All Whites v Egypt | Sat 23rd March | 9:00am | FIFA+

YoungHeartHM

Ranix

MetalLegNZ

Where's the Bell report?

Is Rufers inclusion more to do with a formation change due to Payne been injured? Maybe a revert to 5 at the back and McCowatt playing a RWB role etc?

Rufer is a straight swap for Bell I would have thought. With Stamenic now likely to start at CDM. Ingham at RB or more likely RWB.

Would like to see more options at RB/RWB than just Ingham if I'm being honest... Roux? Wilkins?

Callan Elliot and James McGarry probably too short of a gallop for an international call up at this point.

Roux probably deserves it. But with CCM playing 7 games in April after the int. break they might be trying to convince him to have rest.
But yes agree. Would like to see another option at RB/RWB.

We're officially big time! Would 94k be the largest ever stadium the All Whites have played in?

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I’d like the team to look like this now:

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If you can’t get Roux then it has to be Wilkins or Kirwan.

Rojas is a long shot but he’s been great for Brisbane. I guess take Greive if Marco won’t come.

Wood, Payne & Bell so far ruled out. But only Rufer (for Bell) named so far as a replacement.

Sounds like Bazeley is just going to roll with a 22 man squad now, and not replace Wood or Payne.

Kirwan & Greive likely next cabs off the rank? Though both Serie C & Scottish 2nd tier play through this window, and both at clubs chasing promotion.

No word on either Singh (didn't play for Rostock on the weekend) or Crocombe (relegation threatened Burton Albion have a L1 game this weekend), not being available.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350217775/alex-rufer-called-chris-wood-out-all-whites-tour

New Zealand Football confirmed on Tuesday morning that Wood, Norway-based midfielder Joe Bell and Phoenix defender Tim Payne have withdrawn from the squad.

Coach Darren Bazeley will need a new captain with Bell, who has acted in the role, also out after an injury at his Norwegian premier league club Viking FK.

The armband may go to MLS defender Michael Boxall, an All White since 2011, and now their most experienced player with Wood sidelined.

Wood’s quality and strike power - 34 goals in 74 appearances - can’t be replaced, but the All Whites have plenty of attacking cover in Plymouth Argyle reserve Ben Waine, Ireland-based Max Mata and recalled Wellington Phoenix goal grabber Kosta Barbarouses.

Payne’s role at rightback is likely to be covered by rookie Tyler Bindon, who has played there for English third tier club Reading.

Egypt have had some withdrawals of their own, including superstar Liverpool striker Mohammed Salah. The Premier League club asked Egypt for him to be spared the Cairo tournament because he is still geting back to full fitness after a hamstring injury.

Arsenal’s fringe midfielder Mohamed Eleney has also been spelled by Hossam Hassan, who will coach Egypt for the first time against the All Whites.

coochiee

Wood, Payne & Bell so far ruled out. But only Rufer (for Bell) named so far as a replacement.

Sounds like Bazeley is just going to roll with a 22 man squad now, and not replace Wood or Payne.

Kirwan & Greive likely next cabs off the rank? Though both Serie C & Scottish 2nd tier play through this window, and both at clubs chasing promotion.

No word on either Singh (didn't play for Rostock on the weekend) or Crocombe (relegation threatened Burton Albion have a L1 game this weekend), not being available.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350217775/alex-rufer-called-chris-wood-out-all-whites-tour

New Zealand Football confirmed on Tuesday morning that Wood, Norway-based midfielder Joe Bell and Phoenix defender Tim Payne have withdrawn from the squad.

Coach Darren Bazeley will need a new captain with Bell, who has acted in the role, also out after an injury at his Norwegian premier league club Viking FK.

The armband may go to MLS defender Michael Boxall, an All White since 2011, and now their most experienced player with Wood sidelined.

Wood’s quality and strike power - 34 goals in 74 appearances - can’t be replaced, but the All Whites have plenty of attacking cover in Plymouth Argyle reserve Ben Waine, Ireland-based Max Mata and recalled Wellington Phoenix goal grabber Kosta Barbarouses.

Payne’s role at rightback is likely to be covered by rookie Tyler Bindon, who has played there for English third tier club Reading.

Egypt have had some withdrawals of their own, including superstar Liverpool striker Mohammed Salah. The Premier League club asked Egypt for him to be spared the Cairo tournament because he is still geting back to full fitness after a hamstring injury.

Arsenal’s fringe midfielder Mohamed Eleney has also been spelled by Hossam Hassan, who will coach Egypt for the first time against the All Whites.

Go with rufer, lewis and stamenic and actually try and control the midfield. Garbett is awesome but all this one touch, high pace stuff only gets you so far. 

I think Rufer has to play just to ensure we have that workhorse in the middle to make tackles etc.

Stamenic and Garbett will both play as they are u23 - so will use this to continue to build their combinations.

My starting xi after today's revelations would be:

Kosta
McCowatt Singh
Garbett Rufer Stamenic
Cacace Surman Boxall Bindon
Crocombe

Edit: and my expected Bazeley lineup...

Mata
McCowatt Singh
Lewis Stamenic Garbett
Cacace Pijnaker Boxall Bindon
Crocombe

Sixteen goals among the entirety of our squad (and only nine among all forwards/offensive midfielders) is a little scary, even if it means nothing on paper. Singh in combination with a Wood replacement (hopefully in a deep-lying forward role, allowing wingers to penetrate and midfield to generate combinations) is likely the key to solving this serious lack of bite

Already expressed my serious lack of belief in Bindon as a RB - Reading fans would agree. Not sure why Bazeley is so confident in this when Selles tried it, it clearly failed (his lack of comfort there was immediately evident), and he reverted him to a left-sided CB where he's been excellent

Odds on Ingham and Pijnaker starting are not ones I would take... bit worried tbh

I am not familiar with Ingham and Bindon's recent form, I never watch them for their club sides, and one of the few Nix games I didn't watch was the Jets game. All I know is I have never been impressed by Ingham in a white shirt, and I've seen him a few times, so I want to see what Bindon can do. I also expect to see Bindon at RB because I feel like Ingham hasn't been in the squad for a while so that makes it seem less likely to me that Baze will throw him in from the start. 

imanixsupporter

My starting xi after today's revelations would be:

Kosta
McCowatt Singh
Garbett Rufer Stamenic
Cacace Surman Boxall Bindon
Crocombe

Edit: and my expected Bazeley lineup...

Mata
McCowatt Singh
Lewis Stamenic Garbett
Cacace Pijnaker Boxall Bindon
Crocombe

I like the look of your selection. Just swap- Paulsen for Crocombe so he and Surman can work together.

mrsmiis

Sixteen goals among the entirety of our squad (and only nine among all forwards/offensive midfielders) is a little scary, even if it means nothing on paper. Singh in combination with a Wood replacement (hopefully in a deep-lying forward role, allowing wingers to penetrate and midfield to generate combinations) is likely the key to solving this serious lack of bite

Already expressed my serious lack of belief in Bindon as a RB - Reading fans would agree. Not sure why Bazeley is so confident in this when Selles tried it, it clearly failed (his lack of comfort there was immediately evident), and he reverted him to a left-sided CB where he's been excellent

Odds on Ingham and Pijnaker starting are not ones I would take... bit worried tbh

Yeah not sure where the goals are going to come from. But when Wood when off at about 60 mins verus Ireland is when the AWs actually started to look more dangerous as Singh ran the show. That would have partly been the Irish relaxing a bit. 

Both Sarpreet & Garbett have hardly played lately. They are going to be a bit rusty. Garbett has far more experience than Old, but Bazeley may consider starting the in form Nix youngster.

I reckon against Egypt will be a 3-1 type loss. Sounds like they are missing a few of their better players as well (obviously no Salah). Have higher expectations for the 2nd game (3rd/4th playoff) against a neutral opponent and the AWs will be better for the first game.

Has Storm Roux made himself unavailable for the AWs ala Fitzgerald (that's one that really got away, curse you Ricki)?  

He's been over looked so often (like Rufer) that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he's quit the AWs but kept it quiet.

Hope he plays the nix boys in the first game and rests them for the second 

he was in the squad for a window in the last two years I'm pretty sure. So if he has, it's a recent thing. Also would be odd for a coach to be silent on such a thing

Marto

Has Storm Roux made himself unavailable for the AWs ala Fitzgerald (that's one that really got away, curse you Ricki)?  

He's been over looked so often (like Rufer) that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he's quit the AWs but kept it quiet.

Storm Roux's last AWs call up was Sept 2022 against Socceroos. Hay's last games in charge. Roux got 20 mins off the pine (on for Payne) in the Eden Park 2-0 loss.

Prior to that he started Hay's first game in charge the 3-1 loss in Dublin, November 2019. Then you have to go back to Hudson's era and OFC WC qualifiers in 2017, when him, Kip Colvey, & Dane Ingham were the RB options.

He did have a bad injury (broke his leg?) during the Hay reign, plus of course AWs didn't play for 2 years with Covid. But yeah just 3 AWs squads (1 start) under Hay/Bazeley seems low.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2019/11/14/world/friendlies/ireland-republic/new-zealand/2970046/

Arriving for the first session in 🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/n4MUrPsITQ

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) March 19, 2024

imanixsupporter

he was in the squad for a window in the last two years I'm pretty sure. So if he has, it's a recent thing. Also would be odd for a coach to be silent on such a thing

Marto

Has Storm Roux made himself unavailable for the AWs ala Fitzgerald (that's one that really got away, curse you Ricki)?  

He's been over looked so often (like Rufer) that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he's quit the AWs but kept it quiet.

 I'm not really sure if a player would quit the All Whites if he wanted to play but wasn't being selected.  Surely you'd say nothing publicly and if you're selected then great, and if not then its the status quo.

loyalgunner

imanixsupporter

he was in the squad for a window in the last two years I'm pretty sure. So if he has, it's a recent thing. Also would be odd for a coach to be silent on such a thing

Marto

Has Storm Roux made himself unavailable for the AWs ala Fitzgerald (that's one that really got away, curse you Ricki)?  

He's been over looked so often (like Rufer) that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he's quit the AWs but kept it quiet.

 I'm not really sure if a player would quit the All Whites if he wanted to play but wasn't being selected.  Surely you'd say nothing publicly and if you're selected then great, and if not then its the status quo.

Surely Roux love to go to a World Cup. He's playing at a level, he'll always be a chance, if seemingly on the outer currently. So why would you quit. 

Maybe he just didn't get on with Hay & Bazeley (who was Hay's assistant prior). We have no idea. And even if that was the case, no guarantee Baze will be there in 2026 - if the AWs say have some terrible results next 12 months. 

I don't watch the Mariners at all. Is Roux a standout? Is he manifestly better than Ingham at the Jets? Seems Bindon is going to play RB against Egypt anyway, so Bazeley can't have a huge amount of confidence in BMIngham, a specialist RB.

coochiee

Storm Roux's last AWs call up was Sept 2022 against Socceroos. Hay's last games in charge. Roux got 20 mins off the pine (on for Payne) in the Eden Park 2-0 loss.

Prior to that he started Hay's first game in charge the 3-1 loss in Dublin, November 2019. Then you have to go back to Hudson's era and OFC WC qualifiers in 2017, when him, Kip Colvey, & Dane Ingham were the RB options.

He did have a bad injury (broke his leg?) during the Hay reign, plus of course AWs didn't play for 2 years with Covid. But yeah just 3 AWs squads (1 start) under Hay/Bazeley seems low.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2019/11/14/world/friendlies/ireland-republic/new-zealand/2970046/

Arriving for the first session in 🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/n4MUrPsITQ

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) March 19, 2024

Im surprised Roofs already there. Did he pinch Payne's ticket in the dressing room post match at Eden Park?

He’s here, he’s there
He’s every bloody where! 

Ruuuuuufer! 

When is kick off?

LMGTFY

Screenshot_2024-03-20-22-52-56-76_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg 178.04 KB

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2024/03/18/breakfast-kick-off-time-confirmed-for-saturdays-all-whites-game-against-egypt/

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

When is kick off?

Mods can you please update Thread title.

All Whites v Egypt | Sat 23 March [NZT 9am] / Fri 22 March [local 10pm] | Cairo International Stadium (Cairo, Egypt) 

So Rufer goes from not good enough to be included to now captaining the side... this to me makes Bazley look like a bit of a bellend.

has this been announced?

watching_from_far

So Rufer goes from not good enough to be included to now captaining the side... this to me makes Bazley look like a bit of a bellend.

Makes you wonder if Joe Bell lost some love for the game when he encountered the situation he was put in in Qatar. 
Imagine if the guy, the coach and the board just put their hand up and said sorry I was out of line, and they got on and played the second half. Stamenic’s goal stands. NZ doesn’t push for anything further. 

What’s the sauce for Rufer captaincy? 

Joe Bell has been reported as an "injury-enforced withdrawal" for this window, unlike a previous recent window which he withdrew for personal reasons iirc

imanixsupporter

Joe Bell has been reported as an "injury-enforced withdrawal" for this window, unlike a previous recent window which he withdrew for personal reasons iirc

He'd only moved back to Norway from Denmark a month or so beforehand, and was straight back in the first team mix, which I think was the main reason for the withdrawal - Focusing on club football immediately after the move back, it's not unheard of after a recent move. 

Vaguely recall Viking were in with a title shout too, but blew it on the run in. 

Hopefully an injury this time around doesn't derail the upcoming Norwegian season.

watching_from_far

So Rufer goes from not good enough to be included to now captaining the side... this to me makes Bazley look like a bit of a bellend.

Where has it been announced Rufer is captain?
Michael Boxall the most likely surely.

No mention anywhere of the game being on the Duke Channel as the last AW's friendlies were in October last year.
Maybe it's only on FIFA+ this time?
So much football to watch this weekend with the Euro play-offs and Euro friendlies on Sky (Netherlands v Scotland friendly is on Sky at the same time as the AW's game) plus Phoenix women on Sunday.

Big Pete 65

No mention anywhere of the game being on the Duke Channel as the last AW's friendlies were in October last year.
Maybe it's only on FIFA+ this time?
So much football to watch this weekend with the Euro play-offs and Euro friendlies on Sky (Netherlands v Scotland friendly is on Sky at the same time as the AW's game) plus Phoenix women on Sunday.

And Newcastle/WSW games to keep an eye on Saturday...

Driving through central Christchurch this evening it was great to see a massive electronic billboard advertising the All Whites v Egypt.

It got me thinking where is the monetary value in advertising it? I couldn't be certain but I thought it was a FIFA billboard, and given its a free service they don't make any money from viewers. And from memory there's no advertising. Am I missing something?

coochiee

watching_from_far

So Rufer goes from not good enough to be included to now captaining the side... this to me makes Bazley look like a bit of a bellend.

Where has it been announced Rufer is captain?
Michael Boxall the most likely surely.

Liberato Cacace will captain the #AllWhites against Egypt (kickoff 9am Saturday NZ time)

No other team news from his pre-match presser alongside coach Darren Bazeley

— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) March 21, 2024

Almost on queue that came out. 

Congratulations to Libby too. Unless I'm missing something, this would be the first time captaining the AW's.

There was a headline on tvnz breakfast show this morning that said Rufer was to captain AW... i even made a comment about to my wife who pretty much said she could give an s... Chris Chang was talking about the game.

Libby is generally the first name on the team sheet given the combination of how far ahead he is of his completion in his position & his consistent availability. Makes sense to see how he goes as captain because Chris Wood cannot be relied upon and hasn't been able to be relied upon since 2017 (seems like everyone apart from me on this forum is totally content for him to repeatedly injure himself and never be able to give 100% for the AWs so long as he is flying the NZ flag in the PL) and I haven't been impressed by Bell as captain. 

Nothing to do with his footballing ability/the way he has played for NZ necessarily, I just think Bell doesn't really have the off field personality, gravitas, mana, whatever you call it of a captain in my view. Never really interviewed that well. The contrast between him and his predecessors in Wood & Winston was stark. I hope the experiment of him being captain when Wood is unavailable is over. 

Happy for Libby, but he has never really struck me as a leader. Will be interesting to see how he goes.

Given he is a guaranteed starter it makes sense - whoever is his back up must be like, shark - my chances of game time just got smaller!

martinb

Makes you wonder if Joe Bell lost some love for the game when he encountered the situation he was put in in Qatar. 
Imagine if the guy, the coach and the board just put their hand up and said sorry I was out of line, and they got on and played the second half. Stamenic’s goal stands. NZ doesn’t push for anything further. 

What’s the sauce for Rufer captaincy? 

martinb

Makes you wonder if Joe Bell lost some love for the game when he encountered the situation he was put in in Qatar. 
Imagine if the guy, the coach and the board just put their hand up and said sorry I was out of line, and they got on and played the second half. Stamenic’s goal stands. NZ doesn’t push for anything further. 

What’s the sauce for Rufer captaincy? 

Sorry but i find this comment a bit weird. 
What evidence do we have of that?

He strikes me as a guy that'd do anything to play for his country. 

MetalLegNZ

Happy for Libby, but he has never really struck me as a leader. Will be interesting to see how he goes.

Given he is a guaranteed starter it makes sense - whoever is his back up must be like, shark - my chances of game time just got smaller!

There is some stat, that is only about 3 AWs games that Libby hasn't started, since his debut, and he invariably plays the full 90 mins. LK-H is there to watch & learn, and maybe get a cameo off the pine in Game 2.

And yeah also not so sure about Cacace as a leader. Though does give a bit of Winston Reid vibes. A captain by actions, more than words. And he's playing at the highest level amongst guys in this squad, so enormously respected no doubt.

Looks like yes the game will be at the shiny new 94,000 seater stadium outside Cairo. But crowd limited to 30,000 for first match ever at the new ground.

So that will make it seem a lot less intimidating.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/6/519720/Sports/New-Zealand-coach-says-facing-Egypt-is-a-challenge.aspx

Friday’s game will be the first official match at Egypt Stadium which was officially opened in January and can accommodate nearly 94,000 supporters.

Earlier today, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced that 30,000 supporters will be allowed to attend the game from the stands.