A huge amount of that self belief came from Nelsen. A born leader. Playing at a level where he commanded massive respect. But with plenty of experienced able lieutenants in Brown, Elliott, Vicelich, Killen etc. Oh & Rory with god on his side, also with massive self belief, if often a bit over stretched.
This is a much younger team on average. The addition of Smith & Barba made it an older starting eleven against Tunisia, but it is still mostly a youngest team by international standards.
But I think they have a strong belief in themselves. Maybe the playing group drove Bazeley to ditch the back 3/5, as they rate themselves to play with 1 less CB? Apart from Sweden, and to a lesser extent the Socceroos games (Auckland & London), I don't remember the AWs being dominated for long periods, the last few years. The first half against Peru yes another occassion where were almost entirely on the back foot. But that was the team's first game post Covid with an actual crowd, and some like a young inexperienced Stamenic froze a bit in that first half (dragged at HT), in front of 35,000 loud intimidating Peruvian fans. Young players learn a shark load from those matches.
But this group have now played plenty of games together against teams ranked 25-70 in the world, where they have gone toe for toe in chances & possession numbers. I think they have belief. Fiesty Garbett shows it in spades. Many developing further with their clubs. Marko S, has now played about 8 big UCL games since Peru 2022. But yeah the team needs goals and wins to take the next step, otherwise the frustration of close but no cigar could get a little poisonous, and yeah some of that self belief erode.
How the Olywhites go at the Olympics will be very interesting. As that's a competitive tourney, with big crowds, lots of media and the French & Americans will have some excellent young players. NZ will need to be brave, and somehow find a way to score. Yet again we sooo badly need Singh to find the right club for him. Really him & Wood I see as the only players who can worry the world's best. I don't see many goals/assists from other sources against the bigger teams, even if Pep was in charge.
This is a much younger team on average. The addition of Smith & Barba made it an older starting eleven against Tunisia, but it is still mostly a youngest team by international standards.
But I think they have a strong belief in themselves. Maybe the playing group drove Bazeley to ditch the back 3/5, as they rate themselves to play with 1 less CB? Apart from Sweden, and to a lesser extent the Socceroos games (Auckland & London), I don't remember the AWs being dominated for long periods, the last few years. The first half against Peru yes another occassion where were almost entirely on the back foot. But that was the team's first game post Covid with an actual crowd, and some like a young inexperienced Stamenic froze a bit in that first half (dragged at HT), in front of 35,000 loud intimidating Peruvian fans. Young players learn a shark load from those matches.
But this group have now played plenty of games together against teams ranked 25-70 in the world, where they have gone toe for toe in chances & possession numbers. I think they have belief. Fiesty Garbett shows it in spades. Many developing further with their clubs. Marko S, has now played about 8 big UCL games since Peru 2022. But yeah the team needs goals and wins to take the next step, otherwise the frustration of close but no cigar could get a little poisonous, and yeah some of that self belief erode.
How the Olywhites go at the Olympics will be very interesting. As that's a competitive tourney, with big crowds, lots of media and the French & Americans will have some excellent young players. NZ will need to be brave, and somehow find a way to score. Yet again we sooo badly need Singh to find the right club for him. Really him & Wood I see as the only players who can worry the world's best. I don't see many goals/assists from other sources against the bigger teams, even if Pep was in charge.