I still want Searle to get half a match tomorrow to see how he goes. If Marinovic goes down and Sail is still in Aus/doesnt recover from his hip, we need to happy with whoever our 3rd choice is. And unless someone gets some gametime and impresses, Woud stays as the 3rd stringer
I wonder if we'll play any friendlies in early June before the one-off playoff fixture?
Malta (2 June) and Cyprus (5 June) both have fixtures pencilled in against TBC according to the RoonBa website. New Zealand perhaps?
Personally, I'd like to think we've got better opponents then them lined up. We will need some solid games before that playoff game, although any game is better then no game I guess.
I wonder if we'll play any friendlies in early June before the one-off playoff fixture?
Malta (2 June) and Cyprus (5 June) both have fixtures pencilled in against TBC according to the RoonBa website. New Zealand perhaps?
Personally, I'd like to think we've got better opponents then them lined up. We will need some solid games before that playoff game, although any game is better then no game I guess.
As has been suggested elsewhere, playing the 5th CONEMBOL team in Qatar (Intercontinental Playoff warmup for both sides) makes some sense.
AFC has their own Playoff (two 3rd placed teams) scheduled for early June.
And yes AWs need to win through OFC first in March.
reckon Hay is waiting to see what the nix fixture list looks like. we can't really afford to lose sail for too long
Happy for Sail to go if Hay wants to call him up. He deserves the chance and might be good alternative to Marinovic... anything to stop Woud getting on the pitch to be honest. The Nix can make do with Alex Paulsen for three or four games.
Yeah I get the chills now seeing Wouds name on a team sheet. lthomas20
theprof
reckon Hay is waiting to see what the nix fixture list looks like. we can't really afford to lose sail for too long
Happy for Sail to go if Hay wants to call him up. He deserves the chance and might be good alternative to Marinovic... anything to stop Woud getting on the pitch to be honest. The Nix can make do with Alex Paulsen for three or four games.
What are the chances of lining up a friendly pre the playoff? I'm not sure how it woukd work with this playoff being in a different than usual window buy I remember before the Peru game we managed to sneak in a game against Japan so we weren't too rusty. Or is it not likely worth the risk of injuries and opposition scouts etc...
While not a perfect performance these, guys did play their best so far against the Solomon's and its clear that time playing together allowed for a lot more cohesion. I'd hate for us to drop off again with over two months apart.
What are the chances of lining up a friendly pre the playoff? I'm not sure how it woukd work with this playoff being in a different than usual window buy I remember before the Peru game we managed to sneak in a game against Japan so we weren't too rusty. Or is it not likely worth the risk of injuries and opposition scouts etc...
While not a perfect performance these, guys did play their best so far against the Solomon's and its clear that time playing together allowed for a lot more cohesion. I'd hate for us to drop off again with over two months apart.
The Fifa window is May 30 to June 14, with the playoffs on June 13/14.
What are the chances of lining up a friendly pre the playoff? I'm not sure how it woukd work with this playoff being in a different than usual window buy I remember before the Peru game we managed to sneak in a game against Japan so we weren't too rusty. Or is it not likely worth the risk of injuries and opposition scouts etc...
While not a perfect performance these, guys did play their best so far against the Solomon's and its clear that time playing together allowed for a lot more cohesion. I'd hate for us to drop off again with over two months apart.
It might have just been a throwaway comment, but in Joe Bell’s post match interview that’s on the OFC Football instagram, he mentioned keeping momentum “in the friendlies coming up and then the intercontinental playoff”. So possibly mentioned internally they might have a couple games even before the playoff
What are the chances of lining up a friendly pre the playoff? I'm not sure how it woukd work with this playoff being in a different than usual window buy I remember before the Peru game we managed to sneak in a game against Japan so we weren't too rusty. Or is it not likely worth the risk of injuries and opposition scouts etc...
While not a perfect performance these, guys did play their best so far against the Solomon's and its clear that time playing together allowed for a lot more cohesion. I'd hate for us to drop off again with over two months apart.
It might have just been a throwaway comment, but in Joe Bell’s post match interview that’s on the OFC Football instagram, he mentioned keeping momentum “in the friendlies coming up and then the intercontinental playoff”. So possibly mentioned internally they might have a couple games even before the playoff
I know the intent was (if they qualified) to definitely play. Trick will be what's possible while minimising travel. Imagine it won't take long for confirmation of anything, options aren't that widespread due to Nations League competitions.
Maybe a good chance they can also get together for a decent chunk of time in June before the playoff game. Europe based and A league players anyway. As those seasons will have finished.
Maybe a good chance they can also get together for a decent chunk of time in June before the playoff game. Europe based and A league players anyway. As those seasons will have finished.
Yes the guys who would not be available prior May 30th (start of the window), most likely only be M Boxall, Tuiloma, De Vries, Pijnaker, Rogerson & N Boxall. All in season with their clubs who play through NH summer. And the latter 2 probably won't be picked in a 23 man squad.
Costa Rica will have the same issue for any guys they have in the MLS.
Most Euro club seasons will finish early-mid May.
EPL finishes May 22nd. League One late April, League Two the first week of May. Singh's J Regensburg 15th May, Cacace's Empoli 21st May, Thomas's PSV 15th May, Champness at Giresunspor done by 21st May, Danish top flight for Bell 22nd May & 2nd flight (Just, Stamenic & McCowatt) right up to 28th May - but maybe HB Koge are already playing for nothing by then & Helsingor have promotion confirmed. For Marinovic his Ligat ha'Al season will be over 13th May. And so it goes on
So you can have a pretty full strength squad for say Friendly 1, late May. Then a totally full strength side for Friendly 2, about 4th-6th June. Then the Playoff 13th or 14th June.
Hay may even pick a 30 man squad to go into camp for the friendlies, especially if some guys are carrying injuries - before only finalising his 23 man squad after 2nd friendly. Some plan like that.
Am sure he will have a 30 man squad to begin with in the covid eracoochiee
Ranix
Maybe a good chance they can also get together for a decent chunk of time in June before the playoff game. Europe based and A league players anyway. As those seasons will have finished.
Yes the guys who would not be available prior May 30th (start of the window), most likely only be M Boxall, Tuiloma, De Vries, Pijnaker, Rogerson & N Boxall. All in season with their clubs who play through NH summer. And the latter 2 probably won't be picked in a 23 man squad.
Costa Rica will have the same issue for any guys they have in the MLS.
Most Euro club seasons will finish early-mid May.
EPL finishes May 22nd. League One late April, League Two the first week of May. Singh's J Regensburg 15th May, Cacace's Empoli 21st May, Thomas's PSV 15th May, Champness at Giresunspor done by 21st May, Danish top flight for Bell 22nd May & 2nd flight (Just, Stamenic & McCowatt) right up to 28th May - but maybe HB Koge are already playing for nothing by then & Helsingor have promotion confirmed. For Marinovic his Ligat ha'Al season will be over 13th May. And so it goes on
So you can have a pretty full strength squad for say Friendly 1, late May. Then a totally full strength side for Friendly 2, about 4th-6th June. Then the Playoff 13th or 14th June.
Hay may even pick a 30 man squad to go into camp for the friendlies, especially if some guys are carrying injuries - before only finalising his 23 man squad after 2nd friendly. Some plan like that.
No wonder our Canadian friend Juneof86, has already picked a 1-0 scoreline (either way) for the Playoff.
Think it will be easier for the AWs staff to do an analysis of the Ticos - after their 14 game, must win, can't really keep secrets - CONCACAF qualifying series.
Little bit trickier doing analysis on the AWs given some big guns like Singh & maybe Thomas to come in, who could certainly somewhat change up the way the AWs played in this OFC tourney.
There will be plenty of time for detailed analysis of Costa Rica and how the All Whites can try to beat them between now and the playoff, but two things stand out at first glance.
In the seven-match unbeaten run that has kept them in the World Cup qualification mix, Costa Rica have averaged 37 per cent possession. They’ve hovered around that mark whether they’ve been home or away and whether they’ve been playing against one of the regional powerhouses or one of the teams already eliminated.
Even when they hosted a Canadian team that went down to 10 men after 35 minutes, they finished with just 33 per cent of the ball, which suggests they have a reactive approach they would prefer to stick with no matter what. Further evidence of that comes from the fact that they’ve only had more than nine shots twice during their run of good results.
The key for Hay now will be arriving at the right combination of players for the biggest 90 minutes of men’s football the country has had since November 2017.
Also important will be getting them some proper preparation ahead of that clash, with room for a match or two available in the window that begins on May 30, and plans already believed to be in motion.
So Roonba has updated their fixture list recently with curious listing of having us tee off against Norway on the 25th of June which seems a bit odd outside the window and after the playoff. Going back a few months, they were right about the uzbekistan fixture well before any public confirmation from NZF. I wonder if they've just got the date wrong here. Still it's a top 50 ranked side so I for one certainly wouldn't be opposed if that's on the cards.
So Roonba has updated their fixture list recently with curious listing of having us tee off against Norway on the 25th of June which seems a bit odd outside the window and after the playoff. Going back a few months, they were right about the uzbekistan fixture well before any public confirmation from NZF. I wonder if they've just got the date wrong here. Still it's a top 50 ranked side so I for one certainly wouldn't be opposed if that's on the cards.
Hmm, that date and opposition would make sense for that month's women's international window. Know it's listed under men on that website, but seems to have popped up a few other places as a women's match ie here and here.
International Friendly planned away to Norway on 25th June (according to RoonBa website).
As above that's the Football Ferns apparently. Is in International window for women's football (different dates to men's).
Makes zero sense for the AWs to schedule a friendly 11-12 days after the Intercontinental Playoff. The AWs players by then being in camp 2-3 weeks up to the Playoff game, will all be enjoying a deserved break before their long club seasons start all over again. Or for the MLS/Scandinavian guys they will still be in season.
While Norway would normally be a great friendly for us, given we were always likely to be playing a Latin American side it would make far more sense to play sides similar in style to them in the last window before the big game.
Pragnell talked up trying to tee up Peru before their Aussie/UAE game in that nz herald article a few days ago. I imagine most Europe and Asian nations are unavailable in that window any way because of Asia Cup and Euro qualifiers. If they can land Peru and find out the logistics of someone like El Salvador or even Canada over to Dubai or Qatar in the window we could be very well set come the big game.
Morocco media report they are to play Peru June 5th, in a friendly in Spain.
So maybe AWs will play Peru a week earlier (late May) also in Spain or elsewhere Europe. Then an African/Asian nation early June in Qatar??
Anyway great news on the likely H&A Socceroos games. AWs to play in NZ at last, after nearly 5 years not (Peru 2017). And will attract a big crowd regardless if they make Qatar or not. But yes if beat Costa Rica, will be a mighty occasion against Australia and a bumper gate as a WC farewell.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said earlier this year that the Socceroos would play New Zealand to mark the centenary. That will only be possible in September, as there are no other international windows in the second half of the year, with the World Cup taking place in November and December.
One match in each country would be the most likely scenario, bringing Australia to New Zealand for the first time since 2002.
If both teams qualified for the World Cup, the fixtures would serve as send-off matches ahead of the tournament, but the nature of the trans-Tasman rivalry would give them a sense of occasion even if neither team qualified, or if one did, but the other didn’t.
Pragnell said NZ Football was close to locking in friendlies for the All Whites ahead of their playoff in June, to be played in Europe and the Middle East.
Peru is expected to be one of their opponents, with an African or Asian nation being lined up as the other. There were online reports this week about a match with Iran, but it is understood nothing is confirmed as yet.
All Whites May 30 – June 14: Two friendlies; World Cup intercontinental playoff v Costa Rica
September 19–27: Two friendlies, likely home and away v Australia
November 20 – December 17: World Cup (if qualified)
Morocco media report they are to play Peru June 5th, in a friendly in Spain.
So maybe AWs will play Peru a week earlier (late May) also in Spain or elsewhere Europe. Then an African/Asian nation early June in Qatar??
Anyway great news on the likely H&A Socceroos games. AWs to play in NZ at last, after nearly 5 years not (Peru 2017). And will attract a big crowd regardless if they make Qatar or not. But yes if beat Costa Rica, will be a mighty occasion against Australia and a bumper gate as a WC farewell.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said earlier this year that the Socceroos would play New Zealand to mark the centenary. That will only be possible in September, as there are no other international windows in the second half of the year, with the World Cup taking place in November and December.
One match in each country would be the most likely scenario, bringing Australia to New Zealand for the first time since 2002.
If both teams qualified for the World Cup, the fixtures would serve as send-off matches ahead of the tournament, but the nature of the trans-Tasman rivalry would give them a sense of occasion even if neither team qualified, or if one did, but the other didn’t.
Pragnell said NZ Football was close to locking in friendlies for the All Whites ahead of their playoff in June, to be played in Europe and the Middle East.
Peru is expected to be one of their opponents, with an African or Asian nation being lined up as the other. There were online reports this week about a match with Iran, but it is understood nothing is confirmed as yet.
All Whites May 30 – June 14: Two friendlies; World Cup intercontinental playoff v Costa Rica
September 19–27: Two friendlies, likely home and away v Australia
November 20 – December 17: World Cup (if qualified)
Bring on Iran, would be a great game for us, arguably the best team in Asia.
«Precisely the style of the Socceroos is very similar to that of New Zealand. Without a doubt, playing against the All Whites will serve as a kind of prelude to what could happen in a hypothetical duel between Peru and Australia,» remarked El Comercio.
Gareca announced on April 6 that it plans to install the Peruvian concentration in the Spanish cities of Barcelona either Murciastarting next May 29 or 30, about two weeks before the playoff match that will be played in Doha.
FYI - March 2018 the All Whites played Canada, in Murcia (Spain) behind closed doors.
Iran a good bet for that 2nd friendly June 9th behind closed doors. They are having a training camp in Doha in June.
If happens that's 2 quality buildup games for AWs. You'd think being only 5 days before Costa Rica game (14th June), it would be wholesale changes at HT, ie just 45 mins in the legs for the players.
I guess a number of WC qualified countries will be in Qatar in June, checking out facilities etc pre the World Cup.
Iran technical director Hamid Estili has previously said Iran will play four friendly matches in their training camp in Doha, Qatar in June.
Iran have been drawn in Group B along with England, the U.S. and the winners of the European play-offs between Scotland, Ukraine and Wales in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The football federation secretary general Hassan Kamranifar has said that Iran will play New Zealand behind closed doors.
“Argentina and Brazil will play a friendly in Doha and they will most likely play Iran. We are also going to arrange a friendly match with Canada,” he said.
Now, a Senegalese site has reported that Iran has shown interest in playing a friendly match with the African powerhouse.
"Shown interest" is always an interesting phrase in media reports, means next to nothing at the end of the day and certainly doesn't mean there's any likelihood of the outcome happening... I've shown plenty of interest in Salma Hayek in the past but that fixture sadly never eventuated either...
"Shown interest" is always an interesting phrase in media reports, means next to nothing at the end of the day and certainly doesn't mean there's any likelihood of the outcome happening... I've shown plenty of interest in Salma Hayek in the past but that fixture sadly never eventuated either...
Significant difference I guess in that presumably Iran is aware of the existence of Senegal.
"Shown interest" is always an interesting phrase in media reports, means next to nothing at the end of the day and certainly doesn't mean there's any likelihood of the outcome happening... I've shown plenty of interest in Salma Hayek in the past but that fixture sadly never eventuated either...
Significant difference I guess in that presumably Iran is aware of the existence of Senegal.
