World Cup, no one in the Joeys squad had made their competitive professional debut, and none of those players did for well over a year after World Cup. 

Looking at this statistic, it seems as if youth pathways have improved significantly - do you think this is the case?

It would appear that the pathways may have improved or we just got a good batch.  Courtney-Perkins played brilliantly last night (considering his age) and Popovic doesn't seem too bad either.

U17 and U15 Joeys squads named for training camps at the AIS over the next week. U17 squad is travelling to the UK next week for friendlies against England, Brazil and Korea, at the conclusion of this training camp. 

Interestingly, 4 players from the U15 squad have been invited to train with the U17 squad - Oliveira (Cassio’s son), Menelaou, Segecic and Lopane. 

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/joeys-u-17-and-u-15-squads-camp

It’s interesting that 4 boys from the u15 side that were in the AFF Championship team are in this squad too.

Segicic, Oliveira, Lopane and Menelaou, who were some of the attackers and midfielders in that team so they must be highly regarded by Trevor Morgan.

With regards to the u17s it will be a good test against strong opposition, hope they take a lot out of it regardless of what results they get.

Noah Botic has signed for Hoffenheim on a two year scholarship deal. 

Joeys squad for there UK tour against England, South Korea and Brazil.

Tough games but a great test ahead of the World Cup.

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/trevor-morgan-names-joeys-squad-england-tour

The likes of Robertson, Sepping and Varga not selected, not sure who else missed out on selection.

Pavlesic isn’t included. I assume him and Sepping and Varga as well are injured.