Vanuatu national football team

Vanuatu
Association	Vanuatu Football Federation
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Aad de Mos
Captain	Etienne Mermer
Home stadium	Korman Stadium
FIFA code	VAN
FIFA ranking	143
Highest FIFA ranking	131 (October 2007)
Lowest FIFA ranking	188 (April 2000)
Elo ranking	137
	Home colours
	Away colours
First international
	New Zealand 9 - 0 New Hebrides ; (Nouméa, New Caledonia; September 19, 1951)
Biggest win
	Vanuatu 18 - 0 Kiribati ; (Lautoka, Fiji; July 7, 2003)
Biggest defeat
	New Zealand 9 - 0 New Hebrides ; (Nouméa, New Caledonia; September 19, 1951)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	7 (First in 1973)
Best result	Fourth place, 1973, 2000, 2002, 2008

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The Vanuatu national football team is the national team of Vanuatu and is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation. It was known as the New Hebrides national football team until the New Hebrides became Republic of Vanuatu in 1980. It finished fourth in the OFC Nations Cup in 1973, 2000, and 2002. In the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup, Vanuatu stunned New Zealand 4-2, preventing the regional powerhouse from making the final and, consequently, the running for the 2006 World Cup.

Vanuatu caused another shock in the 2007 South Pacific Games by knocking out the Solomon Islands (the lucky benefactors of Vanuatu's previous giant-killing) for bronze medal and also enable to enter the second stage of qualification for the OFC nation Cup and consequently a chance with a playoff for the FIFA world cup in South Africa 2010. The last time they had won against Solomon Islands was back in 1998 and had since been on the receiving side of many losses save for one draw against them. In July 2008, Vanuatu faced two national teams from the Solomon Islands during the inaugural edition of the Wantok Cup. Vanuatu lost 1-2 to the Solomons' team A, but defeated their team B by two goals to one.

On March 10, 2008, the Vanuatu Football Association surprised the world by declaring that Dutch Vitesse manager Aad de Mos will become their new head coach during their campaign for World Cup qualification.

[edit] World Cup record

1930 to 1990 - Did not enter
1994 to 2010 - Did not qualify

[edit] Oceania Nations Cup record

1973 - Fourth place
1980 - Round 1
1996 - Did not qualify
1998 - Round 1
2000 - Fourth place
2002 - Fourth place
2004 - Sixth place
2008 - Fourth place

[edit] South Pacific Games record

1963 - Round 1
1966 - Third place
1969 - Fifth place
1971 - Second place
1975 - Round 1
1979 - Quarter-final
1983 - Round 1
1987 - Fourth place
1991 - Fourth place
1995 - Fourth place
2003 - Third place
2007 - Third place

[edit] Wantok Cup record

2008 (July, 1st edition) - Second place

[edit] Important Players

Etienne Mermer and Jean Victor Maleb were the leading goalscorers for Vanuatu in 2004 Oceania Nations Cup (which doubles as a 2006 World Cup qualification tournament) with 4 goals each. Gavin McCarthy also scored a further 3 goals. With these goals they propelled their team to top the group 2 table and make the second stage of the qualification.

Etienne Mermer plays striker for the Vanuatu National Team and scored a hatrick in the game against American Samoa played on May 12th 2004, on May 15th 2004 he scored his last goal in world cup qualifying against Samoa.

Jean Victor Melab plays striker for the National team and he also scored 2 goals against American Samoa on May 12th 2004, he scored another goal on May 15th 2004 against Samoa, his last goal of world cup quailfying came against New Zealand on June 2nd 2004.

David Von Wheatsenberg of Ballinode, goalkeeper has gone on to play regularly with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

[edit] Important Solitary Upset Win in OFC History

At the second stage of the qualification tournament, Vanuatu came 6th place at the bottom of the table, but manage an important solitary win against regional powerhouses New Zealand which denied them an important group point needed to reach the third and final stages of OFC Nation Cup and an expected chance for a place in both the 2005 Confederation Cup and Continental & Intercontinental playoffs for the 2006 World Cup Finals. This allowed Solomon Islands to play Australia in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup Finals and the World Cup Continental Playoffs in 2005 when Solomon Islands manage a 2-2 draw with Australia in the last round of the second stage. Vanuatu's win created the first time opportunity for one of the Island Nations to contest at the Third Stage. This was previously contested only by Australia and New Zealand up to this point.

[edit] Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against Fiji on September 10, 2008. Players are sorted by shirt number.

No.	Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Club
1	GK	Presley John Garae	5 April 1983	Tafea FC
2	DF	Samson Obed		Tafea FC
3	DF	Ken Masauvakalo	20 November 1984	Erakor Golden Star
5	DF	Roger Joe	21 January 1986	Yatel F.C.
6	DF	Rexley Tarivuti	1 December 1985	Yatel F.C.
7	MF	Moise Poida	2 April 1978	Tafea FC
8	DF	Pita David Maki	12 October 1982	Tafea FC
9	FW	Jean Nako Naprapol		Tafea FC
10	MF	Seimata Chilia	2 August 1978	Tupuji Imere F.C.
11	MF	Hubert Nake		Tafea FC
12	FW	Joseph Namaraiu
13	MF	François Sakama		Tafea FC
14	MF	Jeffry Nimanian
15	FW	Michael Kaltack		Erakor Golden Star
17	DF	Geoffrey Gete	3 August 1986	Tafea FC
18	DF	Robert Tom		Tafea FC
19	DF	Derek Malas		Erakor Golden Star
20	GK	David Chilia	10 June 1978	Tafea FC

[edit] Recent call-ups

No.	Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Club
4	DF	Peter Toa		(WCQ v. Fiji, 6 September)
6	MF	Fedy Vava	25 November 1982	Tafea FC (WCQ v. Fiji, 6 September)
11	MF	Jean Robert Yelou	25 September 1983	Amical F.C. (WCQ v. Fiji, 6 September)
20	GK	Chikau Mansale		Logan United (WCQ v. Fiji, 6 September)
2	DF	Jacques Mafil Nawan		Tafea FC (WCQ v. New Caledonia, 21 June)
11	FW	Etienne Mermer	26 January 1977	Tafea FC (WCQ v. New Caledonia, 21 June)
16	MF	Alphonse Qorig	7 July 1981	Shepherds United (WCQ v. New Caledonia, 21 June)