https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350215922/all-whites-play-best-opponent-next-step-their-evolution
While a clash with the team ranked No 10 (Croatia) in the world by FIFA would have been a big deal for the All Whites, it’s not what they need right now.
While a clash with the team ranked No 10 (Croatia) in the world by FIFA would have been a big deal for the All Whites, it’s not what they need right now.
They would have found themselves defending like Tunisia, who mustered just 30% of possession and took four shots to 14, and they would have gained very little.
World No 103 New Zealand’s big work-on – the next step in their evolution, as coach Darren Bazeley and influential midfielder Sarpreet Singh put it after the defeat against Egypt – is turning the good football they are playing in the middle third and much of the attacking third into shots and goals.