Vanuatu national football team
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| Association | Vanuatu Football Federation | ||
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| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | ||
| Captain | Etienne Mermer | ||
| Home stadium | Korman Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | VAN | ||
| FIFA ranking | 141 | ||
| Highest FIFA ranking | 131 (October 2007) | ||
| Lowest FIFA ranking | 188 (April 2000) | ||
| Elo ranking | 137 | ||
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| First international | |||
 New Zealand 9 - 0 New Hebrides   (Nouméa, New Caledonia; September 19, 1951) |
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| Biggest win | |||
 Vanuatu 18 - 0 Kiribati  (Lautoka, Fiji; July 7, 2003) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||
| New Zealand 9 - 0 New Hebrides (Nouméa, New Caledonia; September 19, 1951) |
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| OFC Nations Cup | |||
| Appearances | 7 (First in 1973) | ||
| Best result | Fourth place, 1973, 2000, 2002, 2008 | ||
The Vanuatu national football team is the national team of Vanuatu and is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation.
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[edit] History
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.
[edit] World Cup record
[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] Notable 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.
[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.
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[edit] Recent call-ups
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[edit] External links
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