Special day for striker Verevou
Iosefo Verevou will always remember the day he headed in Fiji’s first goal at a Fifa World Cup tournament.
Fiji copped an 8-1 drubbing to Germany in their opening game of the under-20 World Cup in Christchurch, but will be better for the experience.
The young Fijian side created history in front of 5296 fans at AMI Stadium on Monday, becoming the first team from their country to compete at a Fifa World Cup at any age-level. Striker Verevou wrote himself into Fijian football folklore when he scored with a header in the 48th minute.
Team-mate Setareki Hughes sent in a well-directed cross from the right and Verevou was able to beat his defender and head the ball past German goalkeeper Marvin Schwaebe.
Verevou, who lists former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as his hero and also idolises Brazilian striker Neymar, said to score in Fiji’s first World Cup game was a thrill.
‘‘It’s truly a dream come true for me. It’s a big achievement for me and the country too, because we are the first bunch of Fijians to qualify for a World Cup,’’ Verevou said. ‘‘Even though we lost, we still gave our hearts.’’
Verevou, 19, has played football since he was nine and dedicated the goal to his mother, Anaseini Wati, who was watching back in Fiji.
At halftime, the record score at an under-20 World Cup of 10-0 looked under threat as Fiji went into the break 6-0 down. To their credit, they were a much improved side in the second half, conceding just two goals and scoring one themselves.
Verevou’s goal inspired the Fijians, who frustrated Germany for 23 minutes in the second half, until substitute Marvin Stefaniak scored. German Midfielder Hany Mukhtar then completed his hattrick late in the game, netting from the penalty spot.
Fiji coach Frank Farina was proud of the way his team performed in the second half. To hold the classy German side to just two second half goals would serve as a positive for their next clash against Honduras on Thursday, he said.
‘‘Fiji, historically in the past, when they’ve gone down by a number of goals they tend to lose discipline and start doing silly things,’’ Farina said.
‘‘We kept playing. I thought the way they came out in the second half, particularly being 6-0 down, was pleasing as an 8-1 scoreline can be.’’
Germany are tipped as one of the favourites for the under-20 title, having claimed the European under-19 championship last year and Monday’s clash was a David versus Goliath battle. Several of the German players have already played in their top domestic competition, the Bundesliga. In comparison, the Fijian side compete in their national league, a long way off the glitzy world of European football.
Many German players were technically and tactically proficient by the time they were eight or nine years while some of the Fijian side had never played football until they were 15. Farina said despite the scoreline, his players would have fond memories of playing against a football powerhouse.
‘‘To play Germany is a great honour for these kids and something they’ll be talking about when they’re my age.’’
In the later game, Honduras held off Uzbekistan 4-3 in an entertaining spectacle.