The upcoming friendlies against Ivory Coast, Ukraine, and Norway, even though we're heavy underdogs for those matches, will be great exposure and experience for the team, especially the youngsters. Plus we've never played Ivory Coast or Ukraine before.
It will give a clear indication of the opposition we will be up against at the WC and what we need to change, work/focus on to ensure we don't get thumped in every single group match.
The upcoming friendlies against Ivory Coast, Ukraine, and Norway, even though we're heavy underdogs for those matches, will be great exposure and experience for the team, especially the youngsters. Plus we've never played Ivory Coast or Ukraine before.
It will give a clear indication of the opposition we will be up against at the WC and what we need to change, work/focus on to ensure we don't get thumped in every single group match.
Not sure Baze is the right man to get this squad up to the level of competing at a WC. We have a good depth of players but they look ordinary as a unit. The starting selections are odd as well. We look much better with Just and de Vries and Libby playing left mid. In fact de Vries crossing to Wood could be our main weapon at WC. Nice scenes after match. The lads looked very very happy.
At least we can all agree that we shouldn't be starting Garbett and McCowatt again anytime soon. I'm genuinely so happy that Baze belatedly but still decisively took them off at half time. Gives me some faith that he can make the right calls for us over the next 18 months.
So very happy for Kosta and Payne tonight. And Nix old boy Boxall. De Vries deserves to start our next game for sure. A-League lads were the difference tonight, I hope the coaching staff takes notice, just because you're in Europe doesn't mean anything (well, unless you're playing regularly in a really top league, like PL/Ligue 1/Serie A/Eredivisie). If you're bossing the A-League you can do a job for the All Whites.
Just back from the game. Awesome that we have qualified and its great we will probably get to qualify every time from now on but there was something missing tonight, the crowd felt flat and there was an edge missing from the game. I was at the game against Bahrain and there was a tension in the air and the fans were fired up. I missed that tonight. Im not a fan of what FIFA are doing these days but Im sure I will get used to it. I guess I was expecting too much having been in the crowd in 2009.
Just back from the game. Awesome that we have qualified and its great we will probably get to qualify every time from now on but there was something missing tonight, the crowd felt flat and there was an edge missing from the game. I was at the game against Bahrain and there was a tension in the air and the fans were fired up. I missed that tonight. Im not a fan of what FIFA are doing these days but Im sure I will get used to it. I guess I was expecting too much having been in the crowd in 2009.
It seems without the intercontinental playoffs in the old format we will never have a match of real consequence here again unless Asia splits. It's a great shame.
Aside from qualifying tonight (yay!) surely I can't be the only one who thinks that this game would've been better off being played at Mt Smart?
25k + change would've been pretty much a sell out, and I think it would've added a whole lot more to the atmosphere. I'm sure the powers that be thought they'd get a few more through the turnstiles at Eden Park.
I guess hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Kudos to the New Caledonians for turning up and making a real fist of it tonight as well. This pro league that's on the horizon will hopefully do wonders for their development as a footballing nation.
Just back from the game. Awesome that we have qualified and its great we will probably get to qualify every time from now on but there was something missing tonight, the crowd felt flat and there was an edge missing from the game. I was at the game against Bahrain and there was a tension in the air and the fans were fired up. I missed that tonight. Im not a fan of what FIFA are doing these days but Im sure I will get used to it. I guess I was expecting too much having been in the crowd in 2009.
But, it's a World Cup, and the World should be represented.
I know it's tough for us to cast aside that good old kiwi trait of having to 'earn it'. It's like we'd only ever be happy about qualifying if we faced severe adversity like we did in 82.
I think it's about time we accepted that we are in fact the strongest footballing nation in our confederation.
But, it's a World Cup, and the World should be represented.
I know it's tough for us to cast aside that good old kiwi trait of having to 'earn it'. It's like we'd only ever be happy about qualifying if we faced severe adversity like we did in 82.
I think it's about time we accepted that we are in fact the strongest footballing nation in our confederation.
Absolutely right, this is the new normal and I will get used to it. Im thrilled we are going and I will be heading to our games at the WC. I think I was spoiled by the most brilliant atmosphere and experience in Welly back in 2009.
Ricki for all his achievements lost to OFC teams on multiple occasions and had the horror in Honiara. Hudson nearly lost the Nations Cup in PNG on penalties and had draws against Fiji and the Solomon Islands. Hay had tight 1-0 wins against PNG and Tahiti.
I know our squad is better now but seriously these Bazeley out comments because we faced resistance for once in OFC qualifying are just absurd and out of touch.
It was a mistake going with unchanged XI three days after Fiji and it showed with the lack of energy, poor passing and allowing them time on the ball, but the subs made a big difference and in the end we still eased to victory.
Ten games against OFC opposition for DB - ten wins by 3+ goals. Well done to him and the boys
And have to make a mention for New Caledonia - they were fantastic. Was a massive contrast to Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa who we steamrolled, or Tahiti who were very defensive.
Their fitness wore down in the second half and you could see it, but that first half I was very impressed by their cohesion, passing sequences, comfort on the ball and willingness to attack us when suitable (ofc their overall approach was defensive but the point is it wasn't all they had). Seriously, it's only one match, but that performance was levels above the efforts the likes of Vanuatu, Tahiti and the Solomons have put up recently.
Hopefully with better preparation they can have a shot at the interconfed playoffs - sadly very unlikely they'll qualify with being big underdogs and needing to win two matches, but hopefully they can put on a credible showing like they did tonight.
finals are often terrible games, even in major tournaments with the very best competing in them. The occasion got to the boys a little, Baze made some bad calls with the starting team, but we got the job done and to be fair we were always in control and never in any real danger. Was great to see the coach make really good changes at halftime too.
I'd wait til our upcoming games against decent opposition in the next couple of windows before writing us off. I'm not convinced but I think it's possible that Bazeley can get a reasonable amount out of the squad at his disposal. He probably won't get the very maximum but that's probably too much to ask, he's not a world class manager but we were never going to get one of those anyway. AucklandPhoenix
Sigh, If you didn’t watch that game and shudder how poor we were then there is no hope in discussing it with you.
We have six international windows before the WC. We play Ukraine and Ivory Coast next and after that Norway and probably Poland. We will have a much better idea of where this team is at after these games.
AV (or the proofs) again mixing up 2024 with 2025 with 2026. But good news NZF will be trying to have at least one AWs game in NZ, prior to the World Cup.
Definitely important they try and do so, so the team builds a connection to the fans ahead of our first WC appearance in 16 years.
And yeah if we can help out New Caledonia by the Nix or Auckland FC inviting them to NZ, later this year for a game(s) that might be an idea. Remembering that there will be bye weeks again for the ALM in season 2025/26.
The All Whites now have six nine-day international windows to prepare for the World Cup, which begins on June 11 next year. The next is in June this year, where they will play Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine in Toronto. They also have a match scheduled against Norway in Oslo in October and are understood to be playing Poland the same month.
The other two windows this year are in September and November, while the two next year are in March and in June, on the eve of the World Cup. While the All Whites are set to play away for the rest of 2024, NZ Football intends for them to play at home at least once in the first half of 2025 ahead of the tournament.
It is expected the World Cup draw will take place after the November international window.
Congrats from Padua, Buenos Aires! Watched the game. My opinion is Bell Motm. Rufer should play next to him. Stamenic doesn't feel the position and he is a number #10. Singh can play out right no problem. The team as it, needs Ryan Thomas as a #12 player, if he can regain fitness again, he is s world class player. Old and DeJong are other options to check out as Champness maybe. Those are the adjustments I will bring, Pinjaker not a fan, he is clumsy and error prone. Good squad NZ is forming.
Congratulations on qualifying! I planned to stay up and watch until you got a goal or two... and I didn't expect to have to stay up that late. I was impressed by New Caledonia (though I fear what could happen to them in the playoffs, depending who they get drawn) and I can see why the All Whites performance was disappointing, but I hope the end result is still bringing you joy.