Nice friendly KO time on a Sunday. A reminder that the 2026 WC is going to suit us well. Book in your month of leave now, 2 years in advance!
Imagine AWs squad will be named late next week, or early the following week.
USA is the 2nd game on the tour in Cincinnati. Almost a quad tourney, with the Americans playing Canada first, and then the Mexico get the Canadians in their 2nd game - who after Dronegate are obviously running scared of all things NZ football.
Going to ignore the weakened squad that was picked for Vanuatu, and look at the last near full strength squad named back in March for that tourney in Egypt.
This was the 24 man squad initially named for the March games (Egypt & Tunisia).
Imagine AWs squad will be named late next week, or early the following week.
USA is the 2nd game on the tour in Cincinnati. Almost a quad tourney, with the Americans playing Canada first, and then the Mexico get the Canadians in their 2nd game - who after Dronegate are obviously running scared of all things NZ football.
Going to ignore the weakened squad that was picked for Vanuatu, and look at the last near full strength squad named back in March for that tourney in Egypt.
This was the 24 man squad initially named for the March games (Egypt & Tunisia).
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Oli Sail
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Dane Ingham, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman
Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Clayton Lewis, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Elijah Just, Max Mata, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
Wood, Bell & Payne pulled out with injury. Alex Rufer the sole replacement bought in, so it became an actual 22 man squad.
Wood, Bell & Payne pulled out with injury. Alex Rufer the sole replacement bought in, so it became an actual 22 man squad.
Guess at a 24 man squad for the Mexico & USA games.
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Nik Tzanev/Kees Sims/Henry Gray
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Dalton Wilkins, James McGarry, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Bill Tuiloma, Finn Surman
Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Matt Dibley-Dias, Alex Rufer, Ben Old, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Callum McCowatt, Max Mata, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
So changes from initially named March squad -
Ins - 3rd GK, Wilkins, McGarry, Tuiloma, Dibley-Dias, Rufer
Outs - Sail, Ingham, LK-H, Tommy Smith, Lewis, Just
Still unavailable - Thomas
ALM players Bazeley decides to leave with their clubs in pre season - Sail, LKH, Sutton etc
Uncertainty cloud - Surman, Boxall & Tuiloma with MLS games maybe being played through the window. Same Crocs and MD-D in League One, fighting for their club spots, and L1 playing through the window. No worries re Bindon
Outside bets - Liam Gillion & Jesse Randall
Can see where is 2 similar players who ain't likely to be in the run on 11, Bazeley will choose a Northern Hemisphere based player, over one in ALM pre season.
So I'm guessing the likes of Tuiloma, McGarry will make it, ahead of ALM players like Smith & Sutton. Same with Sail who looks to be in a battle to save his future at the Glory with the Birighitti rumours. What's the point of Sail going to the US for GK training drills. Might as well take a youngster like Sims or Gray.
But Paulsen, Payne, Rufer & Kosta could well be starters (especially the first 2 guys) so can see Bazeley wanting them to tour. Mata the most like for like Wood back up, and the Woodsman has missed a number of AWs games in the last year.
Eli Just I drop him, because he's going to Austrian pub football!
But he likely stays in, and one of MD-D, Rufer or Mata drops out.
Mexico's last game a 0-0 draw verus Ecuador at the Copa America. They failed to get out of their Group.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/07/01/south-america/copa-america/mexico/ecuador/4275155/
Edit - just realised I've included 5 CBs (Bindon was more a RB selection in March), so take out Pijnaker or Tuiloma. But any of the 3 MLS CBs maybe unavailable for these 2 AWs games, as that comp gets to the pointy end. Also Pijnaker is playing well in the LOI, he gives that left footed CB option, and here's hoping a move to a higher league is not far off.