U20 World Cup Live Experience!
Okay so as many of you may know, the U-20 World Cup is held in New Zealand and I bought tickets to the Argentina vs. Panama and Ghana vs. Austria group stage matches. It was a double header so it was a pretty sweet deal for $19 a ticket. (I might also get to watch the Round of 16 matches on June 10 so I'll let you guys in on that as well.) I watched with my best friend who is not a football fan but was still able to get into the game. Football is just so much more fun if you're watching it with a couple of mates!
First off, this is me. Naturally, I was rooting for Argentina. I was also rooting for Ghana in the second match.
The Westpac Stadium wasn't filled up since, for one, it was just the U-20 World Cup, and two, this is New Zealand we're talking about here. We're more of a rugby and cricket kind of country. But it was actually a pretty good turnout in the first match then I assume people left after that 'cause there were fewer people for the second one.
Players warming up on the pitch. I was excited to see Augusto Batalla start at the posts since he's going to be loaned to Real Madrid.
Cue the FIFA anthem! Speaking of anthems, we were seated near a big group of lively Argentines so it was cool listening to them sing along to the anthem. They also made the match-watching experience more fun, tbh!
tbh I'm not very familiar with the squad outside of the fact that Diego Simeone's son, Gio, is playing as their main striker. He was very quiet throughout the match and he had one good chance towards the end but it went wide. Argentina didn't dominate as much as you would expect them to so you really can't underestimate the teams of Central America. Panama played really well. It looked like Argentina was going to win when Angel Correa scored his brace but Panama managed to equalize to make it 2-2. It was a really fun game, though. One of the Panama players got nutmugged and the crowd enjoyed that, lol. But then one of them got stretchered off so that was sad. :( Hope he's okay, as well as Lucas Suarez, one of the Argentine players that had to be subbed off due to injury.
Also, it was a very rainy afternoon so players were starting to slip towards the end. And it got even worse for the second match.
Players lining up for the anthem.
I didn't get to take a lot of photos of this match unfortunately. It wasn't as exciting as the first one. It was getting really cold so my friend and I went out to get a cup of hot chocolate. We missed Austria taking the lead, lol. Now I was really rooting for Ghana to score a goal because Austria winning meant they would be at the top of the table! But it just wasn't happening. :( Until....
PENALTY!!!
Ghana's Yaw Yeboah nicks it in to equalize! Ghana vs. Austria ends 1-1 at FT.
There was another casualty on the pitch earlier. An Austrian player this time had to be stretchered off. Man, this is foreboding.
But that aside! I had a really fun time and I hope I could watch one of the other matches, especially the knockout round ones. As it stands, Group B is all level. Argentina and Panama stay at the top because of the two goals they each scored.
First off, this is me. Naturally, I was rooting for Argentina. I was also rooting for Ghana in the second match.
The Westpac Stadium wasn't filled up since, for one, it was just the U-20 World Cup, and two, this is New Zealand we're talking about here. We're more of a rugby and cricket kind of country. But it was actually a pretty good turnout in the first match then I assume people left after that 'cause there were fewer people for the second one.
Players warming up on the pitch. I was excited to see Augusto Batalla start at the posts since he's going to be loaned to Real Madrid.
Cue the FIFA anthem! Speaking of anthems, we were seated near a big group of lively Argentines so it was cool listening to them sing along to the anthem. They also made the match-watching experience more fun, tbh!
tbh I'm not very familiar with the squad outside of the fact that Diego Simeone's son, Gio, is playing as their main striker. He was very quiet throughout the match and he had one good chance towards the end but it went wide. Argentina didn't dominate as much as you would expect them to so you really can't underestimate the teams of Central America. Panama played really well. It looked like Argentina was going to win when Angel Correa scored his brace but Panama managed to equalize to make it 2-2. It was a really fun game, though. One of the Panama players got nutmugged and the crowd enjoyed that, lol. But then one of them got stretchered off so that was sad. :( Hope he's okay, as well as Lucas Suarez, one of the Argentine players that had to be subbed off due to injury.
Also, it was a very rainy afternoon so players were starting to slip towards the end. And it got even worse for the second match.
Players lining up for the anthem.
I didn't get to take a lot of photos of this match unfortunately. It wasn't as exciting as the first one. It was getting really cold so my friend and I went out to get a cup of hot chocolate. We missed Austria taking the lead, lol. Now I was really rooting for Ghana to score a goal because Austria winning meant they would be at the top of the table! But it just wasn't happening. :( Until....
PENALTY!!!
Ghana's Yaw Yeboah nicks it in to equalize! Ghana vs. Austria ends 1-1 at FT.
There was another casualty on the pitch earlier. An Austrian player this time had to be stretchered off. Man, this is foreboding.
But that aside! I had a really fun time and I hope I could watch one of the other matches, especially the knockout round ones. As it stands, Group B is all level. Argentina and Panama stay at the top because of the two goals they each scored.