All Whites v Greece | Saturday 18th November | 6:00am NZT | OPAP Arena, Athens

AWs squad to be named this week?
How many of the ALM guys get picked this time?

Likely Wood, Singh & Dibley-Dias will all be missing from October's selection.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/132972?newsfeedId=1223399&newsfeedPageNum=3

Is dibley-Dias still injured?

Talking about A-League players, I think Payne & Lewis get picked for sure.

Sail (despite his form), Paulsen, Surman all have a good chance of a call-up.

Rufer & Kosta possible but somewhat less likely.

Would be very surprised to see anybody else (Old, Kelly-Heald, Sutton, Ingham, Roux) at this stage. 

AucklandPhoenix

Is dibley-Dias still injured?

Had surgery not long after the last international window. Out for the next 2-3 months.

imanixsupporter

Talking about A-League players, I think Payne & Lewis get picked for sure.

Sail (despite his form), Paulsen, Surman all have a good chance of a call-up.

Rufer & Kosta possible but somewhat less likely.

Would be very surprised to see anybody else (Old, Kelly-Heald, Sutton, Ingham, Roux) at this stage. 

A few weeks ago I would have said for sure Barba’s AW days are over. But with Wood out he maybe a chance of a recall with the form Kosta is in. Being a Greek speaker added bonus!

Edit - wonder if Jack Iredale is now eligible?

Read in an AV article, squad will be picked this week.

This was the squad for the Oct games (Congo & Australia).
October games (22 man squad)
GKs - Gray/Crocombe, Woud & Tzanev
Centrebacks - Tuiloma, M Boxall, Bindon, Smith & Pijnaker
Fullbacks - Cacace, McGarry/Wilkins, Kirwan
Midfield - Dibley-Dias, Stamenic, Garbett, McCowatt & Singh
Attackers - Wood, Champness, Just, Mata, Greive & Waine

Possible changes (23 man squad) -
Ins - Payne, Lewis, Bell & one of Barba/Rojas/ADJ.   
Outs - McGarry, Dibley-Dias, Singh & Wood
Still unavailable - Thomas, Jack Iredale?
Not match fit/Unattached FC - Rojas? & Elliott. Same I guess Marinovic

Lewis & Bell locked in changes. Barba or Rojas in for Wood. Still leaves 3 strikers in the squad. ADJ another possibility. Payne comes in for someone, or you just expand the squad to 23.

If Jack Iredale is eligible I'd like to see him in for either Wilkins or Pijnaker.

Doesn't seem any need to change the keepers. Sail needs to concentrate on his club, and Crocombe is clearly the no 1 now. Hopefully he can play both AWs games. Searle might come in for Woud or Tzanev.

Edit - Crocombe's Burton Albion have their 19th Nov game postponed, so he should be available all of the window. Same Bindon's Reading. Mata's Shrewsbury as yet are due to play 19th Nov, so his availability for the Greek game could be in doubt.

Dons derby in League Two is also scheduled 19th Nov. So both Smith (especially) & Tzanev may not be in Athens.

Based on early season form I would have Rufer and Kosta in my squad. Been very impressed by both of them.

⏳ All Whites squad dropping soon...

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) November 6, 2023

Usually they're not this proactive in announcing a squad. 🤔

With that said, I'm picking a good 5/6 changes, and possibly a bolter for this one. 

We'll see Bell back. I am hoping though for a Ryan Thomas inclusion as well. 🤞

Unexpected good news. Singh & Wood both included.
Paulsen the 'bolter'.

Ins - Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Lewis, Bell (so 4 guys from ALM)
Outs - Tzanev, Kirwan, Tuiloma, Dibley-Dias

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133243675/chris-wood-sarpreet-singh-included-in-all-whites-squad-despite-recent-injuries

23 man Squad

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman, Dalton Wilkins

Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Clayton Lewis, Callum McCowatt, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic

Forwards: Joey Champness, Alex Greive, Eli Just, Max Mata, Ben Waine, Chris Wood

Not sure whether we'll see any game time from them as this stage but definitely positive signs regarding Wood and Singh.

Stoked for Wilkins to have shown enough to get the nod first time round this month.

To be honest would have preferred Paulsen to stay on in the Nix environment at thus stage and not have to haul off to Europe and back and disrupt the good flow he's got going to start the A League season. Would have liked to have seen Tzanev to get a run alongside Crocombe. 

Finn Surman. Good one. Amazing that such a young centre back is doing so consistently well.

coochiee

Unexpected good news. Singh & Wood both included.
Paulsen the 'bolter'

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133243675/chris-wood-sarpreet-singh-included-in-all-whites-squad-despite-recent-injuries

Squad

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman, Dalton Wilkins

Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Clayton Lewis, Callum McCowatt, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic

Forwards: Joey Champness, Alex Greive, Eli Just, Max Mata, Ben Waine, Chris Wood

Better than expected news on the injury front to be honest.

Thought Wood and Singh were goners based off commentary from the past 1-2 weeks regarding their injury status.

Happily surprised though, and about what I expected in terms of changes overall, still a little gutted about Thomas, but hopefully he's just focused on getting more match fitness at club level before making the jump back to international footy. I did think Surman was going to get another look in quite quickly after that first camp with Sweden & Qatar.

Mods feel free to change venue in thread name. Looks like Marto's hunch the game maybe behind Closed Doors could sadly be true.

Greece with a big Euros qualifier against France, a few days after hosting the AWs - so the Greeks may have requested, no fans for the AWs match, as they try a few things. Just a guess.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/134714?newsfeedId=1275608
Please note the venue for the match against Greece has changed.

17 November at 7pm [local] / 18 November at 6am [NZT] (KO TBC)
Greece v All Whites
Georgios Kamaras Stadium, Athens, Greece

Paulsen takes Sails place!

Is Bindon considered to be the 4th fullback in the squad? Otherwise there are only 3. Surprised to see Tuiloma and Kirwan dropped, but not particularly upset about seeing Tuiloma left out. 

Would have liked to see Kosta or Rojas back in the squad, with Wood likely not playing we are very green going forwards. 

Good news about Wood & Singh. Without both of them the AWs would be pretty toothless against Greece & Eire (both FIFA ranked in the 50s)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133243675/chris-wood-sarpreet-singh-included-in-all-whites-squad-despite-recent-injuries

All Whites coach Darren Bazeley said they were in regular contact with Forest, who currently sit 12th in English Premier League, and were hopeful Wood could use the international matches to return to action.

“I think Forest were talking about how their fans won't see him playing for Forest until after the window, but that doesn't mean that he won't be fit for the window and actually, it might help Forest if he returns to play before he goes back.

“We wouldn't do anything without Forest or Wood’s blessing. We wouldn't put him on the pitch or risk him at all.”

Singh missed the All Whites’ second match in October – a 2-0 loss to Australia with the Soccer Ashes up for grabs – after suffering a hamstring injury, and hasn’t played for his German second-tier club, Hansa Rostock, since.

Bazeley said Singh was confident of being fit in time for the Greece and Ireland matches and that he was eager to play in them, having gone more than 18 months without an All Whites outing prior to October.

“He's saying he wants to come in and play. He doesn't want to come in just to be part of the group, he wants to actually play, which is great to hear.”

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulsen and centre back Finn Surman will both be eyeing senior international debuts after being included in an All Whites squad for the second time.

Phoenix fullback Tim Payne and Macarthur midfielder Clayton Lewis are the other A-League Men players to come in, after Bazeley opted not to call any up during the October window, when their season was yet to begin.

Versatile defender Bill Tuiloma was the most notable omission – one Bazeley put down to the fact that he hasn’t played any minutes at club level with Charlotte in Major League Soccer in the United States since mid-July.

“Bill will be back,” Bazeley said. “He's an important member of the squad. But I think it is important that these players are playing regularly for their clubs.

“They're not going to be playing every week. Not many players get that opportunity. But when you haven't played for so long, it does become difficult to come into camp and perform to your best level, just because you haven't played football so much.”

Bazeley said the omission of Tuiloma came with him eager to give Surman and Tyler Bindon – the Reading FC defender who made his All Whites debut in October – opportunities in this window, with one eye on next year’s Olympic campaign, which they are both eligible for as under-23 players.

“There are some other players that we want to have a look at in regards to right back and centre back, so I think it was a good opportunity for Bill to have a break – not that he wanted to have a break.”

Payne will be the first-choice right back after impressing for the Phoenix in recent weeks, with Bindon – who has played there for Reading this season – and Dalton Wilkins providing cover. Niko Kirwan, who played there in October, has also been left out.

imanixsupporter

Is Bindon considered to be the 4th fullback in the squad? Otherwise there are only 3. Surprised to see Tuiloma and Kirwan dropped, but not particularly upset about seeing Tuiloma left out. 

Would have liked to see Kosta or Rojas back in the squad, with Wood likely not playing we are very green going forwards. 

 Reasoning for Tuiloma's absence was game-time, but he's had more and more recently than Rojas. Plus the benefit of still being in a day-to-day professional training environment. Rojas hasn't played nor been at a club since June, and judging by his Instagram stories seems to be catching up with family in New Zealand. That is all perfectly fine but it's not good prep for facing tough opposition. Same as Callan Elliot, though he appears to be doing work with a private coach in Scotland.

YoungHeartHM

coochiee

Unexpected good news. Singh & Wood both included.
Paulsen the 'bolter'

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133243675/chris-wood-sarpreet-singh-included-in-all-whites-squad-despite-recent-injuries

Squad

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman, Dalton Wilkins

Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Clayton Lewis, Callum McCowatt, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic

Forwards: Joey Champness, Alex Greive, Eli Just, Max Mata, Ben Waine, Chris Wood

Better than expected news on the injury front to be honest.

Thought Wood and Singh were goners based off commentary from the past 1-2 weeks regarding their injury status.

Happily surprised though, and about what I expected in terms of changes overall, still a little gutted about Thomas, but hopefully he's just focused on getting more match fitness at club level before making the jump back to international footy. I did think Surman was going to get another look in quite quickly after that first camp with Sweden & Qatar.

Don't be surprised if Wood and/or Singh pull out in the next few days

Given half of Argyles forwards are crocked right now, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Waine hardly plays this window.

Anyone have an update on whether this game is open to the public or not? I can't find anything online but will be in Greece and keen to attend if possible. NZF not replying to my queries either.

AMac

Anyone have an update on whether this game is open to the public or not? I can't find anything online but will be in Greece and keen to attend if possible. NZF not replying to my queries either.

This post by Greece suggested only a small number of tickets would be available. Perhaps try contacting them.

Maybe Carlind can run a rule over the Greek squad.
Didn't know Gus Poyet was their gaffer. Been there since Feb last year.
https://us.soccerway.com/coaches/gus-poyet/169885/

https://www.epo.gr/News.aspx?a_id=53040&NewsType=22

Mr Poyet has issued an invitation to 32 players for the friendly match against New Zealand on November 17 (G. Kamaras, 19:00) and the last of the European Qualifiers against France on November 21 (OPAP Arena, 21:45 ).

AMac

Anyone have an update on whether this game is open to the public or not? I can't find anything online but will be in Greece and keen to attend if possible. NZF not replying to my queries either.

You didn't try to contact them by fax did you?

Note that there are now many viewing options for this match and the other AW's friendly.
NZ Football have arranged for these games to be live on the Duke channel on Freeview and TVNZ+ as well as FIFA+:
https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/133928?newsfeedId=1275622
"International football is coming to TVNZ with four All Whites fixtures and two potential Ford Football Ferns games set to be broadcast free to air. 

Following the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which saw more Kiwis watch the game than ever before, the partnership between New Zealand Football and TVNZ will make it easier than ever to follow our national sides in their remaining games of 2023. 

Games will be shown on TVNZ DUKE and TVNZ+"

GREECE: Current squad
The following players were called for the friendly match match against

New Zealand on 17 November 2023 and the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against

France on 21 November 2023.

Pos.   Player                         (age)            Caps      Goals        Club
| GK Odysseas Vlachodimos | (age 29) | 37 | 0 |

Nottingham Forest
| GK Alexandros Paschalakis |  (age 34) | 5 | 0 |

Olympiacos
| GK Sokratis Dioudis | (age 30) | 2 | 0 |

Zagłębie Lubin
| GK Giorgos Athanasiadis | (age 30) | 0 | 0 |

AEK Athens

| DF Giorgos Tzavellas | (age 35) | 49 | 3 |

Atromitos
| DF Kostas Tsimikas |  (age 27) | 31 | 0 |

Liverpool
| DF Pantelis Chatzidiakos |  (age 26) | 29 | 0 |

Cagliari
| DF Dimitris Giannoulis |  (age 28) | 25 | 0 |

Norwich City
| DF Dinos Mavropanos |  (age 25) | 22 | 2 |

West Ham United
| DF Lazaros Rota |  (age 26) | 11 | 0 |

AEK Athens
| DF Panos Retsos | (age 25) | 10 | 0 |

Olympiacos
| DF George Baldock |  (age 30) | 9 | 0 |

Sheffield United
| DF Dinos Koulierakis |  (age 19) | 5 | 0 |

PAOK
| DF Dimitris Goutas |  (age 29) | 3 | 0 |

Cardiff City
| DF Manolis Saliakas | (age 27) | 2 | 0 |

St. Pauli
| DF Giorgos Vagiannidis |  (age 22) | 0 | 0 |

Panathinaikos

| MF Tasos Bakasetas (captain) |(age 30) | 61 | 12 |

Trabzonspor
| MF Petros Mantalos | (age 32) | 57 | 6 |

AEK Athens
| MF Andreas Bouchalakis | (age 30) | 40 | 1 |

Hertha BSC
| MF Dimitris Kourbelis | (age 30) | 35 | 1 |

Trabzonspor
| MF Dimitris Pelkas | (age 30) | 33 | 3 |

İstanbul Başakşehir
| MF Manolis Siopis | (age 29) | 28 | 1 |

Cardiff City
| MF Sotiris Alexandropoulos | (age 21) | 8 | 0 |

Olympiacos
| MF Kostas Galanopoulos |  (age 25) | 6 | 1 |

AEK Athens
| MF Giannis Papanikolaou | (age 24) | 4 | 0 |

Raków Częstochowa
| MF Giannis Konstantelias |  (age 20) | 2 | 0 |

PAOK

| FW Giorgos Masouras |(age 29) | 37 | 9 |

Olympiacos
| FW Vangelis Pavlidis |  (age 24) | 34 | 6 |

AZ
| FW Giorgos Giakoumakis |  (age 28) | 19 | 3 |

Atlanta United
| FW Taxiarchis Fountas |  (age 28) | 17 | 1 |

Trabzonspor
| FW Tasos Chatzigiovanis |  (age 26) | 13 | 0 |

Ankaragücü
| FW Fotis Ioannidis | (age 23) | 7 | 0 |

Panathinaikos

Might as well go through.

GK:
- Odysseas Vlachodimos; 29yo, 37 caps, Nottingham Forest (1 appearance, 9% of minutes). 7 apps, 100% of minutes in Euro qualifying. Ex-German youth rep. Couple run ins with NZ: Chris Wood teammate at Forest, played two games with Marco Rojas at Stuttgart II 
- Georgios Athanasiadis; 30yo, uncapped, AEK Athens (3rd/14) (2 league appearances, 20% of minutes). Played all 21/22 UEFA Champions League matches for Sheriff, beating Real Madrid away.
- Alexandros Paschalakis; 34yo, 5 caps, Olympiacos (2/14) (10 league & 7 Europa League appearances, 97% of minutes). Unused sub for all Euro qualifiers. Teammate of Themi Tzimopoulos at Giannina from Jan 2016 to Aug 2017.
- Sokratis Dioudis; 30yo, 2 caps, Zaglebie Lubin (7/18) (POL) (8 appearances, 57% of minutes). Unused sub in previous window. 

DF:
- Georgios Tzavellas; 35yo, 49 caps, centre-back, Atromitos (10/14) (5 apps, 450mins, 50% of minutes). 1 minute in Euro qualifying. Currently looks to be injured.
- Pantelis Hatzidiakos; 26yo, 29 caps, centre-back, Cagliari (17/20) (6 apps, 399mins, 40% of minutes). 5 apps, 450mins in Euro qualifying. Joined on deadline day after helping AZ into Conference League.
- Panagiotis Retsos; 25yo, 10 caps, centre-back, Olympiacos (2/14) (9 apps, 711mins, 79% of minutes). 4 apps, 288mins in Euro qualifying. Spent time in Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Premier League.  
- Konstantinos Koulierakis; 19yo, 5 caps, centre-back, PAOK (4/14) (6 league/3 Conference League apps, 676 minutes, 58% of minutes). 4 apps, 103 mins in Euro qualifying. Scored in two of the three Conference League matches.
- Konstantinos Mavropanos; 25yo, 22 caps, centre-back, West Ham (12/20) (2 league/3 Europa/2 EFL Cup apps, 541mins, 38% of minutes). 6 apps, 519mins in Euro qualifying, only time missed due to red card. Teammate of Themi Tzimopoulos at Giannina from Jan 2016 to Jan 2018.
- Dimitrios Goutas; 29yo, 3 caps, centre-back, Cardiff City (7/24 Champ) (15 apps, 1337mins, 99% of mins). No appearances in Euro qualifying. Might've just crossed-over with Tyler Boyd at Sivasspor.
- George Baldock; 30yo, 9 caps, right-back, Sheffield Utd (20/20) (5 apps, 360mins, 36% of minutes). 3 apps, 270mins in Euro qualifying, missed last window with injury. Eligible via his Greek grandmother.
- Lazaros Rota; 26yo, 11 caps, right-back, AEK Athens (3/14) (6 league/1 Europa apps, 563mins, 45% of minutes). 4 apps, 333mins in Euro qualifying. Joined AEK after, unusually for Europe, terminating a 3.5yr contract at Dutch side Fortuna Sittard after 6 months.
- George Vagiannidis; 22yo, uncapped, right-back, Panathinaikos (1/14) (5 league/4 Champions League qual/2 Europa apps, 758mins, 46% of minutes). Not called up before. Teammate of Cacace at Sint Truiden on loan from Oct 20 to Jun 21.
- Manolis Saliakis; 27yo, 2 caps, right-back, St Pauli (1/18 2.BL) (11 apps, 942mins, 87% of mins). No apps in Euro qualifying, was unused sub vs Ireland in October. Faces Sarpreet again at Hansa Rostock first game back after the window.
- Dimitrios Giannoulis; 28yo, 25 caps, left-back, Norwich City (17/24 Champ) (15 apps, 1196mins, 89% of mins). 3 apps, 115mins in Euro qualifying, 94 of which came vs Gibraltar, unused sub in October. Won 4-1 against Thomas' PSV in the 20/21 Europa League as both started.
- Kostas Tsimikas; 27yo, 31 caps, left-back, Liverpool (3/20) (4 league/2 Europa/2 EFL Cup apps, 538mins, 37% of minutes. 6 apps, 536mins in Euro qualifying. Might've just crossed-over with a very young Woud on loan at Willem II. 

MF:
- Dimitrios Kourbelis; 30yo, 35 caps, defensive-midfielder, Trabzonspor (4/20) (3 apps, 255mins, 26% of minutes). 5 apps, 369mins in Euro qualifying. Started all qualifiers except the two Gibraltar games in which he wasn't even in the squad.
- Andreas Bouchalakis; 30yo, 40 caps, defensive-midfielder, Hertha (12/18 2. BL) (8 apps, 666mins, 62% of minutes). 5 apps, 141mins in Euro qualifying, only start came against Gibraltar. Played the full 90 against Sarpreet's Hansa this past weekend.
- Manolos Siopis; 29yo, 28 caps, defensive-midfielder, Cardiff City (7/24 Champ) (13 apps, 1094mins, 81% of minutes). 6 apps, 278mins in Euro qualifying. Shared the field with Champness (both subbed on) once in a 1-0 win in 2021 whilst at Trabzonspor.
- Sotiris Alexandropoulos; 21yo, 8 caps, central-midfielder, Olympiacos (2/14) (8 league/2 Europa apps, 451mins, 39% of minutes). 1 app, 6mins in Euro qualifying, again only came against Gibraltar. 
- Giannis Papanikolaou; 24yo, 4 caps, central-midfielder, Rakow Czestochowa (POL) (4/18) (8 league/7 Champions League qualifying/2 Europa apps, 1372mins, 64% of minutes). 1 app, 22mins in Euro qualifying, again only cam against Gibraltar. League winner with Rakow last season. 
- Konstantinos Galanopoulos; 25yo, 6 caps, defensive-midfielder, AEK Athens (3/12) (9 league/1 Europa apps, 455mins, 36% of minutes). No apps in Euro qualifying or call ups. Played against Tzimopoulos three times for AEK, the only club he's played for.
- Anastasios Bakasetas; 30yo, 61 caps/12 goals, attacking-midfielder, Trabzonspor (4/20) (9 apps, 748mins, 76% of minutes, 3g/1a). 7 apps, 547mins in Euro qualifying, 2g/2a. Assisted the winning goal when he played against Champness in Aug 21.
- Petros Mantalos; 32yo, 57 caps/6 goals, attacking-midfielder, AEK Athens (3/12) (8 league/3 Europa apps, 527mins, 45% of minutes, 0g/2a). 6 apps, 530mins in Euro qualifying, 0g/1a). Has made over 330 appearances for AEK since joining in 2014.
- Dimitrios Pelkas; 30yo, 33 caps/3goals, attacking-midfielder, Istanbul Basaksehir (18/20) (9 apps, 526mins, 53% of minutes, 1g/0a). 4 apps, 282mins in Euro qualifying, 1g/3a, with the goal and 2 assists against Gibraltar.
- Giannis Konstantelias; 20yo, 2 caps/0 goals, attacking-midfielder, PAOK (4/12) (10 league/3 Conference League apps, 632mins, 54% of minutes, 2g/2a). 1 app, 27mins in Euro qualifying, again only came against Gibraltar.

FW:
- Giorgos Masouras; 29yo, 37 caps/9 goals, right-winger, Olympiacos (2/12) (9 league/8 Europa apps, 894mins, 55% of minutes, 6g/1a). 7 apps, 571mins in Euro qualifying, 5g/0a, 2 goals against Ireland and 3 against Gibraltar. Came off the bench in both legs vs PSV in 20/21 Europa League Rd of 32, Thomas started both and got an assist to help PSV win second leg 2-1.
- Anastasios Chatzigiovanis; 26yo, 13 caps/0 goals, left-winger, Ankaragucu (12/20) (6 apps, 231mins, 23% of minutes, 0g/0a). 3 apps, 36mins in Euro qualifying. Scored against Tzimopoulos in a 2-1 win back in 2018, though only won one of four matches against him.
- Fotis Ioannidis; 23yo, 7 caps/0 goals, striker, Panathinaikos (1/12) (9 league/6 Champions League qualification/4 Europa apps, 1038mins, 64% of minutes, 8g/4a). 3 apps, 132mins in Euro qualifying, 0g/0a. Only time he beat Tzimopoulos came in a 1-0 consolation win of a 4-1agg cup tie defeat.
- Evangelos Pavlidis; 24yo, 34 caps/6 goals, AZ Alkmaar (2/18) (11 league/4 Conference League apps, 1304mins, 97% of minutes, 16g/2a). 6 apps, 273mins in Euro qualifying, 0g/0a. Missed equaling the Eredivisie record for most games in a row with a goal to start the season (11, held by Pierre van Hooijdonk), when he failed to score vs Excelsior on the weekend. Teammate of McGarry (2 games together)/Woud (different 2 games together) at Willem II from Jan 19 to late 20.
- Georgios Giakoumakis; 28yo, 19 caps/3goals, striker, Atlanta Utd (6/15 East) (27 league/2 playoff apps, 1968mins, 61% of minutes, 18g/2a). 7 apps, 269mins in Euro qualifying, 1g/1a. Won MLS Newcomer of the Year this year. Won his only MLS match against Tuiloma (didn't play Boxall) 3-0.
- Taxiarchis Fountas; 28yo, 5 caps/0 goals, centre-forward, Trabzonspor (4/20) (8 apps, 237mins, 24% of minutes, 0g/1a). 5 apps, 162mins in Euro qualifying, 0g/1a. Did score for DC Utd against Charlotte in a 3-0 win in April, but Tuiloma was absent (didn't play Boxall).

Great stuff Carlind!

I think it's odd that it's a closed door match yet being broadcast, surely if you play a game behind closed doors you don't want people watching. 

If your ok with people watching online/tv why not let us fans go?

Marto

I think it's odd that it's a closed door match yet being broadcast, surely if you play a game behind closed doors you don't want people watching. 

If your ok with people watching online/tv why not let us fans go?

Ask the Greeks. Their decision. Probaly a tax rort. 
That seems their national sport.

It will be interesting to see Payne at RB again, i remember seeing him in a white shirt back when he was last in fine form at RB for the Nix a couple years back and the step up from A-League to international level wasn't particularly kind to him then, I hope he can look as capable as he can look at A-League level against Greece & Ireland.  Also will be interesting to see Bindon get a go.

I'm hoping to see Lewis play with Bell again, they were a really good midfield combination in the second half of our win against China.

Fully expecting the trend to continue of none of our forward players looking at all effective in these games, particularly when Singh & Wood aren't playing (it can't be very likely that either or both will start vs Greece) but hoping to be proved wrong. 

Pavlidis is in a scoring drought! AZ Alkmaar lost 1-0 at Feyenoord on the weekend. So he hasn't scored the last 2 Eredivisie games. Though he did score midweek against Villa in the Europa Conference League.

12 goals in 14 Eredivisie games is an insane start to his season.

Champness soundtrack?

The All Whites have arrived in Athens 🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/6aJLCVC9UH

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) November 14, 2023

Good to see Woodsy pick up 15 or so minutes off the bench for forest on the weekend. Hopefully the fitness is alright

Hopefully will be an improvement from the limp Socceroos game with Bell, Lewis & Singh all in the mix again.

🥇The winning team at our first training session in 🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/75TNstZmMY

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) November 15, 2023

Marto

I think it's odd that it's a closed door match yet being broadcast, surely if you play a game behind closed doors you don't want people watching. 

If your ok with people watching online/tv why not let us fans go?

I think it's because it costs more to allow spectators when you hire a ground because of paying for stadium security, ticket booths etc.
The Greek FA understandably don't consider NZ much of a draw.
Surely a few Greece supporters would have turned up though.
Cost cutting has been a feature of Greek football for years.
I remember that when Kosta had his season at Panathinaikos a decade ago, his club was in such dire financial straits that they couldn't afford to play night matches due to the cost of paying for floodlights and a vast unpaid electricity bill ! 

No Woodsman?

Getting to work in Greece 🔥 pic.twitter.com/y9ebL9HEtR

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) November 15, 2023