Micronesia’s coach admits it was “boys against men” after his team suffered their third hiding in a row at the Pacific Games.
A football team have been beaten 46-0 in one of the most lopsided games ever seen in international football.
Micronesia’s drubbing by Vanuatu followed a 38-0 loss to Fiji and a 30-0 score line against Tahiti at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
It meant the Federated States of Micronesia conceded a total of 114 goals in their three group matches.
Their Australian coach Stan Foster admitted it was “boys against men” and called for help from FIFA, football’s world governing body.
“I’m hoping that FIFA will be coming (to Micronesia) next week for inspections and to hopefully affiliate us with Asia,” he said.
“If they do, that will lead to us having technical assistance and everything else that brings. That would be a huge boost.”
The half-time score was 24-0 but Vanuatu, ranked 200 in the world, showed their opponents no mercy, almost doubling their tally in the second half.
Vanuatu striker Jean Kaltack helped himself to 16 goals, making him the tournament’s top scorer.
“They’re boys, not men,” Foster said of his team. “And they’ve been playing against well-seasoned men. I’m hoping the majority of our boys will be here for at least eight years.”
Organisers said it was the biggest win in the history of international football, although it is unlikely to go in the record books as Micronesia is not a member of FIFA and it was an under-23 game.
The previous biggest defeat in a senior international was American Samoa’s 31-0 loss to Australia in 2001.
Journalist Kevin Darling, reporting from the tournament, told Sky News the team were trying their best.
“The problem is it’s not a squad of footballers, it’s just a squad of normal blokes,” he said.
“The goalkeeper told me he went in goal for the first time ever three weeks ago. And it showed, to be fair.
“Hopefully in 10 years or so they’ll have a proper team and this would have all been worth it.”
There was some good news for Micronesia as they were told they would be welcomed back when the event is next held in four years.
“That was big relief for me, because I was really worried the organisers would take us out of the competition,” said Foster.
“I’ve been assured that we’ll be allowed to come back and that they’re aware that this is a development squad.”
