The preliminaries for soccer's World Youth Championships, which take place in Nigeria next month, were held throughout the world over recent months. Group Two, it could be argued, was the weakest of the lot.

The four-team group consisted of the Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Vanuatu and American Samoa and they played off in a round-robin format. Solomon Islands won the group on goal difference scoring 24 and conceding none. New Zealand, in second place, scored 16 and conceded none.

In the game which decided which was worst team of the group and possibly the entire tournament, Vanuatu finally edged out American Samoa 15-7. But the score was 0-0 at half-time with all 22 goals scored in the second half! American Samoa finished up with a grand total of seven goals scored and 46 conceded - all in just three games! Not exactly Jack Charlton tactics.