Baze says only player under any sort of injury cloud is Eli Just with a shoulder issue, sounded like he said it was from a fall on Friday? Didn't take Piney's bait when he asked whether we might see a very similar XI to Friday's, keeping cards close to his chest.
Piney this afternoon seemed to be under the impression that ticket sales were indicating a crowd north of 30k... Hope he is right but sounds like he might be a bit off
Four Kings on corner of Dixon and Taranaki street is probably your best bet LT01
Any good pubs to watch this in Wellington?
This is actually an interesting question as it's not on Sky - just TVNZ+ or FIFA+ (maybe it's on terrestial TV as well, but I don;t know how that works any more). Was NZ v Fiji on at the usual suspect pubs (4 Kings, Feathers, Bin 44, Old Bailey, Bethel Woods)? It is not listed on the upcoming sports at 4 Kings & Bethel, but they are probably just quoting Sky schedule chapter & verse.
Edit: I see it is free-to-air TV2, so presumably no issue with pubs broadcasting it.
Baze says only player under any sort of injury cloud is Eli Just with a shoulder issue, sounded like he said it was from a fall on Friday? Didn't take Piney's bait when he asked whether we might see a very similar XI to Friday's, keeping cards close to his chest.
Piney this afternoon seemed to be under the impression that ticket sales were indicating a crowd north of 30k... Hope he is right but sounds like he might be a bit off
I can see 25k easily. Kiwis are walk up crowd types.
I guarantee loads of people miss the first 10/20 minutes of the game waiting to buy tickets due to this mentality.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
We often sell the most tickets the day prior to the event if we know its not a sell out. There will be lots of news on the radio/tv about today which will also prompt some people to buy today.
And no disrespect to NC, but they are not a draw card and we should win comfortably - so the tension of what if is not there to help create a spectacle.
Yes the 6 team Intercontinental playoff tourney will likely be in that March 2026 window.
All the confederations apart from UEFA will have finished their qualifying rounds by the end of this year.
Being in a short condensed FIFA window, I'm assuming it's knockout so presumably it will be one & done for New Caledonia
A play-off tournament involving six teams – one each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC and two from CONCACAF – will be held to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths.
Yes the 6 team Intercontinental playoff tourney will likely be in that March 2026 window.
All the confederations apart from UEFA will have finished their qualifying rounds by the end of this year.
Being in a short condensed FIFA window, I'm assuming it's knockout so presumably it will be one & done for New Caledonia
A play-off tournament involving six teams – one each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC and two from CONCACAF – will be held to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths.
Format is two rounds, with the four lowest ranked qualifiers having an initial semi-final, and then joining the two highest ranked qualifiers, who have a bye to the final (kind of like the old club world cup format). So likely to be one and done for NC, but not necessarily.
I can't see McCowatt being swapped for another attacker with Just carrying an injury. I'd drop Payne for Roux but again that won't happen after his game the other day.
One option is we see Rufer in for McCowatt so a 3 man central midfield?
I can't see McCowatt being swapped for another attacker with Just carrying an injury. I'd drop Payne for Roux but again that won't happen after his game the other day.
One option is we see Rufer in for McCowatt so a 3 man central midfield?
I'm wondering if Bazely will maybe start with Rufer instead of Bell, Roux for Payne and Maybe use other options for Garbett and Singh?
Bazeley shouldn't and won't make many changes. McCowatt I'd say is the question mark.
There is $NZ18.3M on the line after all! Time to be low risk but ruthless.
Imagine there is some plan to starve Gope-Fenepej of any ball and space. It's the one threat NC have.
Doesn't seem like Sotitrio is match fit. He's hardly played for SFC since returning from his long term achilles injury. left on the bench in the Tahiti semi. Though it maybe also just a case of he hardly yet knows his new NC team mates. Barely trained with them to date. Does he speak any French? A few more trainings since the semi, and maybe he gets a run verus the AWs
I can't see McCowatt being swapped for another attacker with Just carrying an injury. I'd drop Payne for Roux but again that won't happen after his game the other day.
One option is we see Rufer in for McCowatt so a 3 man central midfield?
I'm wondering if Bazely will maybe start with Rufer instead of Bell, Roux for Payne and Maybe use other options for Garbett and Singh?
No way is Ball not starting. Despite all the hate on here he's solid as.
McCowatt has to be dropped. Has to be consequences for the sort of performance he served up on Friday. We'd have scored 10 if any other attacker in our squad was playing instead of him (well, maybe not Waine)
