2023 All Whites International Fixtures

Footy_Fella

What would it take for AFC and OFC to merge?

Help yourself to some bedtime reading.

https://yellowfever.co.nz/categories/all-whites-and-other-nz-international-teams/topics/the-move-to-asia-thing?highlight=post_1412365

https://yellowfever.co.nz/categories/all-whites-and-other-nz-international-teams/topics/all-whites-oceania-asia-confederation-conundrum/page/11?highlight=post_1374609

coochiee

lthomas20

OFC needs to be disbanded and soon. Three fudgeing years to do a qualifying programme with only 11 teams and they STILL make it depend on single leg semis and final. NZ needs to complain to FIFA and if they don't do anything blow it up in the international media. 

I think that proposed qualifying plan is just off Wiki. That maybe not at all what happens. Lets just wait awhile to see what is officially aaounced. Plus in all honesty a full strength AWs even in sweaty Honiara should be too good for any Island nation.

But certainly there is a theme now here & there of the other OFC nations, tiring of NZ winning every OFC tourney and totally monopolising the spots OFC has at various WCs. Them doing what they can to make it more difficult for NZ sides.

It's on the fifa site. 

OFC have been advertising for an event planner for 6 months now. Hiring someone might help.

I’m so excited for these matches, DR Congo and Australia next month are gonna be excellent matches and if Baze picks a solid squad with decent enough tactics we could be a genuine chance to win.

I’ve taken the “fresh faces” comment to heart and put together a slightly delusional but also not totally unrealistic squad.

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Iredale is a big shout but I reckon we’ve got a chance of snagging him now. He missed out on Aussie selection again and there’s been a couple articles about NZF checking his eligibility recently. If we don’t snag him then it’ll be Tommy Smith in the squad.

Dibley-Dias is definitely gonna happen at some point too I reckon, just not sure if it’ll be quite this soon.

I’ve not picked Garbett, Ryan Thomas or Tyler Bindon due to their current injuries. Plus who knows what’s gonna happen with Bindon.

As long as I don’t see Sail, Payne and Kosta I’ll be a happy chap.

Funny how our keeoing stokcs looks so different that m=a few months ago. Form and reputation of our top keepers has been ruined of late.
Agree with your #1 pick but I'm not confident with the secodn choice keeper.

ALM starts a few days after this FIFA window. 

I don't see need to have any ALM guys involved. I guess if both Garbett & Thomas are out you may have to pick Lewis and/or Rufer.

Keepers yipe I'd go Crocombe & Tzanev as 1 and 2.
3rd choice Searle or Gray or Sims. Who knows what Marinovic is up to. 

theprof

Funny how our keeoing stokcs looks so different that m=a few months ago. Form and reputation of our top keepers has been ruined of late.
Agree with your #1 pick but I'm not confident with the secodn choice keeper.

Tzanev gets the nod for me thanks to be UK based. Searle could also be a good shout, getting minutes at Forest Green. 

Zac Jones also in great form, although in a very weak league.

Sims is another Europe based option but in a weak league and idk what his form looks like atm.

Paulsen is my favourite to back up Crocombe but it doesn’t make much sense for these games when there’s similarly placed keepers in the UK.

coochiee

ALM starts a few days after this FIFA window. 

I don't see need to have any ALM guys involved. I guess if both Garbett & Thomas are out you may have to pick Lewis and/or Rufer.

Keepers yipe I'd go Crocombe & Tzanev as 1 and 2.
3rd choice Searle or Gray or Sims. Who knows what Marinovic is up to. 

Corban Piper (21, DM) at Wexford in Irish 2nd tier and Konstantino Gorgiovski (17, CM) at FK Pobeda in the Macedonian 2nd tier are the two European based midfielders we could call up in place of Rufer and Lewis.

Neither are All Whites level at this stage but they’re both serviceable players.

Be interesting to see what Socceroos do for their big game against England and then us a few days later. Can see any ALM big guns like Maclaren & Leckie being involved in the first game at Wembley then flying back to Melb City.

Similarly Rufer and Lewis could play the Congo game then fly back to their ALM clubs.

It's great to think that we now have enough decent players in Europe, that the only position where the best candidate is not there (yet) is GK.

I'd love for the AWs to be like Mexico. Two sides. A domestic one and an international one. 

The domestic one should be A League/Oceania/South Africa. That side should be good enough to win the Nation's Cup and play friendlies at home against OFC sides or your Malaysia's/China's/Singapore's. Gives fringe AWs a chance to prove themselves.

The top side can play in Europe/Africa/North America.

Helps NZF keep costs down too, only coaching/medical staff need to fly all over the world.

Friar Tuck

coochiee

ALM starts a few days after this FIFA window. 

I don't see need to have any ALM guys involved. I guess if both Garbett & Thomas are out you may have to pick Lewis and/or Rufer.

Keepers yipe I'd go Crocombe & Tzanev as 1 and 2.
3rd choice Searle or Gray or Sims. Who knows what Marinovic is up to. 

Corban Piper (21, DM) at Wexford in Irish 2nd tier and Konstantino Gorgiovski (17, CM) at FK Pobeda in the Macedonian 2nd tier are the two European based midfielders we could call up in place of Rufer and Lewis.

Neither are All Whites level at this stage but they’re both serviceable players.

I'd probably put Ollie Whyte (Haka) & Otto Ingham (Ljungskile) ahead of both of them, though are they more AMs? Old mate James Musa in the USL can play DM. Trevor Zwetsloot another in the USL. Also Cam Howieson wouldn't say no, if Bazeley was desperate (ie ALM guys unavailable).

Good AV article that covers off Iredale, Bindon & Dibley-Dias

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/132909172/darren-bazeley-eager-to-meet-dualnational-prospects-around-all-whites-match-in-london

Very frustrating that there is no guarantee we will get a qualification game at home, and I'm extremely confident that OFC will not allow us to host the semis and final in particular. They'll be in difficult island conditions and will be extremely nerve-wracking to watch. 

Probably going to need some more home friendlies if NZF are to keep their word about having the All Whites play at home each year.

imanixsupporter

Very frustrating that there is no guarantee we will get a qualification game at home, and I'm extremely confident that OFC will not allow us to host the semis and final in particular. They'll be in difficult island conditions and will be extremely nerve-wracking to watch. 

Probably going to need some more home friendlies if NZF are to keep their word about having the All Whites play at home each year.

We should be guaranteed at least one home game in the round robin next year in Oct/Nov. Unless they are absolutely desperate for a venue, OFC will likely put the semifinals and final in the most stinking hot awful island conditions they can. 

Just to note here:
Planned OFC qualification, which is shortened, contrived and contorted to create the best chance of an NZ upset ends in March 2025. Now I will compare to other confeds, most of which have way more teams to deal with than us. 

UEFA: Continues for a further five windows, concluding in March 2026
CONMEBOL: Continues for a further two windows, concluding in September 2025 (remember they have also already started their main stage)
CONCACAF: Continues for a further four windows, concluding in November 2025
CAF: Continues for a further three windows, concluding in November 2025
AFC: Continues for a further three windows, concluding in November 2025

NZ needs to take this all the way to the top at FIFA. It's an absolutely corrupt and pathetic disgrace. 

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/132952415/all-whites-set-for-oneoff-oceania-semifinal-final-in-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualifying

It will be really cool to watch whoever we beat in the final play in the new intercontinental play-off tournament.

With a new pathway to potentially qualify for a WC, could we maybe see players like Dan Hall, Jaush Sotirio or even Koba Koindreidi etc commit to an island nation?

Friar Tuck

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/132952415/all-whites-set-for-oneoff-oceania-semifinal-final-in-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualifying

It will be really cool to watch whoever we beat in the final play in the new intercontinental play-off tournament.

With a new pathway to potentially qualify for a WC, could we maybe see players like Dan Hall, Jaush Sotirio or even Koba Koindreidi etc commit to an island nation?

Realistically they will have very little chance of qualifying - I believe the way it works, they will need to win two playoff matches to qualify. 

Sounds like none of Bindon, Dibley-Dias or Iredale will be called up for the October window. I guess McGarry & even Kirwan if picked, can be called 'fresh faces' (neither picked under Bazely to date).

But I also wonder if some of the overseas based U23s like Randall & Ebbinge might even be in contention. DB has just coached them for 2 weeks in the OFC U23s tourney. Bonafide fresh faces if selected. Joe Bell first picked for the AWs when at his US College.

lthomas20

Friar Tuck

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/132952415/all-whites-set-for-oneoff-oceania-semifinal-final-in-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualifying

It will be really cool to watch whoever we beat in the final play in the new intercontinental play-off tournament.

With a new pathway to potentially qualify for a WC, could we maybe see players like Dan Hall, Jaush Sotirio or even Koba Koindreidi etc commit to an island nation?

Realistically they will have very little chance of qualifying - I believe the way it works, they will need to win two playoff matches to qualify. 

Yipe I think it's 6 teams incl 1 from OFC in a playoff tourney. The 7th team from CONEMBOL for example (they have 6.5 spots) will still be miles ahead of any of the Island nations.

Tony Reading appointed full time assistant coach. I take this as a strong signal that we are playing in every window going forward as surely the role wouldn't justify being full time. The gigs are good if you can get them!

To be fair I'm sure there will be some overlap with the Olywhites & the planning for next years' Paris Olympics.

This mean Rory Falloon is no longer part of the setup?  See Simon Elliott is also mentioned in the press release, but not Rory.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/133079?newsfeedId=1275608

Rory was probably useful (and cheaper) for camps in and around Europe when he was based in the UK, less so now he is based in NZ

imanixsupporter

Rory was probably useful (and cheaper) for camps in and around Europe when he was based in the UK, less so now he is based in NZ

As much as I liked Rory as a player, I’m not sure his coaching credentials are that great. Wasn’t flash in Truro or Plymouth and spent a lot of time selling ice cream on The Hoe (Plymouth’s waterfront).

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The All Whites went down one place to 104th in the new FIFA rankings released yesterday, with Guatemala (103) and Kazakhstan (100) overtaking them.

Most notable is that the official FIFA display name (for men and women) is now Aotearoa New Zealand, which I haven't noticed until today. NZF have been saying it for a while, but FIFA's update seems to have just happened now. I guess that might mean it will be the official name for FIFA tournaments, similar to how they are called Türkiye, Korea DPR, China PR, IR Iran etc, or how New Caledonia have 'two' flags. NZ flag still that same one though... in for a penny, in for a pound isn't it?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/132992992/all-whites-secure-promising-fulham-midfielder-matt-dibleydias-for-october-friendlies

The full All Whites squad for October’s friendlies is expected to be announced next week, with Wood in line to play his first matches this year after being absent due to injury in March and June, and Sarpreet Singh set to be involved for the first time since January 2022.

Former Football Ferns coach Tony Readings was announced this week as a full-time assistant to Bazeley for the 2026 World Cup cycle. He will be joined by Elliott, who will remain a part-time assistant based in California, where he is director of coaching at Davis Legacy Soccer Club.

Wellington Phoenix head of youth development Rory Fallon is set to no longer be involved in the immediate future, though Bazeley was hopeful of finding ways for him to contribute as a position coach down the line. Glen Moss remains the first-choice goalkeeping coach and talks are ongoing with A-League Men club Macarthur FC, where he holds the same role, about his availability.

carlind

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The All Whites went down one place to 104th in the new FIFA rankings released yesterday, with Guatemala (103) and Kazakhstan (100) overtaking them.

Most notable is that the official FIFA display name (for men and women) is now Aotearoa New Zealand, which I haven't noticed until today. NZF have been saying it for a while, but FIFA's update seems to have just happened now. I guess that might mean it will be the official name for FIFA tournaments, similar to how they are called Türkiye, Korea DPR, China PR, IR Iran etc, or how New Caledonia have 'two' flags. NZ flag still that same one though... in for a penny, in for a pound isn't it?

That Turkiye's official name. Aotearoa is not official, no matter how much people might use it. Plus ANZ sounds more like a bank then a nation.

Apparently AWs squad for October friendlies will be announced next week. Is Oct 14th Congo & Oct 18th Australia.

This was the squad for the June games (Sweden & Qatar).
June games (23 man squad)
GKs - Sail, Crocome & Tzanev
Centrebacks - Surman, Tuiloma, M Boxall, Smith & Pijnaker
Fullbacks - Cacace, De Vries, Elliot & Payne
Midfield - Rufer, Lewis, Stamenic, Bell & Garbett
Attackers - McCowatt, Rojas, Just, Mata, Greive & Waine

Changes I'd go for (23 man squad) -
Ins - Searle/Marinovic, McGarry, Kirwan, Wilkins, Dibley-Dias, Singh & Wood
Outs - Sail, De Vries, Elliott, Payne, Rufer, Lewis & Rojas
Still unavailable - Thomas
Not match fit/Unattached FC - Rojas & Elliott. Same I guess Marinovic

So no ALM players at all. Their season starts a few days after the window (weekend Oct 20th-22nd). Though they could maybe play the Congo game about a week before the ALM kicks off. If Garbett's not fit, bring in Lewis.

MLS.
Boxall's Minny play Oct 8th & then Oct 22nd, so he should be okay. Tuiloma's Charlotte play Oct 8th & then Oct 19th (Messi's Inter Miami in a catchup match). Billy T is either injured at the mo, or out of favour. Either way he will likely be keen to line up against Messi if he can - so he might miss the Socceroos game or the window altogether. 

So Payne as cover for Tuiloma, or ideally either of Tyler Bindon or Jack Iredale make themselves available.

Great news on Bindon. Bazeley was foxing when saying going to the UK to only talk to him and Dibley-Dias.

Had wondered whether Champness was a chance of a recall. Woud bit more unexpected. Quality squad from Europe, USA and Japan sans ALM. NZ Football come aways since 2010 Squad

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133007636/son-of-former-football-fern-named-in-all-whites-squad-for-october-window

Great to see we have landed those two - both with bright futures in front of them... and the both significantly strengthen our team for the Paris Olympics next year, as both should be/will be starting 11 players one assumes.

No Bell in the squad so I assume Dias will play in his natural 6 role.

Squad announcement has me so hyped.

Full squad for anyone that missed it at the end of the article:

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Michael Woud, Nik Tzanev

Defenders: Bill Tuiloma, James McGarry, Liberato Cacace, Michael Boxall, Nando Pijnaker, Niko Kirwan, Tommy Smith, Tyler Bindon

Midfielders: Callum McCowatt, Marko Stamenic, Matthew Dibley-Dias, Matthew Garbett, Sarpreet Singh

Forwards: Alex Greive, Ben Waine, Chris Wood, Elijah Just, Joe Champness, Max Mata

My preferred lineup looks like this, if Garbett is still nursing his injury then pop him on the bench and play Stamenic as an 8, MDD as the 6:

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I also actually think Bindon and Tuiloma are better at CB than Pijnaker but my prediction is that he’ll start.

I do hope the acquisition of Bindon and the rise of Surman will spell the end of Pijnaker starting for us. He has too many mistakes in him and also needs to be playing at a better level, it is embarassing that we play somebody from the League of Ireland. 

Bindon has to start ahead of Pijnaker, it's not even close. Also, we have to send a message to bindon early. He plays for NZ and it's his spot. 

Nommag

Bindon has to start ahead of Pijnaker, it's not even close. Also, we have to send a message to bindon early. He plays for NZ and it's his spot. 

Fair call honestly, he’s the closest thing we have to a Reid replacement/player to carry the Nelson/Reid legacy.

What’s the story behind no Bell?

Rovers return

What’s the story behind no Bell?

Press release says its due to having just moved clubs and getting re-established there.

Friar Tuck

Nommag

Bindon has to start ahead of Pijnaker, it's not even close. Also, we have to send a message to bindon early. He plays for NZ and it's his spot. 

Fair call honestly, he’s the closest thing we have to a Reid replacement/player to carry the Nelson/Reid legacy.

don't put this sort of pressure on the lad 

I don't think being compared to Reid or Nelson will phase him to be honest. To be doing what he is already doing at 18 suggests, 1 he has the talent and 2 the mental nous to handle comparisons.

At the end of the day, comparisons are made all the time and mean nothing. He's his own player.

MetalLegNZ

I don't think being compared to Reid or Nelson will phase him to be honest. To be doing what he is already doing at 18 suggests, 1 he has the talent and 2 the mental nous to handle comparisons.

At the end of the day, comparisons are made all the time and mean nothing. He's his own player.

Tony Readings mentioned, he can remember him around the Football Ferns when his mum Jenny was in the team. With his Mum & Dad both playing international high level sport, he'll have some great sounding boards about the ups & downs, dealing with expectations etc. He maybe still living at home, as Jenny has a coaching role with London Lionesses.

Anyway he sounds well invested in NZ, which is great news. Still has a Kiwi accent. Dibley-Dias a bit different. Jack Iredale the next target. Those concerns about the AWs thin future CB stocks eased alot.

Oh and would be good if a journo could get an update on Ryan Thomas. What's the latest injury? Chance for the November window?

Tyler Bindon, the son of former Football Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon, has been named in the All Whites squad for next month’s friendlies against DR Congo and Australia.

The centre back’s stocks have risen rapidly since his debut for English League One club Reading in August and his commitment to New Zealand over the United States moving forward is a major coup for coach Darren Bazeley.

“He's made it really clear to me that he's a New Zealander,” Bazeley said on Tuesday. “His heart is with New Zealand. That's what he has told the US coaches, which they have accepted.”

PS. Looks like Woud has only got picked as Jamie Searle made himself unavailable.