2024 All Whites International Fixtures

I'm hoping NZF are going to be advertising hard at the AFC game this weekend, given they have a game at Mt Smart coming up in the middle of a mini drought of AFC games. Would be great if the buzz around AFC boosted All Whites crowds in Auckland too. 

I’m really hoping we push for a record win against Samoa as it will accentuate the ridiculousness of OFC.

The 31-0 record seems a bridge too far but worth a go.

loyalgunner

I’m really hoping we push for a record win against Samoa as it will accentuate the ridiculousness of OFC.

The 31-0 record seems a bridge too far but worth a go.

Their goalie was pretty piss poor with his charges out of the box in the Vanuatu game. I don't know about 31 but there's definitely 8 or 9 goals on offer if the All Whites decide to put out a full strength side out and don't take the foot off the gas at half time.

I'm picking 10+ no matter who Bazeley starts. With a late avalanche as their part timers tire.

But I'll take no joy in the result, and not sure FIFA will honestly take much notice.

The AWs are now ranking 91, a jump of 4 spots.
Could be ranked low 80s once complete OFC WC qualifying next March?

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-caledonia-and-vanuatu-biggest-movers-for-oceania-in-latest-fifa-rankings/

November squad naming must be fairly imminent, maybe the "Kiwi Clasico" will have some bearing on Baze's selections and it will be announced early next week

Old out. Maybe McCowatt, Singh & ADJ all in.

From memory was only a skiny 21 man squad in October after a few withdrawls. 
Wood will want to play Vanuatu in his Waikato home region. But can see him yes leaving early this time before the Samoa walkover.

imanixsupporter

November squad naming must be fairly imminent, maybe the "Kiwi Clasico" will have some bearing on Baze's selections and it will be announced early next week

coochiee

Old out. Maybe McCowatt, Singh & ADJ all in.

From memory was only a skiny 21 man squad in October after a few withdrawls. 
Wood will want to play Vanuatu in his Waikato home region. But can see him yes leaving early this time before the Samoa walkover.

It will be named early next week.

They might nudge the squad up to 22 or 23 players this time. 

Would highly doubt anyone will be released early, or would want to be, for that matter. 

Returnees in order of nailed-on-ness should be Bell, Surman, maybe McCowatt, maybe Singh (lack of recent minutes the ? for the last two). 

De Jong and De Vries the two long-term absentees most likely to be under consideration.

With only Old out through injury and Bell & Surman to come back in plus Singh & McCowatt potentially back from injury, that doesn't leave a lot of space for new faces even if they increase the size of the squad. 

Unless some players are dropped. You'd hope that Smith would be if Surman comes back in, particularly if de Vries comes in replacing Sutton (which is a bit of a toss-up) as Baze has said that he can also cover CB. Smith is based in Auckland now, he doesn't need to be in the squad to catch up with his buddy Chris.

The only other player that potentially should be dropped is Howieson with Bell coming back in, he has been solid in his appearances for AFC but not impressing like Rufer is.

I think everyone else in the squad deserves to be retained, but Waine might like to stay in England to keep up the fight for minutes, appears Mansfield Town have a game during the break, which leaves an obvious spot for ADJ. 

Just had a quick look at ultimate nz football for most goals scored in a match by one player. Steve Sumner scored 6 against Fiji in 1981. Quite a few others have 4. 

I’d like love for someone to topple that record of Steve’s this year.

Surely they go with an A league based side vs Samoa. What's the point of risking anyone else. 

We should be putting at least 10 on them. 

I get see the value of the squad being together as long as possible, working on the team bonding towards 2026. Maybe integrate some guys like ADJ & FDV, who have been absent for awhile if they do happen to get picked.

But yeah see no real point in the likes of the Woodsman playing Samoa. Achieves little for a game that is quickly forgotten, apart from the blowout scoreline.

Might as well build some goodwill credits with those Euro club coaches. Could be handy in 2025 & 2026 as NZF look to schedule as many quality friendlies as possible in the lead up to the WC.

Plus yeah you want all your big guns available for the OFC knockout semi & final next March.

Marto

Just had a quick look at ultimate nz football for most goals scored in a match by one player. Steve Sumner scored 6 against Fiji in 1981. Quite a few others have 4. 

I’d like love for someone to topple that record of Steve’s this year.

If someone does, incredibly they would almost certainly become one of the highest all time national team goal scorers within the current squad - Wood obviously way out front with 36, then Kosta and Waineo on 7 each, then a paltry 4 for Tuiloma, Garbett and Just.

On the basis of the first 3 rounds of the A-League, the only AFC & Nix players deserving of a November call-up are Paulsen, Pijnaker, de Vries (think he should take Sutton's spot), Payne, Rufer & Kosta.

Don't think Smith, Gillion, Howieson & Rogerson have done enough, though Rogerson probably keeps his spot due to incumbency bias, and Smith probably gets picked anyway just because of leadership/being Wood's pal. Nobody else from the Nix deserve it at the moment. 

I’d throw Gillion in too. He’s not the finished product but he’ll be in and around the AW’s for many years to come. May as well start the process against the likes of Samoa.

He does look very promising but I'd prefer we didn't use the All Whites as a development side. You should need to do more than Gillion has done to get picked, the shirt should be worth more.  

imanixsupporter

He does look very promising but I'd prefer we didn't use the All Whites as a development side. You should need to do more than Gillion has done to get picked, the shirt should be worth more.  

I think he brings more attacking intent then a number of auto picks eg Just.

I also see no problem him playing against the islands, plus it gives Baz a chance to keep Euro clubs happy by allowing them to keep their kiwis this month.

There have been players far less worthy than Gillion get an AWs cap. He has shown in his first 3 games that he is a real talent. Shades of Old with the way he plays. And you can already see him heading to Europe within the next 12-24 months.

Could he force his way in the 2026 WC squad. If he can start adding goals and assists in the ALM, to that exciting bursts foward, for sure he can.

Why not bring him in this month, so that the big Euro guns like Wood, Stamenic, Libby & co get to know who he is. You won't get an easier, less high stakes game than Samoa to give him a AWs introductory run around.

Squad naming soon? Vanuatu game is in 10 days.

I’d disagree on Gillion. So far I’d say he and Just and Old are kind of the opposite kinds of players. 

Especially recently Just has been in good form and scoring goals. If he wants to play, surely let him. Old has much better close control and awareness than Gillion. His first act on an A league field was to look up and nutmeg a defender. 

From Gillion so far what I’ve seen him have is pace, but not really get his head up and know where his teammates are or when to play a ball or shoot. But he does rip up and is exciting and you all seem to like him. Guess I’d like him if he were at the Nix. 

And he’s probably brought more oomph to AFC than Rogerson, though the later has been involved in more goals.

coochiee

Squad naming soon? Vanuatu game is in 10 days.

Within the next 36 hours.

I'd be happy to see Gillion in - he's playing well and adds competition to the squad by having him in. If he doesn't play much that's okay too.

Remember while he is new to the pro scene, he is 22 and has been doing well for Auckland City (a serious competitive team) for years now, so he is a bit further ahead of an untested academy player who just broke into the first team. 

Seems like a very strong squad.

Auckland FC results getting rewarded. Wouldn't have Gillion there myself and I'm not sure Smith is deserving over some of the younger guys coming through but good to see De Vries back as well as returns from injury for McCowatt and Singh.

Double Post

Nelfoos

Seems like a very strong squad.

Auckland FC results getting rewarded. Wouldn't have Gillion there myself and I'm not sure Smith is deserving over some of the younger guys coming through but good to see De Vries back as well as returns from injury for McCowatt and Singh.

It goes without saying that Old's injury opens the door for Gillion there. But even without the end product Gillion is certainly a talent, albeit with a bit to work on. There are a lot of similarities between the players. The difference is the experience.

Don't forget, Oldie didn't really have the output in his first few seasons around the Nix, and then boom! Ripped it up last season.

Good window for him to show what he's got, given the long term nature of Old's absence as well.

As I posted earlier it's great chance to bring Gillion in and introdice him to senior non ALM members of the squad, who will know very little about him.

He's exciting and for sure, once he gets some more 'end product' a real chance of being in the 2026 WC squad. If there is one thing the AWs need against the teams outside OFC it's goals. He maybe that guy in 2 years, who knows.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360473837/exciting-auckland-fc-winger-liam-gillion-handed-first-all-whites-callup

Bazeley was already familiar with Gillion from the Oly Whites’ campaign at the Paris Olympics in July and August, where he used the winger off the bench in all three matches, and was delighted to deliver the good news to him on Monday, two days after Auckland beat the Phoenix in the inaugural New Zealand derby.

“Most of my phone calls are challenging conversations, where I'm giving bad news, but that was a really good one, where I'm telling somebody that they're going to get called up for the first time.

“He (Gillion) was really excited, and he can't wait. I think it's a good reward for him for starting the season so positively, every time he's got the ball in the league.

“Potentially there are a lot of other players for him to get past in his position, so it's a really good opportunity for us to have a closer look at him.”

While Gillion is yet to contribute a goal or an assist for Auckland, who have won three from three, he has been their brightest attacking player, even though he is still adjusting to the lack of time he has to make his final pass at the professional level.

The All Whites’ biggest area of need is players who can take defenders on in wide areas and that has played a part in his swift elevation.

“He has looked exciting,” Bazeley said. “I think the fans have enjoyed watching him play this year.

“You’re right – he's a little bit different to other players that we have. All of our players have different strengths, but he brings something a little bit different.

“As a coach, it's quite exciting to go, okay, well how else can we unlock a defense? It might be that we need somebody that's got that sort of skill set that Liam brings.

“He's very early in his professional life, but he’s started the season really well. He's worked really hard in pre-season to get up to professional level, and he's reaping some rewards now.”

Singh’s return to the All Whites for the first time since March comes just two weeks after he made his debut at his new second-tier Portuguese club, União de Leiria, following delays due to injury and transfer paperwork.

His 33 minutes in two appearances off the bench were his first since he played for the Oly Whites in France, and while he will go again this weekend, Bazeley said he would not be ready for 90 minutes against Vanuatu or Samoa.

Woulda liked Hughes to get a shot with the senior national team, even if minutes are scarce. The experience has got to be beneficial. Understand the Smith call-up though, even if not on merit

Love the Gillion pick!

YoungHeartHM

Nelfoos

Seems like a very strong squad.

Auckland FC results getting rewarded. Wouldn't have Gillion there myself and I'm not sure Smith is deserving over some of the younger guys coming through but good to see De Vries back as well as returns from injury for McCowatt and Singh.

It goes without saying that Old's injury opens the door for Gillion there. But even without the end product Gillion is certainly a talent, albeit with a bit to work on. There are a lot of similarities between the players. The difference is the experience.

Don't forget, Oldie didn't really have the output in his first few seasons around the Nix, and then boom! Ripped it up last season.

Good window for him to show what he's got, given the long term nature of Old's absence as well.

He also hit the outside of the post against Brisbane, the bar against Sydney and forced Oluwayemi into two good saves before half time. Plus a few goals in pre-season. He's definitely got it in him from seeing him at Auckland City and I think he's unlucky not to have scored so far.

Samoa will be running out guys who play reserves football here - so it will be the weakest All Whites opposition for a long time - any National League side would be comfortable favourites.

Wonder if the AWs will train up against Auckland FC at Albany whilst in camp?

AFC coming off a bye, mates Corica and Bazeley might work in together.


Coach Sunz (Sth African born) not only the AWs trainer, but alot of guys who come back to NZ over the summer like the Boxall brothers use him for basically individual boot camps on the North Shore. No coincedence that 36 yr Boxy still looks in great physical nick.

This is how to train like an international footballer 👊

Coach Sunz Singh put some young Birkenhead United players through their paces with a special training session. pic.twitter.com/nvSdEYmLZ1

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) November 6, 2024

FYI - FB page The Port

Two All Whites games coming up:

- Mt Smart: Bay 27

The Port aren’t going to be present and organised under the Port name but it would good to see some familiar faces in these sections anyway. We’re focussed on Auckland FC and will be going forward.

On that note, there seems to be an opportunity to ignite a White Noise branch up here. We’re not gonna sort this out but it would be good to have one if some people want to step up…

Unnecessarily strong squad? This would have been a great opportunity to get some others involved. Hope none of the big boys get injured!

Rusty Dunks

Unnecessarily strong squad? This would have been a great opportunity to get some others involved. Hope none of the big boys get injured!

Yeah a very strong squad, I'm guessing they are trying to get the strongest squad together as much as possible to get used to playing with one another and to become as familiar as possible with Bazeley's tactical setup to give us the best chance to be playing as well as we can by the 26 WC

We hope from June next onwards NZF can find regular quality friendlies for the AWS, in each window in the 12 months up to the 2026 WC. But is no guarantee they will manage that with so many Confeds in the midst of WC qualifying, into early 2026

So you can't waste any chance to get the full squad together, no matter how much the actual games will be walkover.

First eleven crush Vanuatu in the Tron, locking in a spot for OFC semifinal next March. 
Bit of a statement to the other OFC teams that against the full strength AWs in NZ conditions, they bluntly are no chance.
Lots of high quality opposed training sessions with the 24 man squad - maybe a short 60 min friendly against Auckland FC, to work on a few things.
2nd eleven put 10+ goals past Samoa in Penrose. 
Job done until get together again in 4 months.

So who was dropped?

MetalLegNZ

So who was dropped?

Sutton, Howieson, Old (🤕)

I would have dropped Smith too. Looks to be done at pro level so should not be nowhere near the AWs in a playing capacity. 

Top bloke but no longer good enough.