Nelson’s Juliana Los makes NZ Under-20 World Cup squad

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Former Nelson Suburbs and Nelson College For Girls football player Juliana Los will be part of New Zealand Under-20 World Cup squad which travels to Papua New Guinea next month.

Juiana made her debut for the team in June while also playing college soccer in America.

There is no doubt the Kiwis will be up against some of the finest young talent on the planet after being drawn in a testing group with the United States, France and Ghana.

“There’s been seven U-20 World Cups and the USA have won three of them so that record speaks for itself. France are technically very good while Ghana have always done well at World Cups – they’re athletic, physically strong and quick,” coach Leon Birnie says.

“It’s going to be a challenge, that’s the reality and there’s no denying that. We had a very open conversation with the girls when the draw came out and said that, if we’re going to go beyond the group stages, then we’ll have to perform really well.”

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup takes place in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from November 13 to December 3 and New Zealand will compete in Group C.