Likely you'd think to have say 40 odd players named between AWs & U23s squads, with a lot of mixing & matching.
I sense Thomas doesn't have a strong tie to NZ these days. He's already stated he will live in Holland post retirement, and I think his UK born folks are now living back up north. He may just wait until the AWs get some rumoured friendlies up in Europe later this year, before returning to the fold. He is sort of playing for his career over the next few months with Zwolle.
Even the ever loyal Woodsman may be unavailable for friendlies so early in the cycle, with Forest seemingly in a relegation scrap, and again he is sort of battling to rekindle his club career. He's 31 now, and those long flights ain't so kind to an older body. Hay also mentioned the Italian club managers could be difficult to deal with, so Libby another who may not fly south - though of course he's hardly playing for Empoli. This is all noting that it seems for the China March games, you ain't even gonna be playing under the new boss for this cycle up to 2026.
A youngest, experimental side wouldn't be bad thing. Especially with Paris 2024 & the Olywhites (yes if they qualify) being the main international mens football focus, this year & next.
I sense Thomas doesn't have a strong tie to NZ these days. He's already stated he will live in Holland post retirement, and I think his UK born folks are now living back up north. He may just wait until the AWs get some rumoured friendlies up in Europe later this year, before returning to the fold. He is sort of playing for his career over the next few months with Zwolle.
Even the ever loyal Woodsman may be unavailable for friendlies so early in the cycle, with Forest seemingly in a relegation scrap, and again he is sort of battling to rekindle his club career. He's 31 now, and those long flights ain't so kind to an older body. Hay also mentioned the Italian club managers could be difficult to deal with, so Libby another who may not fly south - though of course he's hardly playing for Empoli. This is all noting that it seems for the China March games, you ain't even gonna be playing under the new boss for this cycle up to 2026.
A youngest, experimental side wouldn't be bad thing. Especially with Paris 2024 & the Olywhites (yes if they qualify) being the main international mens football focus, this year & next.