New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

Bar for Reid and Wood, are the over 24 players actually any better than the young contingent playing?

Outside of CB where you have Boxall and Smith, I'd say no. 

Problem with the above is, all of our good CB's are getting on... we need some new players to come through, but we don't play any games so when do you get the chance to blood them!

MetalLegNZ

Bar for Reid and Wood, are the over 24 players actually any better than the young contingent playing?

Outside of CB where you have Boxall and Smith, I'd say no. 

Problem with the above is, all of our good CB's are getting on... we need some new players to come through, but we don't play any games so when do you get the chance to blood them!

Doesn't help that those who are coming through (like Stanger and Pijnaker) don't seem likely to get many senior club minutes anytime soon.

The over age players will probably end up being A-League guys cuz its in the middle of the MLS season and the UK pre-season. So I'm guessing Payne, Rufer and Kosta.

RR

The over age players will probably end up being A-League guys cuz its in the middle of the MLS season and the UK pre-season. So I'm guessing Payne, Rufer and Kosta.

I think this is a likely scenario.

Though Smith maybe released by Colchester for a few weeks, July/August. He's done plenty of pre seasons, and knows what's required to prepare for another 46 game slog in League Two. He will also be conscious of the need to prove himself to Hay, with competition for the AWs backup CB roles to Reid/Boxall heating up.

Reid could be preparing for an EPL season with Brentford, back training with West Ham, or trialling with some other club in the UK! His situation is so uncertain that I think he'll give Tokyo a miss. Though had a look back and he wasn't playing at the London Olympics, when Smith was. So this will be his last shot at an Olympic experience.

Some of the U23 players will also be far from certain. Bell mid season in Norway, and Singh likely in the midst of pre season at a new club, in what is an important juncture in his club career. Woud & Almere maybe preparing for the Dutch top flight.

So yes expect many A League players (off season) to come into contention.

Smith, Payne, Barba, Rojas, Wood and Musa. Guys currently at pro clubs, who were all at London 9 years ago. Adam Thomas, Howieson & Weemac also still playing at a level.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2012/07/26/world/olympics/belarus-under-23/new-zealand-under-23/1281833/

RR

The over age players will probably end up being A-League guys cuz its in the middle of the MLS season and the UK pre-season. So I'm guessing Payne, Rufer and Kosta.

If Bell, Lewis, Stensness are all available then I don't think Rufer would add anything extra as an over age player. Maybe if Rojas gets backs from injury and shows some form for MV before end of the A-League he would be a possibility too.

I'd be surprised if Wood and Reid don't try and make themselves available, based on their history of wanting to turn out for the All Whites. With Covid and I assume no fans in the stands, opening ceremony, etc, I guess the Olympics might have lost some allure though.

Reid may try to use the Olympics as a springboard to get another gig, same with Wood should Burnley face the drop at the end of the season.

The Olympics is a massive tournament, a huge window to be noticed, so I expect players to want to be there personally.

MetalLegNZ

Reid may try to use the Olympics as a springboard to get another gig, same with Wood should Burnley face the drop at the end of the season.

The Olympics is a massive tournament, a huge window to be noticed, so I expect players to want to be there personally.

The Olympics would be of nil to very minimal use for Reid & Wood, should they need to market themselves to a new club.

They are hugely experienced pros, and well known commodities who have both been in the UK over 10 years. Burnley are unlikely to be relegated now, and if Reid is looking for new club over the Euro summer it will all be about trialling and fitness tests.

The football comp at the Olympics (which will be dwarfed in importance by the Euros this NH summer - or Copa America in Sth America), can be a potentially great shop window for a young player, but that's all. If likes of Wood & Reid go to Tokyo it's just because they want to play for a NZ national team (after all the opportunities have been almost nil, the last 3 years) plus want a taste of that Olympic experience, even if this version shapes as being a bit flat.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/124908468/tokyo-olympics-olywhites-secure-kindest-possible-draw-for-mens-football-tournament

The OlyWhites national under-24 men’s football team have avoided superpowers Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain and France at the Tokyo Olympics after being handed the kindest draw possible.

They will face South Korea, Honduras, and Romania in group B at the 16-team tournament, with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

Tokyo Olympics – men’s football tournament
Group A: Japan, South Africa, Mexico, France
Group B: New Zealand, South Korea, Honduras, Romania
Group C: Egypt, Spain, Argentina, Australia
Group D: Brazil, Germany, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia

OlyWhites’ fixtures (all NZ time)
Thursday, July 22: v South Korea, 8pm
Sunday, July 25: v Honduras, 8pm
Wednesday, July 28: v Romania, 8.30pm

That is a good draw (for the men). Seems like we have a realistic chance of getting out of the group if we can field close to our strongest possible team. 

Burnley are far from safe, 3 points off relegation.

Great draw for the men... horror draw for the woman.

MetalLegNZ

Burnley are far from safe, 3 points off relegation.

Great draw for the men... horror draw for the woman.

Clarets 6 points above Fulham with a game in hand. No not safe yet, but good odds they will stay up.

And yes a great draw for the men. 
Ferns to be fair may be lucky to score a goal. Going in with no prep, against 3 far better teams (world rankings 1, 5 & 9).

This should be the first litmus test for Hay as a national coach, those games in November 2019 realistically counted for nothing but a meet and great. I liked him at Suburbs, but sceptical of him at this level, but, unlike some it seems who would probably be happier if he lost to prove their point, I’m willing to give him a shot.

Honduras and New Zealand have met at the last two U20 World Cups, 2017 in Korea NZ won 3-1, and, of course, the 5-0 win in Poland in 2019. The players taken to these two World Cups are all eligible to go to Tokyo, but of course should theoretically be stronger than either as the 37 players (5 players went to both) used across the two tournaments will be down to 15+3 overage, and that’s discounting bolters like Stamenic, Garbett or Sutton. Therefore, we should have definitely have the quality to beat Honduras, although they will probably be the easiest opponent.
Honduras qualified by knocking out the US, but by all accounts the US dominated but lacked a cutting edge, and used a weakened team featuring none of their European players.

South Korea won the AFC qualifiers, beating Australia in the final, as well as making the final of the 2019 U20 World Cup, although the New Zealand team did manage to draw with them in a behind-closed-doors friendly prior to that tournament. If they pick Son Heung-min that would be huge, but they also can call upon 20yo Valencia winger Lee Kangin, who won the Golden Ball (best player) in Poland. Those two alone would be a huge handful for even Reid, let alone Pijnaker/Stanger/Payne. A result in this game would be hugely important, as I reckon Romania-South Korea would be very tight.

Romania qualified on the basis of reaching the semifinals of the 2019 European U21 tournament, which can be argued as a higher level than the U20 World Cup, as you can be often have players up to the age of 23 in the squad. Romania has talented players and did very well at that tournament, topping their group which had France, England and Croatia (ie 3 of the 4 semifinalists at the last World Cup) and only losing to Germany 4-2 in the semifinal with two goals in added time. In this years group stage they only missed the knockout stage on goal difference, having 5 points, the same as Germany and the Netherlands in the group. Their senior national team also failed to qualify for this summer’s Euros, so they will likely have a full set of players available to pick from for this tournament. Romania certainly don’t have the lustre of the other European qualifiers, but I sense there is an underestimation of their quality and achievements to qualify. There is also a sense amongst ‘lesser’ footballing nations that the Olympics is winnable, as historically, the best nations often disregard it, leading to Mexico, Nigeria and Cameroon all winning in recent years, this could mean Romania could well and truly gun at this tournament, which would make Hay’s job much more difficult.

If I had to bet, I would honestly bet against New Zealand making it to the quarterfinals, and that South Korea and Romania would, but on the other hand, this group doesn’t have a truly world class team, and our talent pool has never been at a better stage to compete in an Olympics, so I wouldn’t write the team off at all.

If Hay doesn't select Ollie Whyte then what's even the point. 

GK: Woud, Paulsen?
RB: Billingsley, D Ingham?
CB: Stanger, Pijnaker, Zwetsloot?
LB: Cacace, McGarry
DM: Bell, Stensness, Stamenic
AM: Singh, Lewis
FW: Waine, M Mata, McCowatt, Just

18 man squad, so I guess we look something like that before overage player availability is factored in.

Rogerson & Elliot maybe options to come in? Champness if he wants to be an OlyWhite? Reserve Keeper could be a toss up between Cam Brown and Paulsen?

Ideally M Boxall comes in for D Ingham, Reid for Zwetsloot & Wood for M Mata or Waine.

Wow that looks like the kindest draw I've ever seen?

carlind

This should be the first litmus test for Hay as a national coach, those games in November 2019 realistically counted for nothing but a meet and great. I liked him at Suburbs, but sceptical of him at this level, but, unlike some it seems who would probably be happier if he lost to prove their point, I’m willing to give him a shot.

Honduras and New Zealand have met at the last two U20 World Cups, 2017 in Korea NZ won 3-1, and, of course, the 5-0 win in Poland in 2019. The players taken to these two World Cups are all eligible to go to Tokyo, but of course should theoretically be stronger than either as the 37 players (5 players went to both) used across the two tournaments will be down to 15+3 overage, and that’s discounting bolters like Stamenic, Garbett or Sutton. Therefore, we should have definitely have the quality to beat Honduras, although they will probably be the easiest opponent.
Honduras qualified by knocking out the US, but by all accounts the US dominated but lacked a cutting edge, and used a weakened team featuring none of their European players.

South Korea won the AFC qualifiers, beating Australia in the final, as well as making the final of the 2019 U20 World Cup, although the New Zealand team did manage to draw with them in a behind-closed-doors friendly prior to that tournament. If they pick Son Heung-min that would be huge, but they also can call upon 20yo Valencia winger Lee Kangin, who won the Golden Ball (best player) in Poland. Those two alone would be a huge handful for even Reid, let alone Pijnaker/Stanger/Payne. A result in this game would be hugely important, as I reckon Romania-South Korea would be very tight.

Romania qualified on the basis of reaching the semifinals of the 2019 European U21 tournament, which can be argued as a higher level than the U20 World Cup, as you can be often have players up to the age of 23 in the squad. Romania has talented players and did very well at that tournament, topping their group which had France, England and Croatia (ie 3 of the 4 semifinalists at the last World Cup) and only losing to Germany 4-2 in the semifinal with two goals in added time. In this years group stage they only missed the knockout stage on goal difference, having 5 points, the same as Germany and the Netherlands in the group. Romania certainly don’t have the lustre of the other European qualifiers, but I sense their is an underestimation of their quality and achievements to qualify. There is also a sense amongst ‘lesser’ footballing nations that the Olympics is winnable, as historically, the best nations often disregard it, leading to Mexico, Nigeria and Cameroon all winning in recent years, this could mean Romania could well and truly gun at this tournament, which would make Hay’s job much more difficult.

If I had to bet, I would honestly bet against New Zealand making it to the quarterfinals, and that South Korea and Romania would, but on the other hand, this group doesn’t have a truly world class team, and our talent pool has never been at a better stage to compete in an Olympics, so I wouldn’t write the team off at all.

Good wrap. Beware the Romanies.

Imagine Hay will be desperate to have Wood available. He could be lethal against young opposition defenders, with some decent service. Without him the goals will be so much harder to come.

To fulfill the FIFA requirements, Danny will have already forwarded a preliminary list of 50 players (both under-24 and over-age players) from which he will select his final squad of 18 (plus four "alternate players" if he so desires who will be available to replace any injured or otherwise unavailable players).
Any injured or acceptably unavailable players from the squad of 18 or the four alternate players may be replaced during the tournament too.
First, an injured player from the squad of 18 would be replaced by one of the four alternate players.
An injured or justifiably unavailable "alternate player" can be replaced by someone from the provisional "long list" of 50 players during the tournament too.
FIFA Olympic regs (pp.49 - 53 are relevant):
https://resources.fifa.com/image/upload/regulations-for-the-olympic-football-tournaments.pdf?cloudid=djwdytm3sxnc2do3l0gz
Would be interesting to know who is on Danny's list of 50 players (including over-age options).
Some other countries have made their lists public.
I guess ours will never be made public?

Fear the mighty Oly Whites!
This made me smile this morning.
When announcing the groups this morning on the official Tokyo Olympic website, there is only one comment on any of the groups and it concerns us:
https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/olympic-football-mens-draw
"Group B was made up of under-23 Asian champions, Korea Republic, Honduras, New Zealand and Romania. New Zealand scored 33 goals in qualifying, making them the most potent attack going into the Games."

See on Newshub, Hay was confident an agreement could be reached with Burnley to allow Wood to go to Tokyo.

2ndBest

If Hay doesn't select Ollie Whyte then what's even the point. 

Mr & Mrs Whyte, clearly less ambitious for little Ollie, than Mr & Mrs Fenton for Louis Ferenc Puskas.

Big Pete 65

Fear the mighty Oly Whites!
This made me smile this morning.
When announcing the groups this morning on the official Tokyo Olympic website, there is only one comment on any of the groups and it concerns us:
https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/olympic-football-mens-draw
"Group B was made up of under-23 Asian champions, Korea Republic, Honduras, New Zealand and Romania. New Zealand scored 33 goals in qualifying, making them the most potent attack going into the Games."

If only they dug a little deeper to find out who our opposition were 😅 

In all fairness though, we could have a very strong lineup going to Tokyo, so perhaps that little write up might stand us in good stead for competition proper.

YoungHeart

Big Pete 65

Fear the mighty Oly Whites!
This made me smile this morning.
When announcing the groups this morning on the official Tokyo Olympic website, there is only one comment on any of the groups and it concerns us:
https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/olympic-football-mens-draw
"Group B was made up of under-23 Asian champions, Korea Republic, Honduras, New Zealand and Romania. New Zealand scored 33 goals in qualifying, making them the most potent attack going into the Games."

If only they dug a little deeper to find out who our opposition were 😅 

In all fairness though, we could have a very strong lineup going to Tokyo, so perhaps that little write up might stand us in good stead for competition proper.

To be fair to them, the Solomon Islands are a decent side, as are Fiji, and they put 15 past them in three games. Also never discount the great leveller that is the island climates, can’t be easy for guys living in Wellington or Auckland to play in 28 degrees on pitches far tougher than any they’d typically play on. 

I’ve always thought OFC isn’t actually the easiest confederation to qualify from, given there’s typically only one or even half a qualification spot to achieve. I reckon CONCACAF is much easier, they have about 20 Samoa-esque teams, with more spots and also the relative strength of Mexico/USA to the rest of the teams is higher than New Zealand to Tahiti/PNG/New Caledonia/Solomons.

I believe they scored more (33) than any previous NZ Olympic qualifying campaign, but unfortunately didn’t set the OFC record, because that belongs to Vanuatu, who managed to score 51 goals in their 5 games in 2015 en route to the final. (Un)funnily enough they include 3 goals ‘scored’ in a forfeited win against New Zealand (original score 2-0 to NZ) and 46 in a 46-0 win over Micronesia with Jean Kaltak scoring 16 and brother Tony only adding a measly 6. Micronesia hilariously played their three group games for a combined goal difference of -114, losing 30-0 to Tahiti and 38-0 to Fiji as well. The highlights of the games are on Youtube and are quite a treat if you enjoy people hopelessly out of their depth getting bullied to the point of giving up. Needless to say, they didn’t attempt to qualify for Tokyo.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/124931015/tokyo-olympics-coach-confident-olywhites-squad-will-be-close-to-the-strongest-possible
Jamie Searle yes probably got inside running for that 2nd keeper spt. Team if close to full strength, may contain no NZ based amateur players at all.

RR

Graham Arnold confirms the Olyroos are planning on playing a friendly against New Zealand in Tokyo as part of #Tokyo2020 prep.

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) April 22, 2021

Please keep us updated on where and when. Hopefully the covid situation is a bit more damped down soon.

martinb

RR

Graham Arnold confirms the Olyroos are planning on playing a friendly against New Zealand in Tokyo as part of #Tokyo2020 prep.

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) April 22, 2021

Please keep us updated on where and when. Hopefully the covid situation is a bit more damped down soon.

It will be in Japan in the fortnight before the tournament and it will almost certainly be behind closed doors with few details released.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/125011117/all-whites-striker-chris-wood-would-love-to-be-part-of-another-olywhites-campaign

But so far the signs are positive – not only for him, but for the other over-age players at the top of Hay’s list, centre backs Michael Boxall and Winston Reid, who are believed to be just as eager to take part.

With the All Whites playing just four matches in 2018 and two in 2019, then none in the past 17 months, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, that trio and the country's other senior players have not been able to make the most of their prime footballing years on the world stage.

Wood said it had been "frustrating for everybody – players, staff, and I'm sure fans as well, not seeing the All Whites play”.

"We're eager to turn that around on the All Whites front and there's no better time to start than with the Olympic team."

Interesting NZ connection revealed on another YF thread with our prospective opponent playing for South Korea:
"reubee:Tottenhams Son Heung-Min spent a small amount of his childhood in NZ improving his English without being spotted by Fencibles Utd.  I have seen various reports that it was 3 months  https://peoplepill.com/people/son-heung-min/
or as much as 6 years https://www.reddit.com/r/Aleague/comments/gdmbyr/til_heungmin_son_grew_up_in_new_zealand/.  I suspect it was closer to the small amount."

I also noticed in an article on Son's career in the March "World Soccer" magazine that our two coming opponents South Korea and Honduras have history at the last Olympics. I'd forgotten that Honduras actually made the semi-final by beating South Korea in the quarter-final.
Apparently Son came in for some stick back home for his performance in that game. 
So Honduras won't necessarily be the "easier" opponent we may be inclined to think they are (despite their abysmal results at the last two FIFA u-20 World Cups when they even lost to Fiji in NZ in 2015 and got absolutey pounded by NZ and Norway in 2019).

Big Pete 65

Interesting NZ connection revealed on another YF thread with our prospective opponent playing for South Korea:
"reubee:Tottenhams Son Heung-Min spent a small amount of his childhood in NZ improving his English without being spotted by Fencibles Utd.  I have seen various reports that it was 3 months  https://peoplepill.com/people/son-heung-min/
or as much as 6 years https://www.reddit.com/r/Aleague/comments/gdmbyr/til_heungmin_son_grew_up_in_new_zealand/.  I suspect it was closer to the small amount."

I also noticed in an article on Son's career in the March "World Soccer" magazine that our two coming opponents South Korea and Honduras have history at the last Olympics. I'd forgotten that Honduras actually made the semi-final by beating South Korea in the quarter-final.
Apparently Son came in for some stick back home for his performance in that game. 
So Honduras won't necessarily be the "easier" opponent we may be inclined to think they are (despite their abysmal results at the last two FIFA u-20 World Cups when they even lost to Fiji in NZ in 2015 and got absolutey pounded by NZ and Norway in 2019).

The results Honduras have managed with their players born 1997 and onwards at the last two Fifa U-20 World Cups strike me as more relevant here than the ones they managed with their payers born from 1993 to 1996.

A European based Olyroos teams (minus any A League contenders), is to play  four matches  during the upcoming international window (May 31 – June 15). Games in Marbella, Spain.

Australia v Republic of Ireland (U-21)  2 June 2021

Australia v Saudi Arabia 5 June 2021

Australia v Romania 8 June 2021
Australia v Mexico 12 June 2021

Why hasn't NZF sought to organise any games for a OlyWhites Euro team over this same window May 31st - June 15th?  I don't know how travel restrictions work within Europe now, but they must be easing, especially if you are vaccinated and can produce a negative Covid test?

Following Euro based NZ players will have finished their club seasons by 31st May. oa is overage -

Woud, Jamie Searle, Tzanev (oa), Pijnaker, Stanger, Smith (oa), Reid (oa), Elliot, Kirwan (oa), Cacace, Stamenic, Sean Bright, Singh, Just, McCowatt, Wood (oa).

That's enough players for a camp, and game against someone. Invite Thomas in to be an observer, if he is up to walking around. Bring in some other Kiwi kids from age group teams at various Euro clubs (some in Holland from memory), to increase the numbers.

You also have some guys in season in Scandinavia like Bell, Owen Parker-Price, Garbett, Rogerson who would have to be released by ther clubs being an international window. Though you might only bring them in for a few days so as not to upset their clubs.

Same for M Boxall, Tuiloma and Collier from the MLS. That's if MIQ free travel between USA and Europe is possible. CONCACAF are having international games over this 2 week window. Now I check, and see that MLS is basically taking a 2 week break over this window, so the 3 MLS Kiwis would be available, travel permitting. It's rare that the MLS stops for a FIFA window, so bit of missed opportunity to get these guys into an AWs camp?

What is Hay actually doing at the moment? Why isn't he in Europe (travelling via US to meetup with MLS & USL guys) now?

Time on the grass with OlyWhite/AWs contenders is now badly needed. He hasn't done any hands on coaching since November 2019. Olympic opponents South Korea, Romania & Honduras for sure will be having warmup games over this window. The June 2022 intercontinental playoff games will also come around very fast.

I'd wager that Des Buckingham wouldn't be content sitting in Albany watching endless football videos. He would have worked hard to try organise some sort of Euro camp and/or game(s). Minimum a trip to US & Europe to catch up with the players. Even if he had to fly at his own cost, and end up in NZ MIQ for 2 weeks upon return.

Fritz Schmid (remember him) managed to get a meaningless fixture organised against Canada, plus camp somewhere in Spain back in 2018. Surely NZF could have found a similar type setup at a time when it really matters.

didnt Hay say a little while ago that the logistic and organising games like this was just too hard/costly?

theprof

didnt Hay say a little while ago that the logistic and organising games like this was just too hard/costly?

FFA securing 4 games for their Euro based Olyoos debunks it being too hard, without yes knowing anymore than that.

And re the cost I'd agrue that if NZF could organise a game & camp 3 years ago in Spain, they can do same now.

I just remember Hay complaining last year about the sacrifice he would have to make being away from family when those friendlies against England & Belgium (later cancelled) were being announced in Europe. Covid has been shark for everyone, and I don't mean to underplay being apart from one's family. But he's an international football coach in unprecedented times, with the only really big games of his AWs coaching reign (Olympics & intercontinental playoffs) both looming, over next 12 months. Now is when he earns his bread, after 2 years of Zoom & soltaire.

Sorry I just didn't like the sound of him 'complaining' last year, when Buckingham with the U20s had just quietly gone about his business, and it was later revealed he had often delved into his own pocket, when travelling far and wide to monitor his playing group.

If there was some news that AWs would be seeking friendlies (likely Europe) in Sept-Oct-Nov windows later this year, then I'd give Hay some more slack. 

But seems only plan at the moment is Tokyo - where you can only take 3 oa players (so far from a full strength AWs squad), and which could well end up as a rushed low quality exercise if some important players, are only released just prior the first Olympics game by their clubs. Then an AWs (likely not full strength) gathering for some OFC WC qualifying tourney next January. 

Then if AWs progress from that, maybe 1-2 warmup games in the March 2022 window before the big June 2022 intercontinental playoffs. That's woeful prep when trying to qualify for a 4 yearly World Cup, even given the difficulties of Covid. And given there has never been such a promising group of young NZ footballers coming through, it's depressing if they are not given the best chance to make it to Qatar.

I totally agree, Hay complaining that it was too hard or costly just sounded like a coach really not that motivated to push for anything better than the sharke we've had for the last few years. He's the sort of coach to respond to the "why no games?" question with at least we are unbeaten.
#No ambition, #happy with the status quo #we want buckingham

NZF to provide an update on the Olympic team selection process? No but a 2nd tier Danish club can.
https://fchelsingor.dk/2021/05/26/liam-jordan-udtaget-til-det-sydafrikanske-ol-landshold/

In addition to Liam Jordan's selection, FCH has selected two other players for the national team, as Elijah Just and Callum McCowatt have both been pre-selected for New Zealand's gross squad for the Olympics, with the final squad to be announced on July 18.

coochiee

NZF to provide an update on the Olympic team selection process? No but a 2nd tier Danish club can.
https://fchelsingor.dk/2021/05/26/liam-jordan-udtaget-til-det-sydafrikanske-ol-landshold/

In addition to Liam Jordan's selection, FCH has selected two other players for the national team, as Elijah Just and Callum McCowatt have both been pre-selected for New Zealand's gross squad for the Olympics, with the final squad to be announced on July 18.

To be fair to NZF, I can’t find publicised anywhere the long-lists for any Olympic football country, but from memory it might be up to 50 or so players, of which they must choose their final squads from only those players

coochiee

NZF to provide an update on the Olympic team selection process? No but a 2nd tier Danish club can.
https://fchelsingor.dk/2021/05/26/liam-jordan-udtaget-til-det-sydafrikanske-ol-landshold/

In addition to Liam Jordan's selection, FCH has selected two other players for the national team, as Elijah Just and Callum McCowatt have both been pre-selected for New Zealand's gross squad for the Olympics, with the final squad to be announced on July 18.

 The final squad will be announced well before July 18.

andrewvoerman

coochiee

NZF to provide an update on the Olympic team selection process? No but a 2nd tier Danish club can.
https://fchelsingor.dk/2021/05/26/liam-jordan-udtaget-til-det-sydafrikanske-ol-landshold/

In addition to Liam Jordan's selection, FCH has selected two other players for the national team, as Elijah Just and Callum McCowatt have both been pre-selected for New Zealand's gross squad for the Olympics, with the final squad to be announced on July 18.

 The final squad will be announced well before July 18.

AV, no gossip on Hay and/or other coaching staff heading to USA/Europe, pre Japan?

coochiee

andrewvoerman

coochiee

NZF to provide an update on the Olympic team selection process? No but a 2nd tier Danish club can.
https://fchelsingor.dk/2021/05/26/liam-jordan-udtaget-til-det-sydafrikanske-ol-landshold/

In addition to Liam Jordan's selection, FCH has selected two other players for the national team, as Elijah Just and Callum McCowatt have both been pre-selected for New Zealand's gross squad for the Olympics, with the final squad to be announced on July 18.

 The final squad will be announced well before July 18.

AV, no gossip on Hay and/or other coaching staff heading to USA/Europe, pre Japan?

Why would they do that? The plan remains to be for them to have two weeks of buildup, including matches, in Japan beforehand.