All Whites vs Curaçao | Sun 10th October | 5:00am | SS7

Stefan Marinovic (25 Caps) Hapoel Nof HaGalil, Israel
Nikola Tzanev (1 Cap) AFC Wimbledon, England
Michael Woud (2 Caps) Almere City FC, Netherlands
Michael Boxall (33 Caps) Minnesota United, USA
Nikko Boxall (3 Caps) SJK Seinäjoki, Finland
Liberato Cacace (3 Caps) Sint-Truidense VV, Belgium
Kelvin Kalua* (0 Caps) Eastern Suburbs, New Zealand (currently on trial in Europe)

Niko Kirwan (0 Caps) Padova, Italy
Nando Pijnaker (1 Cap) FC Helsingør, Denmark
Tommy Smith (38 Caps) Colchester United, England
Bill Tuiloma (26 Caps) Portland Timbers, USA
Dalton Wilkins* (0 Caps) Kolding IF, Denmark

Joe Bell (2 Caps) Viking FK, Norway

Joseph Champness* (0 Caps) Giresunspor, Turkey

Matthew Garbett* (0 Caps) Torino, Italy
Sarpreet Singh (6 Caps) SSV Jahn Regensburg, Germany
Marko Stamenic* (0 Caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Andre de Jong (4 Caps) AmaZulu FC, South Africa
Elijah Just (2 Caps) FC Helsingør, Denmark
Callum McCowatt (1 Cap) FC Helsingør, Denmark
Chris Wood (57 Caps) Burnley FC, England

Should be able to put together a decent starting XI but the drop off after that is pretty huge.

Who is Kelvin?

having not seen Curacao play, I'm completely at a loss as to what Im expecting to see. We'll be scratchy for sure, but I have no idea what level we are facing here.

theprof

having not seen Curacao play, I'm completely at a loss as to what Im expecting to see. We'll be scratchy for sure, but I have no idea what level we are facing here.

Big Pete provided a very good summary of the potential Curacao team in All Whites 2021 International Matches thread. They will have some of the same problems re Covid travel restrictions, and likely player availability with any guys playing in CONCACAF comps incl the MLS. It's a long trip from North America to Bahrain.

But from Big Pete's summary, a team much better than you would expect, with a host of players in the Netherlands and UK. Unlucky not to make the final stage CONCACAF WC qualifying phase, losing 2 legged playoff to Panama 2-1.

FIFA ranking 79. 

Lets all hope they pick Roly B.

theprof

having not seen Curacao play, I'm completely at a loss as to what Im expecting to see. We'll be scratchy for sure, but I have no idea what level we are facing here.

Don't know much about them football wise, although being apart of the 'Dutch Carribean' along with Aruba and Bonaire, the majority of their recent squads have a heavy Dutch influence. I suspect from this that they'll be quick and technically very, very good. 

Aside from the Dutch connection, and based on recent call-ups they've got smatterings of players all over Europe - Sweden, Belgium, UK, Portugal, Germany, and then a few who ply their trades in the USA or the Middle East. So aside from the large contingent of Dutch based players at their disposal, it's not too dissimilar to the make up of our own squad. 

Will be interesting that's for sure. Probably the match I'm looking forward to most of the two. Now to find and shake the dust out of my AW's top.

I'll be at the game, who knows I might bump into Taylor there too given UAE is right next door!

Why isn't Ryan Thomas in the squad.
International window.
And he's not getting much game time at PSV at the moment.
Would have though a decent run out for NZ would be good to get some match fitness into him?

Ranix

Why isn't Ryan Thomas in the squad.
International window.
And he's not getting much game time at PSV at the moment.
Would have though a decent run out for NZ would be good to get some match fitness into him?

Reasoning was to stay and prove to the manager he can hold a spot at PSV, because he’s probably fourth choice at DM when everyone’s fit, but I don’t reckon there’s much more he’ll gain from staying at training in a reduced load 10 day international break, then he has in the 3 years he’s been at PSV. It’s not like he’s always heading off as well, he’s played once for the AWs since signing for PSV. Means the midfield is pretty light for two games in 4 days, as there are only 4 central midfielders and one of them is playing U19 football (aka get ready for 5-4-1)

Shame. Seems like an odd decision. International window and all.
Must be more bigger picture stuff going on at PSV I guess.

Ranix

Shame. Seems like an odd decision. International window and all.
Must be more bigger picture stuff going on at PSV I guess.

From afar Thomas could well be fighting for his future at PSV. A heap of midfield competition at the club, with rumours of being loaned out, and if that happened he may never return to the heights of being at a 'big' club like PSV.

He's been fighting a succession of less serious injuries, since returning from 18 mths out with his bad ACL. He may spend as much time each day at PSV in the gym strengthening his body with the club trainer, as much as on the training field.

Hay also mentioned that he didn't currently like being away from wife and 2 young kids, but that he was a Fifa window by window proposition, ie he maybe available for the Nov window.

His absence gives someone like Stamenic an opportunity, esp since Marko unfortunately didn't play much at the Olympics.

Curaçao smashed neighbouring Aruba 7-1 a few days ago in the local annual ABCS Tournament for the Dutch Caribbean islands Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Suriname. Hosted by Curaçao this year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABCS_Tournament#2021_ABCS_Tournament
The final is today between Curaçao and Bonaire.
Curaçao have only used players playing locally in this competition.
I guess they will select a different squad to face the All Whites.
Curaçao Football Federation Facebook for upcoming squad announcement for the matches in Bahrain:
https://www.facebook.com/Federashonfutbolkorsou/
The name they themselves use for their country is actually "Korsou"
They use a language called Papiamentu, a Portuguese and Spanish-based creole language with Dutch influence.
e.g. "Lamentabelmente nos selekshon nashonal kategoria U-20 a kai vensí kontra Boneiru i lo mira akshon mañan kontra e ekipo pèrdèdó di e partido di nos selekshon senior i Aruba ku ta tumando lugá awor aki ku Kòrsou dilanti ku skor di 2-0!"

Not that it means anything, but you are my favourite person on this forum! Love the detail and effort you put into posts. You are like a better, up to date, NZ football version of Wiki.

Big Pete 65

Curaçao smashed neighbouring Aruba 7-1 a few days ago in the local annual ABCS Tournament for the Dutch Caribbean islands Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Suriname. Hosted by Curaçao this year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABCS_Tournament#2021_ABCS_Tournament
The final is today between Curaçao and Bonaire.
Curaçao have only used players playing locally in this competition.
I guess they will select a different squad to face the All Whites.
Curaçao Football Federation Facebook for upcoming squad announcement for the matches in Bahrain:
https://www.facebook.com/Federashonfutbolkorsou/
The name they themselves use for their country is actually "Korsou"
They use a language called Papiamentu, a Portuguese and Spanish-based creole language with Dutch influence.
e.g. "Lamentabelmente nos selekshon nashonal kategoria U-20 a kai vensí kontra Boneiru i lo mira akshon mañan kontra e ekipo pèrdèdó di e partido di nos selekshon senior i Aruba ku ta tumando lugá awor aki ku Kòrsou dilanti ku skor di 2-0!"

siac

Not that it means anything, but you are my favourite person on this forum! Love the detail and effort you put into posts. You are like a better, up to date, NZ football version of Wiki.

Big Pete 65

Curaçao smashed neighbouring Aruba 7-1 a few days ago in the local annual ABCS Tournament for the Dutch Caribbean islands Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Suriname. Hosted by Curaçao this year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABCS_Tournament#2021_ABCS_Tournament
The final is today between Curaçao and Bonaire.
Curaçao have only used players playing locally in this competition.
I guess they will select a different squad to face the All Whites.
Curaçao Football Federation Facebook for upcoming squad announcement for the matches in Bahrain:
https://www.facebook.com/Federashonfutbolkorsou/
The name they themselves use for their country is actually "Korsou"
They use a language called Papiamentu, a Portuguese and Spanish-based creole language with Dutch influence.
e.g. "Lamentabelmente nos selekshon nashonal kategoria U-20 a kai vensí kontra Boneiru i lo mira akshon mañan kontra e ekipo pèrdèdó di e partido di nos selekshon senior i Aruba ku ta tumando lugá awor aki ku Kòrsou dilanti ku skor di 2-0!"

 you mean a better version of nzfootball, never mind the wiki bit.

Curacao finally named their squad for the two games, and does indeed feature Roly Bonevacia who makes the short trip over from Kuwait. Team looks on paper pretty decent, with a lot of players at higher levels than the AWs. There’s a few high quality Dutch/Curacao dual-nats that aren’t there, like Man Utd loanee Tahith Chong, Armando Obispo who is teammates with Ryan Thomas at PSV, Riechedly Bazoer who has 8 Dutch caps though still eligible to change to Curacao and Tyrell Malacia of Feyenoord, who were all named in their preliminary Gold Cup squad, though they are all not yet willing to commit themselves to Curacao over the Netherlands.

1 ZEUS DE LA PAZ (Oakland Roots - USL)

2 CUCO MARTINA (unattached)

3. BRADLEY MARTIS (Celje- Slovenian PrvaLiga)

5. SUENTLY ALBERTO (Pandurii - Romanian Liga III)

6. NATHAN HOLDER (Groningen U21)

7. JUNINHO BACUNA (Glasgow Rangers)

8. VURNON ANITA (RKC Waalwijk - Eredivisie)

9. RANGELO JANGA (Apollon Limassol - Cypriot Premier League)

10. LEANDRO BACUNA (Cardiff City - Championship)

11. GEVARO NEPOMUCENO (Dinamo Bucharest - Romanian Liga I)

12 SHANON CARMELIA (USV Heracles - Netherlands fourth tier)

13. JURIEN GAARI (RKC Waalwijk - Eredivisie)

14. KENJI GORRE (Boavista - Portuguese Primeira Liga)

16. ROLY BONEVACIA (Al Tadamon - Kuwait Premier)

17. BRANDLEY KUWAS (Maccabi Tel Aviv - Israeli Ligat ha’Al)

18.ARENCHELO LEITO (PEC Zwolle U21)

19. GERVANE KASTANEER (PEC Zwolle - Eredivisie)

20. JARCHINIO ANTONIA (Breda - Dutch Eerstie Divisie)

21. AYRTON STATIE (Kozakken Boys - Dutch third tier)

22. TYRICK BODAK (PSV U21)

23. JEAN-MARC ANTERSIJN (Atlantic City - US fourth tier)

So a 3-5-2 AWs line up i guess. which will prob be 5-4-1 in the 1st half.

Perfect opponent I reckon, especially considering most of the football world is into WC qualifying. Well done NZF. 

Here's hoping Roly gets some mins.

Note Bahrain play Curacao first on Thursday morning 4am or 5am NZT.

So Roly won’t go 5,000 miles?

If our players were signed with some of those club teams we'd be pretty chuffed.  This could be a good even match up, hope we make the most of it :)

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/126588023/all-whites-v-curaao-a-meeting-of-two-of-world-footballs-more-eclectic-squads

Nice article

Good read, apart from this bit: "Curaçao, pronounced with a soft C"

WHICH C ANDREW?

Nelfoos

Good read, apart from this bit: "Curaçao, pronounced with a soft C"

WHICH C ANDREW?

Oops (the second one). 

Thanks also to carlind, who did the same thing I did but managed to spot that JEAN-MARC ANTERSIJN was now in the US fourth-tier, not the Swedish one.

andrewvoerman

Nelfoos

Good read, apart from this bit: "Curaçao, pronounced with a soft C"

WHICH C ANDREW?

Oops (the second one). 

Thanks also to carlind, who did the same thing I did but managed to spot that JEAN-MARC ANTERSIJN was now in the US fourth-tier, not the Swedish one.

And here I was saying "Suracow" like an idiot

Nelfoos

andrewvoerman

Nelfoos

Good read, apart from this bit: "Curaçao, pronounced with a soft C"

WHICH C ANDREW?

Oops (the second one). 

Thanks also to carlind, who did the same thing I did but managed to spot that JEAN-MARC ANTERSIJN was now in the US fourth-tier, not the Swedish one.

And here I was saying "Suracow" like an idiot

The first time I heard someone say it out loud I had to clarify exactly what country it was, as (going back to Bonevacia's time at the Phoenix) I had always clocked it as Kuracow.

Khalil Media

If our players were signed with some of those club teams we'd be pretty chuffed.  This could be a good even match up, hope we make the most of it :)

I think it will be a tough ask of us and any kind of result that’s not a loss will be a result.

The main purpose of these games is to bring in guys like M Boxall, Tuiloma & Singh who haven't been involved with the AWs/Olywhites since almost forever. Same Tzanev/Marinovic and Niko Kirwan. Any of whom could end up first picks in next year's big games.  

Hugely important they now get game time together with the guys who did well in Japan at the Olympics.

Results are secondary. Hay needs to work out his likely first 11 heading into 2022. Especially GK & RB. Plus yes build depth.

coochiee

Perfect opponent I reckon, especially considering most of the football world is into WC qualifying. Well done NZF. 

Here's hoping Roly gets some mins.

Note Bahrain play Curacao first on Thursday morning 4am or 5am NZT.

Anywhere we can find out what happened in the game this morning?

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

coochiee

Perfect opponent I reckon, especially considering most of the football world is into WC qualifying. Well done NZF. 

Here's hoping Roly gets some mins.

Note Bahrain play Curacao first on Thursday morning 4am or 5am NZT.

Anywhere we can find out what happened in the game this morning?

Bahrain won 4-0, all goals came in the second half

I've a actually been to Curaçao.. True story. But couldn't find a football top. I did buy one in Barbados which I wore at games while Ifill was still playing for us... 

Do we know if the 4Kingz will be open on Sunday for the game? Feels like it's too early for breakfast but too late for a night out... Don't have Sky and don't want to miss the first game in about 9 years 

Some dodgy playing out from Curaçao contributing to one of the goals

Our first #WPIOOTBGW or the October international window goes to [drum roll]…. Curaçao pic.twitter.com/TS4YwQbnMr

— When Playing It Out of the Back Goes Wrong (@wpiootbgw) October 6, 2021

newzealandpower

I've a actually been to Curaçao.. True story. But couldn't find a football top. I did buy one in Barbados which I wore at games while Ifill was still playing for us... 

Do we know if the 4Kingz will be open on Sunday for the game? Feels like it's too early for breakfast but too late for a night out... Don't have Sky and don't want to miss the first game in about 9 years 

Skysportnow are offering a $10 pass which gives access to both games...

IMG_0535.jpg 235.74 KB

You can watch the Bahrain–Curaçao match here if interested.

https://www.facebook.com/AllWhites/photos/pcb.10160086673497697/10160086672467697/

Smith looks lean. He should be super motivated as he knows, he'll have a real battle to keep his spot in a full strength AWs squad now. His chance to impress. Aside from M Boxall & Reid, CB spots (esp when you throw in Payne) wide wide open.

andrewvoerman

You can watch the Bahrain–Curaçao match here if interested.

Watched first 8 mins. Curacao actually hit the post at 4.30mins approx in.
0-0 until HT & 1-0 until 84 mins. So final 4-0 scoreline likely misleading.

Bit like AWs, Curacao have some guys at a high level, and then some down in 3rd-4th tier/U21 football. Some at even lower levels than the AWs.

So if Kluivert made a heap of subs as per normal in a friendly, their team that finished the game may have been a big drop in quality from the starters. He's likely experimenting too, as a fairly new coach (replaced Guus Hiddink this year), with no major CONCACAF comps again until 2023??

Bahrain on the other hand have the Arab Cup, coming up in December. So perhaps a bit more in serious mode currently, with less dabbling.

Edit - see Curacao started their big guns Bacuna bros & Anita. Roly didn't start.
https://www.sofascore.com/team/football/curacao/55827

New Zealand Football @NZ_Football

Keepers’ union
https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/1445919460905213955/photo/3

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/126617467/chris-wood-hoping-to-build-on-tokyo-olympics-as-all-whites-return-to-action

So Wilkins didn't get on the plane to Bahrain. Like Japan sounds like will be hothouse conditions, with mid half water breaks.

Draw for Intercontinental playoffs to be made later this month.

coochiee

https://www.facebook.com/AllWhites/photos/pcb.10160086673497697/10160086672467697/

Smith looks lean. He should be super motivated as he knows, he'll have a real battle to keep his spot in a full strength AWs squad now. His chance to impress. Aside from M Boxall & Reid, CB spots (esp when you throw in Payne) wide wide open.

He could end up at RB. He has played there before or at CB with M. Boxall at RB.

Given how important next year is I'd rather see Hay try those two at RB more then the other choices in Bahrain right now.  "Ricky Ball" might be the way to go (selecting our best XI and finding a formation to field them all).

I know some here would like depth to be built up but as I wait in the lounge at LHR to fly out to Bahrain, I want to see us win to justify the expense of flights, Covid tests etc.  Our last win (which I was at) was quite a long time ago.

C'mon you Whites, All Whites...

Marto

coochiee

https://www.facebook.com/AllWhites/photos/pcb.10160086673497697/10160086672467697/

Smith looks lean. He should be super motivated as he knows, he'll have a real battle to keep his spot in a full strength AWs squad now. His chance to impress. Aside from M Boxall & Reid, CB spots (esp when you throw in Payne) wide wide open.

He could end up at RB. He has played there before or at CB with M. Boxall at RB.

Given how important next year is I'd rather see Hay try those two at RB more then the other choices in Bahrain right now.  "Ricky Ball" might be the way to go (selecting our best XI and finding a formation to field them all).

I know some here would like depth to be built up but as I wait in the lounge at LHR to fly out to Bahrain, I want to see us win to justify the expense of flights, Covid tests etc.  Our last win (which I was at) was quite a long time ago.

C'mon you Whites, All Whites...

Good on ya for going to Bahrain. But the results ain't that important, and your personal travel spend to get there doesn't change that. After a 2 year hiatus they are just a couple of friendlies after all, so a rare opportunity for Hay to tinker, before the big games in 2022.

Kirwan deserves first crack at RB, and then a switch over to LB at some point  (as Wilkins is out) to give Cacace a spell. M Boxall (age 33) seems quicker than Smith (age 31), so after Kirwan I'd give Boxall snr mins there, plus I guess Kalua. Nikko Boxall might get a crack at RB as well, whilst Tuiloma has a pretty handy pass/cross on him.