https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/127121412/world-cup-qualifiers-outside-window-would-be-extremely-disappointing--all-whites-coach
All Whites coach Danny Hay says it would be “extremely disappointing” if his team’s pathway to the World Cup involved playing matches outside Fifa windows, where players don’t have to be released by their clubs.
But that has become a distinctly realistic prospect over the course of the last week, with a final decision from the Oceania Football Confederation due ahead of the qualifying draw, which is set to take place at 9am on Tuesday.
NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell signalled on Saturday that a significant extension of the nine-day March international window, allowing a three-match group stage, semifinals, and a final to be played within it, was now unlikely.
NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell signalled on Saturday that a significant extension of the nine-day March international window, allowing a three-match group stage, semifinals, and a final to be played within it, was now unlikely.
In that instance, his preference – and Hay’s – would be for three rounds of knockout fixtures to be played across a window extended by one day, as many have been for other confederations in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But the other option on the cards – and the one understood to be favoured – is for a tournament to begin before the start of the window on March 22 and finish inside it.
If that was to happen, the All Whites would be disproportionately affected, as they have dozens of players at professional clubs, while their regional rivals have very few.
“We're not talking about a low-level competition, we're talking about the World Cup, and to potentially jeopardise that and punish us because we've got players playing at a professional level, I just can't get my head around it,” Hay said on Saturday from Denmark.
“We're not talking about a low-level competition, we're talking about the World Cup, and to potentially jeopardise that and punish us because we've got players playing at a professional level, I just can't get my head around it,” Hay said on Saturday from Denmark.
“It would be extremely disappointing, not just for me, but for the players. You're robbing them of a true chance to try to qualify for a World Cup. We've got so many players operating at a professional level and clubs are simply not going to turn around, at what is going to be the business end of the season for most of them, and say here you go, just feel free to take our players.”
Hay has been busy over the past week visiting clubs in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden that are home to players he has called up in recent months, for the All Whites’ wins over Curaçao, Bahrain, and The Gambia, and some he might need to call on if the format for World Cup qualifying rules others out.
Hay has been busy over the past week visiting clubs in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden that are home to players he has called up in recent months, for the All Whites’ wins over Curaçao, Bahrain, and The Gambia, and some he might need to call on if the format for World Cup qualifying rules others out.
“The reality is we'll just have to deal with whatever cards we're dealt, but it would make things extremely difficult, to try and bring in a group of players we haven't worked with,” he said.
I'd say with that last statement talking about guys like the Torslanda crew, Dalton Wilkins, Joel Stevens, Jesse Edge, Logan Rogerson etc. Oscar Obel-Hall is in youth system at some Danish club? Some other Kiwi youngsters in youth systems in neighbouring Holland?
Guys 'in season' come March who I reckon would definitely not be released by their paymaster clubs outside that window, would include - Thomas, Singh (Jahn R chasing promotion), Just & McCowatt (Helsingor chasing promotion), Kirwan (Padova chasing promotion), Woud (Burnley in fear of the drop), Mikey Boxall & Tuiloma from the MLS. Reid also if at a new club. Smith's Colchester could be near the League Two drop zone. Maybe Pijnaker if still at Helsingor. Bell if at a Championship type new club (should be okay if he's still in Norway).
You would be missing a fair chunk of your current squad, for likely 1-2 games of the OFC tourney if starts outside the window. And A League gaffers would be similarily reluctant to let guys go any longer than needed, getting near the business end of that season.
I'd say with that last statement talking about guys like the Torslanda crew, Dalton Wilkins, Joel Stevens, Jesse Edge, Logan Rogerson etc. Oscar Obel-Hall is in youth system at some Danish club? Some other Kiwi youngsters in youth systems in neighbouring Holland?
Guys 'in season' come March who I reckon would definitely not be released by their paymaster clubs outside that window, would include - Thomas, Singh (Jahn R chasing promotion), Just & McCowatt (Helsingor chasing promotion), Kirwan (Padova chasing promotion), Woud (Burnley in fear of the drop), Mikey Boxall & Tuiloma from the MLS. Reid also if at a new club. Smith's Colchester could be near the League Two drop zone. Maybe Pijnaker if still at Helsingor. Bell if at a Championship type new club (should be okay if he's still in Norway).
You would be missing a fair chunk of your current squad, for likely 1-2 games of the OFC tourney if starts outside the window. And A League gaffers would be similarily reluctant to let guys go any longer than needed, getting near the business end of that season.