2021 All Whites International Fixtures

I feel lucky I live in England so can actually watch the boys live, nearly 4 years since our last game at home is shocking.

If there was a laugh react on this forum, I’d use it. 

As said before, comparing an organisation from ten years ago to now and stating they’re the same, when in reality they’re not is a massive joke. 

Rugby has more money to bring teams into the country for matches and to appoint more people into key roles so others can focus on other key roles + Media promotion etc. 

Football doesn’t have that resource, so it’s basically like working with what you’ve got. 

Imagine you start up a pie shop and your brother does the same and he starts one up on the same street, but he has more money to invest in his pies and make them better, whereas you don’t have that resource, so your pie quality isn’t as good. It’s like that. 

Simple from me though, get over the past as those people who were unorganised are likely not in those roles now.

Look at the circumstances, which are basically (correct me if wrong) but there was meant to be OFC qualifying matches in this window but Covid stopped that.

So NZF had to get squared matches with teams outside of WCQ - which is obviously teams with low resource who struggle to host the matches. So it’s a matter of getting countries that could meet in the middle on neutral ground. However some nations aren’t in a position to play during this window - look at the lower African nations, similar boat to most of OFC nations, but guess what, those national teams aren’t playing cause they have no resource to do so. 

Literally this issue just comes down to money, not disorganisation. 

NZRU only has about 6 teams to pick from.

Maybe NZF shouldn't employ so many people in areas that don't need them. 
Central football have about 4 people doing what only 10 years ago I person was doing.

CactusJones

If there was a laugh react on this forum, I’d use it. 

As said before, comparing an organisation from ten years ago to now and stating they’re the same, when in reality they’re not is a massive joke. 

Rugby has more money to bring teams into the country for matches and to appoint more people into key roles so others can focus on other key roles + Media promotion etc. 

Football doesn’t have that resource, so it’s basically like working with what you’ve got. 

Imagine you start up a pie shop and your brother does the same and he starts one up on the same street, but he has more money to invest in his pies and make them better, whereas you don’t have that resource, so your pie quality isn’t as good. It’s like that. 

Simple from me though, get over the past as those people who were unorganised are likely not in those roles now.

Look at the circumstances, which are basically (correct me if wrong) but there was meant to be OFC qualifying matches in this window but Covid stopped that.

So NZF had to get squared matches with teams outside of WCQ - which is obviously teams with low resource who struggle to host the matches. So it’s a matter of getting countries that could meet in the middle on neutral ground. However some nations aren’t in a position to play during this window - look at the lower African nations, similar boat to most of OFC nations, but guess what, those national teams aren’t playing cause they have no resource to do so. 

Literally this issue just comes down to money, not disorganisation. 

Yes laughable to compare NZF to NZR especially. 

NZF are mostly at a beggar's table trying to find international opposition for friendlies. Yes they could have done better pre Covid, but since appears they have done their damnest to find AWs games.

As AV and other journos have detailed, there is an International Teams Fund (money from 2010 WC & 2013 Mexico Tv rights), that funds all the mens & womens international programs. Basically the AWs have funded everyone else, including Football Ferns. Sort of ironic that what nearly 10 Ferns have played over 100 games, when Chris Wood has played less than 50. However there are lots of reasons Ferns play more. Easy qualification biennially for a WC or Olympics, shorter club sesaons for female players so easier access to players for internationals etc etc

But NZF are always conscious cash in this Teams Fund could run dry, until a likely boost with virtual automatic qualification for 2026 WC (if OFC gets planned 1.5 spots with a bloated 48 team WC).

Part of the reasoning I'd imagine why in first 2 years of a WC cycle AWs barely play. Back in 2018-2019 NZF didn't see Covid coming (who did) or fact AWs wouldn't be hosting OFC qualifying games in 2020.

I've banged on about it but OFC joining some sort of AFC Nations League is best idea I reckon to have meaningful quality regular H/A games in first 2 years of any WC cycle. Infantino was pushing Global Nations League concept hard pre Covid. Hopefully is revived in 2023.

watching_from_far

NZRU only has about 6 teams to pick from.

Maybe NZF shouldn't employ so many people in areas that don't need them. 
Central football have about 4 people doing what only 10 years ago I person was doing.

And for each of those six teams playing the All Blacks is the biggest match of their year and they will bend over backwards to re-work their schedule and fit an All Blacks game in. 

I don't get why this comparison is getting made, it's laughable. The truth is;
a - Pretty much every other country has qualifiers this window, we don't because OFC is a basket case
b - The countries that don't have qualifiers are the ones that got knocked out early in their qualifiers and, as a rule, are poorer nations with limited resources who can't afford to play random friendlies when there will be extensive travel required. 

it may be a poor comparison but it's not like NZF have never had any money, they've just never used the money they've received from the competitions they've qualified for very well. Starting from the 82 world cup, they've managed to "spend" all the payments received and end up with zero funds very quickly. Meaning that being able to pay for international teams to come here is impossible, so we either end up with no games or travelling to the far ends of the world in economy. It has to be tough with no guaranteed source of income but the millions of dollars received over the decades have largely been wasted.

theprof

it may be a poor comparison but it's not like NZF have never had any money, they've just never used the money they've received from the competitions they've qualified for very well. Starting from the 82 world cup, they've managed to "spend" all the payments received and end up with zero funds very quickly. Meaning that being able to pay for international teams to come here is impossible, so we either end up with no games or travelling to the far ends of the world in economy. It has to be tough with no guaranteed source of income but the millions of dollars received over the decades have largely been wasted.

Why compare 1982, to now or even 2010, it's so long ago. Every administrator from 1982 is likely long dead.

Pragnell & Co seem to be doing an okay job. Who knows how much those friendlies in Bahrain would have cost NZF. One bright spot of Covid is there is apparently quite a bit in that Teams Fund. Legacy of no international games/expenditure (senior or age group) in 2020.

So NZF do honestly seem to be doing their best to help Hay with games pre June 2022, and same Ferns in lead up to 2023 WWC.

I'm not in favour of a bloated 48 team WC, but you could well understand why NZF are keen with a virtual guaranteed 4 yearly cash cow, which would make long term planning for international teams much easier.

it's not really a comparison, more of a statement of historic poor management of funding the NZF has received over the decades. The lack of funds is not a new thing and any management structure coming into the organisation should be well aware of it and have a plan on how to deal with it. 35+ years on and we are still complaining about a lack of money and game time. 

9 comments... thought I was finally going to find out who we were playing.

moving on!

coochiee

CactusJones

If there was a laugh react on this forum, I’d use it. 

As said before, comparing an organisation from ten years ago to now and stating they’re the same, when in reality they’re not is a massive joke. 

Rugby has more money to bring teams into the country for matches and to appoint more people into key roles so others can focus on other key roles + Media promotion etc. 

Football doesn’t have that resource, so it’s basically like working with what you’ve got. 

Imagine you start up a pie shop and your brother does the same and he starts one up on the same street, but he has more money to invest in his pies and make them better, whereas you don’t have that resource, so your pie quality isn’t as good. It’s like that. 

Simple from me though, get over the past as those people who were unorganised are likely not in those roles now.

Look at the circumstances, which are basically (correct me if wrong) but there was meant to be OFC qualifying matches in this window but Covid stopped that.

So NZF had to get squared matches with teams outside of WCQ - which is obviously teams with low resource who struggle to host the matches. So it’s a matter of getting countries that could meet in the middle on neutral ground. However some nations aren’t in a position to play during this window - look at the lower African nations, similar boat to most of OFC nations, but guess what, those national teams aren’t playing cause they have no resource to do so. 

Literally this issue just comes down to money, not disorganisation. 

Yes laughable to compare NZF to NZR especially. 

NZF are mostly at a beggar's table trying to find international opposition for friendlies. Yes they could have done better pre Covid, but since appears they have done their damnest to find AWs games.

As AV and other journos have detailed, there is an International Teams Fund (money from 2010 WC & 2013 Mexico Tv rights), that funds all the mens & womens international programs. Basically the AWs have funded everyone else, including Football Ferns. Sort of ironic that what nearly 10 Ferns have played over 100 games, when Chris Wood has played less than 50. However there are lots of reasons Ferns play more. Easy qualification biennially for a WC or Olympics, shorter club sesaons for female players so easier access to players for internationals etc etc

But NZF are always conscious cash in this Teams Fund could run dry, until a likely boost with virtual automatic qualification for 2026 WC (if OFC gets planned 1.5 spots with a bloated 48 team WC).

Part of the reasoning I'd imagine why in first 2 years of a WC cycle AWs barely play. Back in 2018-2019 NZF didn't see Covid coming (who did) or fact AWs wouldn't be hosting OFC qualifying games in 2020.

I've banged on about it but OFC joining some sort of AFC Nations League is best idea I reckon to have meaningful quality regular H/A games in first 2 years of any WC cycle. Infantino was pushing Global Nations League concept hard pre Covid. Hopefully is revived in 2023.

One of the things I was thinking about the other day was an AFC x OFC tournament similar to the World Cup.

32 teams - Qualification process exists only for lower ranked sides (Cook Islands, Laos, Timor-Leste etc) 

Teams name squads of 23 and its run every 4 years. 

I seem to come up with ideas like this on the toilet. 

Acts as I guess you could say a precursor to the Asian Cup and even the massive event of the OFC Nations Cup. 

In saying that, there’s a lot of things that get in the way. But thought it would be cool. 

CactusJones

coochiee

CactusJones

If there was a laugh react on this forum, I’d use it. 

As said before, comparing an organisation from ten years ago to now and stating they’re the same, when in reality they’re not is a massive joke. 

Rugby has more money to bring teams into the country for matches and to appoint more people into key roles so others can focus on other key roles + Media promotion etc. 

Football doesn’t have that resource, so it’s basically like working with what you’ve got. 

Imagine you start up a pie shop and your brother does the same and he starts one up on the same street, but he has more money to invest in his pies and make them better, whereas you don’t have that resource, so your pie quality isn’t as good. It’s like that. 

Simple from me though, get over the past as those people who were unorganised are likely not in those roles now.

Look at the circumstances, which are basically (correct me if wrong) but there was meant to be OFC qualifying matches in this window but Covid stopped that.

So NZF had to get squared matches with teams outside of WCQ - which is obviously teams with low resource who struggle to host the matches. So it’s a matter of getting countries that could meet in the middle on neutral ground. However some nations aren’t in a position to play during this window - look at the lower African nations, similar boat to most of OFC nations, but guess what, those national teams aren’t playing cause they have no resource to do so. 

Literally this issue just comes down to money, not disorganisation. 

Yes laughable to compare NZF to NZR especially. 

NZF are mostly at a beggar's table trying to find international opposition for friendlies. Yes they could have done better pre Covid, but since appears they have done their damnest to find AWs games.

As AV and other journos have detailed, there is an International Teams Fund (money from 2010 WC & 2013 Mexico Tv rights), that funds all the mens & womens international programs. Basically the AWs have funded everyone else, including Football Ferns. Sort of ironic that what nearly 10 Ferns have played over 100 games, when Chris Wood has played less than 50. However there are lots of reasons Ferns play more. Easy qualification biennially for a WC or Olympics, shorter club sesaons for female players so easier access to players for internationals etc etc

But NZF are always conscious cash in this Teams Fund could run dry, until a likely boost with virtual automatic qualification for 2026 WC (if OFC gets planned 1.5 spots with a bloated 48 team WC).

Part of the reasoning I'd imagine why in first 2 years of a WC cycle AWs barely play. Back in 2018-2019 NZF didn't see Covid coming (who did) or fact AWs wouldn't be hosting OFC qualifying games in 2020.

I've banged on about it but OFC joining some sort of AFC Nations League is best idea I reckon to have meaningful quality regular H/A games in first 2 years of any WC cycle. Infantino was pushing Global Nations League concept hard pre Covid. Hopefully is revived in 2023.

One of the things I was thinking about the other day was an AFC x OFC tournament similar to the World Cup.

32 teams - Qualification process exists only for lower ranked sides (Cook Islands, Laos, Timor-Leste etc) 

Teams name squads of 23 and its run every 4 years. 

I seem to come up with ideas like this on the toilet. 

Acts as I guess you could say a precursor to the Asian Cup and even the massive event of the OFC Nations Cup. 

In saying that, there’s a lot of things that get in the way. But thought it would be cool. 

Unfortunately AFC landscape is already pretty crowded. Asian Cup, Arab Cup. I think there is also some sort of SE Asian Cup.

But UEFA manages to incorporate Euro qualifying into it's Nations League games. So you'd just aim I guess to incorporate Asian Cup qualifying (early years of WC cycle) somehow into a sort combined AFC/OFC comp or Nations League.

Basically suspect Infantino/FIFA would need to pressure/provide a financial carrot to AFC to make it happen.

Edit - from memory the planned lucrative Global Nations final series was to be 8 teams from various Confederations (basically replacing Confeds Cup). Maybe was 1 AFC and 1 OFC team I can’t remember.

So FIFA could offer 2 spots to top 2 teams Division A in a combined AFC/OFC Nations League, as a nice carrot to get AFC to bring in the OFC minnows.

CactusJones

coochiee

CactusJones

If there was a laugh react on this forum, I’d use it. 

As said before, comparing an organisation from ten years ago to now and stating they’re the same, when in reality they’re not is a massive joke. 

Rugby has more money to bring teams into the country for matches and to appoint more people into key roles so others can focus on other key roles + Media promotion etc. 

Football doesn’t have that resource, so it’s basically like working with what you’ve got. 

Imagine you start up a pie shop and your brother does the same and he starts one up on the same street, but he has more money to invest in his pies and make them better, whereas you don’t have that resource, so your pie quality isn’t as good. It’s like that. 

Simple from me though, get over the past as those people who were unorganised are likely not in those roles now.

Look at the circumstances, which are basically (correct me if wrong) but there was meant to be OFC qualifying matches in this window but Covid stopped that.

So NZF had to get squared matches with teams outside of WCQ - which is obviously teams with low resource who struggle to host the matches. So it’s a matter of getting countries that could meet in the middle on neutral ground. However some nations aren’t in a position to play during this window - look at the lower African nations, similar boat to most of OFC nations, but guess what, those national teams aren’t playing cause they have no resource to do so. 

Literally this issue just comes down to money, not disorganisation. 

Yes laughable to compare NZF to NZR especially. 

NZF are mostly at a beggar's table trying to find international opposition for friendlies. Yes they could have done better pre Covid, but since appears they have done their damnest to find AWs games.

As AV and other journos have detailed, there is an International Teams Fund (money from 2010 WC & 2013 Mexico Tv rights), that funds all the mens & womens international programs. Basically the AWs have funded everyone else, including Football Ferns. Sort of ironic that what nearly 10 Ferns have played over 100 games, when Chris Wood has played less than 50. However there are lots of reasons Ferns play more. Easy qualification biennially for a WC or Olympics, shorter club sesaons for female players so easier access to players for internationals etc etc

But NZF are always conscious cash in this Teams Fund could run dry, until a likely boost with virtual automatic qualification for 2026 WC (if OFC gets planned 1.5 spots with a bloated 48 team WC).

Part of the reasoning I'd imagine why in first 2 years of a WC cycle AWs barely play. Back in 2018-2019 NZF didn't see Covid coming (who did) or fact AWs wouldn't be hosting OFC qualifying games in 2020.

I've banged on about it but OFC joining some sort of AFC Nations League is best idea I reckon to have meaningful quality regular H/A games in first 2 years of any WC cycle. Infantino was pushing Global Nations League concept hard pre Covid. Hopefully is revived in 2023.

One of the things I was thinking about the other day was an AFC x OFC tournament similar to the World Cup.

32 teams - Qualification process exists only for lower ranked sides (Cook Islands, Laos, Timor-Leste etc) 

Teams name squads of 23 and its run every 4 years. 

I seem to come up with ideas like this on the toilet. 

Acts as I guess you could say a precursor to the Asian Cup and even the massive event of the OFC Nations Cup. 

In saying that, there’s a lot of things that get in the way. But thought it would be cool. 

Think this is very unlikely on many levels, but I would to see NZF at least try to arrange to enter the Asian Cup or at least qualifying as a guest nation. I guess it would come down to whether AFC would be accepting of that? It would be great for us. 

if it doesn't offer any financial benefit to the AFC they won't support it.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/126837949/all-whites-lock-in-november-fixture-against-the-gambia-another-to-be-announced

The Gambia. Proper little despot nation (or they were for a long while). But no time for politics. A neighbour from our farming area in the Rapa, actually weirdly ended up 2IC to the British Ambassador there upon a time. Followed his Czech partner who worked there for an NGO, and just approached the Embassy for a job as bored.

Despite their low ranking have some guys at a useful level. A lot in Italy, incl Serie A. One at Roma. NZP will be pleased. But none that I can see so far playing in the UK, which is interesting for an English speaking African nation.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/gambia/gambia/946/
https://us.soccerway.com/players/ebrima-darboe/596921/

Another, is a team mate (German born) of Singh's at Jahn Regensburg
https://us.soccerway.com/players/leon-guwara/260550/

2nd planned non cap fixture, some Middle Eastern club team?

Gambia will probably be a good challenge to be honest.

Having a quick look at their squad, they play in random and poor leagues like Belarus and Andorra but also some players play for Roma and Sampdoria in Italy, so they can’t be too terrible.

Looking forward to NZ eking out a 1-0 win 

Am not a fan of non-cap games for an All Whites side, but stoked the Gambia match is sorted - 3 games in a couple of months, all a bit overwhelming...

I'm so thrilled just as I was beginning to lose hope. NZF you ol' tease you. Who are ya and what have you done with the real NZF, eh? Absolutely cannot wait for this one. I think between the Olympics, the October success and potentially another vicotry against Gambia the All Whites can feel they can come away from the year 2021 as a great developmental success.

Khalil Media

Am not a fan of non-cap games for an All Whites side, but stoked the Gambia match is sorted - 3 games in a couple of months, all a bit overwhelming...

There really is a paucity of options, and those June playoff games (yes need to win OFC tourney first) will come around very quickly. Hay needs all warmup games he can get. AWs just need to play at every opportunity.

I actually mooted idea awhile back of using Rory's connections at Swansea, and a game against Wales B or similar - if Hay had other NZ based staff had to return to NZ, for this Nov window.

But another game in the UAE heat against a quality ME club side or international U23 team, likely makes more sense.

Encouraging also that the late Jan FIFA window is being looked at as well for games.

Edit - note that minnows Gambia & Gabon, grabbed the 2 African Nations Cup spots in their qualifying pool, ahead of much bigger nations Angola & Congo DR. So Gambia can't be complete mugs. But maybe with Covid travel restrictions teams were only using local players (no Euro based players) etc. Who knows. 

Possible squad changes. Probably name a team pretty soon.

Reid (sounds like he is training in UAE with Steven Taylor) comes in for Nikko Boxall?

Dalton Wilkins is back in squads at least for his 3rd tier Danish club. But Francis De Vries should go close for a look. No word yet on Kelvin Kalua having signed in Europe?

If Stamenic is out, having come off early for his last club game - I guess Thomas is a natural replacement. Obviously Thommo comes in anyway if available. If not & Stamenic is out, then suddenly someone in Euroland like Owen Parker-Price may get a callup.

This window falls in a 2 week break in MLS (playoff start about 2 weeks after regular season finishes). So hopefully no problems getting Tuiloma & M Boxall released.

Rock Hopper

I'm so thrilled just as I was beginning to lose hope. NZF you ol' tease you. Who are ya and what have you done with the real NZF, eh? Absolutely cannot wait for this one. I think between the Olympics, the October success and potentially another vicotry against Gambia the All Whites can feel they can come away from the year 2021 as a great developmental success.

NZF - the true epitomy of the analogy - When it rains it pours...

And to think, prior to Curaçao and Bahrain we were all the equivalent of waiting for a raindrop in a drought.

Good work for getting Gambia locked in, it will be interesting to see who this other game is against. Hopefully another national side is available. I'm unsure of other potential available opponents and whatnot.

Let's just hope that one unvaccinated player is not Wood.  

While unlikely, the Prem does have high numbers of unvaccinated players.

stoked that we have another game, 2 in a the same year WTF?
I'm guessing that Marinovic is the unvaxxed player.

Saw on Twitter that Israeli premier league require players to be vaxxed. 

I would rule out all of the Olympics players as well as I assume you had to be vaxxed to play at the Olympics? - Could be wrong here 

If so, that leaves:

Nik Tzanev
Bill Tuiloma
Michael Boxall???
Nikko Boxall
Kelvin Kalua
Niko Kirwan 
Tommy Smith 
Dalton Wilkins???? 
Andre de Jong 

Will the Phoenix boys be eligible? They just got an exemption for quarantine free travel to Aus right 

CactusJones

Saw on Twitter that Israeli premier league require players to be vaxxed. 

I would rule out all of the Olympics players as well as I assume you had to be vaxxed to play at the Olympics? - Could be wrong here 

If so, that leaves:

Nik Tzanev
Bill Tuiloma
Michael Boxall???
Nikko Boxall
Kelvin Kalua
Niko Kirwan 
Tommy Smith 
Dalton Wilkins???? 
Andre de Jong 

Marinovic made an anti lockdown Twitter post. That doesn’t make you anti vax plus his German partner is a pharmacist!

BT is a very strong Christian, and obviously many of the churches (esp US) are anti vax. I’d wager a fiver on him. But dangerous to speculate and we will all know in a few days anyhow.

Wonder if Stamenic is the injured one. Pijnaker also missed last Helsingor match day squad

BrockieTheGOAT

Will the Phoenix boys be eligible? They just got an exemption for quarantine free travel to Aus right 

 
Don’t think Hay will bother Talay with that. Nixs pre season challenging enough as it is

But yes for late Jan window they may have a chat

coochiee

CactusJones

Saw on Twitter that Israeli premier league require players to be vaxxed. 

I would rule out all of the Olympics players as well as I assume you had to be vaxxed to play at the Olympics? - Could be wrong here 

If so, that leaves:

Nik Tzanev
Bill Tuiloma
Michael Boxall???
Nikko Boxall
Kelvin Kalua
Niko Kirwan 
Tommy Smith 
Dalton Wilkins???? 
Andre de Jong 

Marinovic made an anti lockdown Twitter post. That doesn’t make you anti vax plus his German partner is a pharmacist!

BT is a very strong Christian, and obviously many of the churches (esp US) are anti vax. I’d wager a fiver on him. But dangerous to speculate and we will all know in a few days anyhow.

Wonder if Stamenic is the injured one. Pijnaker also missed last Helsingor match day squad

read the article is says Stamenic isn't injured.

Annoying talking about anti vax instead of another game, though I don’t think it’d be either Michael Boxall or Tuiloma, as both have played away to Vancouver in the last few weeks, and Canada only allows fully vaccinated border-crossers. Don’t know the rules in South Africa, so it’d have to be there or Europe.

23 man squad, and 2 guys out from last squad so at least 4 new guys to come in. Thomas and Reid are probably 2, but interesting to see who else, possibly Francis De Vries or Rogerson. Also US guys like Musa, Wynne, Collier could be given a shot. 

Hope the other game is still televised, though I doubt it, we’ve been so starved of games so I wouldn’t really mind watching even if we’re only playing UAE U23 or a club side.

I'd be absolutely stoked if we got a run against a top tier AFC nation's B in U23 Side. Would be a good test for the lads against a nation with a lot of depth. If it ends up being against a UAE club side is there anyone who is more hip to the UAE domestic league than I am that could have a gander at how we would fare? Could be a bit of a struggle going up against them in their home conditions I imagine. However it unfolds will still be on the hunt for even a one camera youtube stream if it's available. Fingers crossed it gets televised in some form. 

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/126837949/all-whites-lock-in-november-fixture-against-the-gambia-another-to-be-announced

The Gambia. Proper little despot nation (or they were for a long while). But no time for politics. A neighbour from our farming area in the Rapa, actually weirdly ended up 2IC to the British Ambassador there upon a time. Followed his Czech partner who worked there for an NGO, and just approached the Embassy for a job as bored.

Despite their low ranking have some guys at a useful level. A lot in Italy, incl Serie A. One at Roma. NZP will be pleased. But none that I can see so far playing in the UK, which is interesting for an English speaking African nation.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/gambia/gambia/946/
https://us.soccerway.com/players/ebrima-darboe/596921/

Another, is a team mate (German born) of Singh's at Jahn Regensburg
https://us.soccerway.com/players/leon-guwara/260550/

2nd planned non cap fixture, some Middle Eastern club team?

Darboe has been a bit of a revelation so far. Only played a couple of games for the first team but he's shown great promise. Still quite a raw talent. I'd ve surprised if he featured fur more than 25 min 

CactusJones

Saw on Twitter that Israeli premier league require players to be vaxxed. 

I would rule out all of the Olympics players as well as I assume you had to be vaxxed to play at the Olympics? - Could be wrong here 

If so, that leaves:

Nik Tzanev
Bill Tuiloma
Michael Boxall???
Nikko Boxall
Kelvin Kalua
Niko Kirwan 
Tommy Smith 
Dalton Wilkins???? 
Andre de Jong 

Remember Nikko Boxall posting something pretty sus on his Twitter a few months ago r.e. COVID. We'll know soon anyway

watching_from_far

coochiee

CactusJones

Saw on Twitter that Israeli premier league require players to be vaxxed. 

I would rule out all of the Olympics players as well as I assume you had to be vaxxed to play at the Olympics? - Could be wrong here 

If so, that leaves:

Nik Tzanev
Bill Tuiloma
Michael Boxall???
Nikko Boxall
Kelvin Kalua
Niko Kirwan 
Tommy Smith 
Dalton Wilkins???? 
Andre de Jong 

Marinovic made an anti lockdown Twitter post. That doesn’t make you anti vax plus his German partner is a pharmacist!

BT is a very strong Christian, and obviously many of the churches (esp US) are anti vax. I’d wager a fiver on him. But dangerous to speculate and we will all know in a few days anyhow.

Wonder if Stamenic is the injured one. Pijnaker also missed last Helsingor match day squad

read the article is says Stamenic isn't injured.

 Not mentioned in earlier version of article I read

Suspect then is Pijnaker or Thomas who is out

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/109324?newsfeedId=1275622

As with the games in the October window, Hay anticipates having to select a squad without any New Zealand or Australia-based players. 

“It’s a tough one for the A-League players at the moment but you can already see things are starting to open up which is positive. Hopefully this is the last window where we are restricted in who we can select but, as was show by the games against Bahrain and Curaçao, I have every faith in the squad we will be assembling.”

When is the team announced?

Silent_Assassin

AWs squad (Nov).PNG 1.07 MB

So Nik Tzanev, Nikko Boxall and Dalton Wilkins out and Searle, De Vries and Collier in are the changes from the last games. Only 21-man squad and not 23 as was suggested it would be

carlind

Silent_Assassin

AWs squad (Nov).PNG 1.07 MB

So Nik Tzanev, Nikko Boxall and Dalton Wilkins out and Searle, De Vries and Collier in are the changes from the last games. Only 21-man squad and not 23 as was suggested it would be

Good to see De Vries get a call up. Well deserved after working his way through the lower leagues in Sweden, to now being on the cusp of playing in the Swedish top tier - and being an integral part of the team at that.

Excited to see the boys in action once more. Let's build on those Bahrain/Curaçao performances. 😎

So is it Tzanev or N Boxall who is the anti vaxxer? My money on Tzanev. 

watching_from_far

NZRU only has about 6 teams to pick from.

Maybe NZF shouldn't employ so many people in areas that don't need them. 
Central football have about 4 people doing what only 10 years ago I person was doing.

Maybe the reason we are seeing a clear improvement in the quality of our players is because we arent understaffing the game. 

I saw on twitter from Sam Smith (AKA. MrsMiis - Whatever that name is haha) saying that Niko Boxall put out a 'suspicious post' online about subtly hinting at being anti-vax, but wasn't sure, it was a very weird and vague post.