All Whites vs Ecuador | Wed 19th Nov | 2:30pm (NZT) | Sports Illustrated Stadium, (Harrison, New Jersey, USA)

AucklandPhoenix

Caicedo is the best defensive midfielder in the premiership.

So, yes, he would make the top premiership team. So in the top 10 players, excluding the goal keeper.

He isn't. 

And that also isn't how the top 10 players in a league works.

Of that below list of predicted Pot 3 teams I reckon we could sneak a win or draw against everyone except Norway. Watch the Scots on here explode!

That's us at complete full strength, no one unavailable.

Not sure how accurate this article is as it has Australia in Pot 2, when I understand they will actually be in Pot 3 now.

https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/which-pot-could-each-team-be-in-for-the-2026-world-cup-draw-confirmed-pots-predictions-how-it-works

Pot 3 - 12 teams total
Norway
Panama
Egypt
Algeria
Scotland
Paraguay
Ivory Coast
Tunisia
Qatar
Uzbekistan
Saudi Arabia
South Africa

People should be taking into account that we had 2 less days in between our games than Ecuador did. Their trip from Toronto to New Jersey was also much shorter than our trip across the States.

You want a team of strikers huh?

And he is - there is no one close 

Buffon II

AucklandPhoenix

Caicedo is the best defensive midfielder in the premiership.

So, yes, he would make the top premiership team. So in the top 10 players, excluding the goal keeper.

He isn't. 

And that also isn't how the top 10 players in a league works.

Rodri is levels above him or any other defensive midfielder.

Top 10 players has nothing to do with a best 11. They are completely different things.

This article looks a bit more correct re predicted Pot 3 teams. A much tougher looking Pot 3.
Still a number of sides we could beat, but yeah will need some luck with the draw.

We need the underdog UEFA nations to win in next March's UEFA WC Playoffs!!
Sorry NZP but we want Italy to miss out again.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2026-world-cup-projected-group-stage-draw-pots

Nation FIFA Member Association

The simple fact that Ecquador have only conceeded 3 goals since November 24, speaks volmes to hopw good they are defensively!
They've not lost a game in that time, with two 1-1 draws and a 2-1 win ebing the only times they've conceeded.
Scoruing today was always going to be tough, winning probably was never on the cards, playing well and forcing an excellent team to work hard to create decent chances would have been the goal - and for the most aprt we succeeded.
If the cards fall our way and we play well in our pool we could come away with points, like did in 2010, forcing Italy to fight for a draw.
Will we win one? maybe, anything s possible.

It would be nice to win a couple though huh? 

But again there’s no point in us beating Malaysia or another equivalent team 4-0 every window right? 

We can’t pick players who aren’t playing and don’t have fitness. Look at the difference it’s made for Singh. 

martinb

It would be nice to win a couple though huh? 

But again there’s no point in us beating Malaysia or another equivalent team 4-0 every window right? 

We can’t pick players who aren’t playing and don’t have fitness. Look at the difference it’s made for Singh. 

Probably wouldn't do the confidence any harm to play one "easy" and one "hard" match in a two match window. 

Anyone clipped Crocombe’s saves yet? 

There are a lot of unrealistic people dissing this AW team because we got beaten 2:0 by Ecuador.  Honestly.  Sure, I even would like us to win the World Cup, but we won't.  I am pleased with the excellent progress by global standards that we have achieved over the last, what 15? 10? 5? years.
There was a lot of useful time on the field for the less experienced guys to be exposed to a game (and the crowd) at the level likely to be experienced by them next year. 
Overall Ecuador was not pressured enough by us, not because we are pants but because their whole team had greater ball awareness and much faster transition time, with a less patient buildup. Their passes would stick every time. Their missed passes were always (usually) recovered. Their lucky bounces always went well for them and not for us. That is not because we are poor, that is because they were very good and not overly physical, just faster and fluid. But that is the reality of the global football stage. We might beat some of the low ranked teams regardless, but Ecuador are not that poor.
Agree with others that our depth is the biggest concern.  Team selection by Baze puzzled me.  Blind Freddy could see by 45 minutes all that was ever needed to be seen about Waine's current form. Talk about flogging a dead horse till 70th or 80th minute - what for?  On his current form Waine may not get an easy contract even in the A-League.  Old and Kosta could do more together, and Randall could have been subbed on earlier.  This would give us all a chance to see a potential playing combo in real life situation.  
It was nice to see Owen Parker Price to get onto the field, but at 26 I am not sure if Swedish second division is the right place for him. Quality of football in Sweden is, currently, terrible.  

theprof

The simple fact that Ecquador have only conceeded 3 goals since November 24, speaks volmes to hopw good they are defensively!
They've not lost a game in that time, with two 1-1 draws and a 2-1 win ebing the only times they've conceeded.
Scoruing today was always going to be tough, winning probably was never on the cards, playing well and forcing an excellent team to work hard to create decent chances would have been the goal - and for the most aprt we succeeded.
If the cards fall our way and we play well in our pool we could come away with points, like did in 2010, forcing Italy to fight for a draw.
Will we win one? maybe, anything s possible.

 Who knows, on their current form, if Italy qualifies they might be worried about playing us :-)

martinb

It would be nice to win a couple though huh? 

But again there’s no point in us beating Malaysia or another equivalent team 4-0 every window right? 

We can’t pick players who aren’t playing and don’t have fitness. Look at the difference it’s made for Singh. 

of course it weould be nice to win against the teams above us, but in all honesty I think we need to acknowledge the vast difference in quality in teams ranked in the top 25 compared to a team ranked 85!

Ecuador fans are not too happy. After the victory against New Zealand, these were some of the comments from fans on X: “Beccacece is a disgrace, he should leave the national team. We should have thrashed New Zealand 10-0; they're not playing any kind of football” was the top comment, along with “It's terrible how hard this team is to create scoring opportunities, and it's all Beccacece's fault. This match with a serious coach would have ended in a rout.” “It's not right that we're going to the World Cup with Beccacece…”.. high expectations of those El Tri fans! Watch the space there I guess 

They’ve had a record of clean sheets- including 5 nil all draws this year! Probably more games not captured on my app. 

Their last game was 0-0 draw against 10 man Canada. 

It’s probably not just us causing their issues. But yeh they thought we’d be OFC opponents or at least Malaysia…

I'm ok with the result. After the Colombia game I had higher hopes, but I believe I am a tad more realistic on here than some of my fellow posters.

We are a much better team now than when Baz took over. And I hope he can squeeze out a little more come the world cup. Today we were a little flat on attack. That sucks, but the opposition has the best defense in world footy currently, so a little perspective helps with my glum mood.

We will be competative at the upcoming WC - if I was offered that after missing the last WC, I would of taken it in a heartbeat. 

Re us being competitive, I admire your optimism. The fact is we've just played two top Sth American teams in a non-competitive context. It's quite likely that in a WC context they would have destroyed us. But I still hope for miracles...

The shape wasnt working today- we had very isolated wingers who, on countless occasions, had no option but to dribble and try and take on 2 players of greater stature. Just and Old got momstered oit of the game and rarely had a passing option into midfield or Waine. 

Was Marco playing too deep? He seemed of the pace tonight (irrespective of the mistake that led to the goal). Felt like we couodnt transition and kept outting oursleves under pressure by losing the ball. 

Waine was isolated and feeding off scraps. 

It did feel like men v boys physically out there. 

Today i would have inverter a winger and played 4-2-2-2 once it became clear we couldnt keep the ball wide and were getting isloated. Our guys needed to keep the ball amd i felt we were too spread out up top. 

Crocome is a great shot stopper, good to see bindon back. Garbett is almost picking himself for his mongrel and athletecism - he doesnt seem like a good substitute for some reason..

Overall a poor result beacuse that felt loke watchimg the all whites  from 15-20 years ago without Wood or Killen up top to at least hold the ball Up.. 

It is perhaps a little worrying that we are so incredibly wedded to one setup. Makes us easy to predict and coach against

Thought Ecuador played with an intensity and focus that we haven't come across for some time.

And how good is their black away kit, a special edition referencing their first international where they played in black.
https://www.footyheadlines.com/2025/11/ecuador-2025-special-kit.html

Ecuador were excellent. Very swift in every way and good on anticipation and intercepts. We looked leaden footed. Subs were too late to make an impact. Not sure there was a real chance to see who might step up in a major wc injury situation because not many back up players were given enough minutes to demonstrate their capability. Meanwhile starters looked exhausted before they were subbed

JasperNix

The shape wasnt working today- we had very isolated wingers who, on countless occasions, had no option but to dribble and try and take on 2 players of greater stature. Just and Old got momstered oit of the game and rarely had a passing option into midfield or Waine. 

Was Marco playing too deep? He seemed of the pace tonight (irrespective of the mistake that led to the goal). Felt like we couodnt transition and kept outting oursleves under pressure by losing the ball. 

Waine was isolated and feeding off scraps. 

It did feel like men v boys physically out there. 

Today i would have inverter a winger and played 4-2-2-2 once it became clear we couldnt keep the ball wide and were getting isloated. Our guys needed to keep the ball amd i felt we were too spread out up top. 

Crocome is a great shot stopper, good to see bindon back. Garbett is almost picking himself for his mongrel and athletecism - he doesnt seem like a good substitute for some reason..

Overall a poor result beacuse that felt loke watchimg the all whites  from 15-20 years ago without Wood or Killen up top to at least hold the ball Up.. 

100% this.  

By NZ standards our midfield and Garbett/Singh/Just/Old/McCowatt are great technically and can play nicer football, but we're still going to be underdogs in any World Cup match and IMO would have a better chance of sneaking a result launching it to 2010 Fallon/Killen/Smeltz than trying to get our current attackers in enough space to create something for a double/triple-teamed Wood (let alone Waine/Kosta/Randall/Mata/de Jong).

Jessie Merino

Re us being competitive, I admire your optimism. The fact is we've just played two top Sth American teams in a non-competitive context. It's quite likely that in a WC context they would have destroyed us. But I still hope for miracles...

Non competitive... this close to being selected for a WC squad, do you think for one moment anyone is wanting to slip up. Have a bad game and give someone else a sniff. Not a chance. People are playing to go to the biggest show in the world. No way they are taking any opportunity for granted.

Jessie Merino

Re us being competitive, I admire your optimism. The fact is we've just played two top Sth American teams in a non-competitive context. It's quite likely that in a WC context they would have destroyed us. But I still hope for miracles...

For sure these are just friendlies and you would expect all of Australia, Poland, Norway (a quantum leap just by having Haaland start), Colombia and Ecuador to be better at a World Cup.

But so will we. We had 6-8 starters not playing today. It might actually be us rather than the Ecuadoreans who improve the most from today's game come next June.

Plus they may have been friendlies with yes the opposition rotating squads, but anyone who played us from those teams who is not an automatic selection, would have been desperate to play well to earn WC selection. 
 
I'm not really convinced the other teams ever totally 'take their foot off the gas', even when dominating like today.

Praline

Ecuador were excellent. Very swift in every way and good on anticipation and intercepts. We looked leaden footed. Subs were too late to make an impact. Not sure there was a real chance to see who might step up in a major wc injury situation because not many back up players were given enough minutes to demonstrate their capability. Meanwhile starters looked exhausted before they were subbed

6-8 backups started today. 

The guys coming off the bench like Parker-Price, McGarry and Randall are all backups to the backups. None of those 3 may even earn WC selection.
ADJ (zero mins this window) ain't going that's clear.

We will have a (much) stronger WC squad than this window, as Bazeley won't have to juggle club verus country issues, and there will be a 3-4 week window between the Euro club football season finishing and the WC kicking off. 

As a barometer nearly all the guys out with niggles at the moment will be playing in the next 2-3 weeks. Perhaps Payne excepted.

Rusty Dunks

martinb

It would be nice to win a couple though huh? 

But again there’s no point in us beating Malaysia or another equivalent team 4-0 every window right? 

We can’t pick players who aren’t playing and don’t have fitness. Look at the difference it’s made for Singh. 

Probably wouldn't do the confidence any harm to play one "easy" and one "hard" match in a two match window. 

Not to mention the world ranking.  Points go up if you win, points go down if you lose.  If we keep losing honourably to good teams, our points and ranking go down.

Lets wait for the draw before making exact predictions shall we? We could of beaten both Colombia and Norway most recently.

Buffon II

Napier Phoenix

Fudge, tough crowd. I have seen enough from this team to fancy our chances of getting a result or two at the WC. Were people realistically expecting us to win today?

Against who from the teams we can draw?

Throw some names out there.

We can beat all of those teams.

coochiee

Of that below list of predicted Pot 3 teams I reckon we could sneak a win or draw against everyone except Norway. Watch the Scots on here explode!

That's us at complete full strength, no one unavailable.

Not sure how accurate this article is as it has Australia in Pot 2, when I understand they will actually be in Pot 3 now.

https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/which-pot-could-each-team-be-in-for-the-2026-world-cup-draw-confirmed-pots-predictions-how-it-works

Pot 3 - 12 teams total
Norway
Panama
Egypt
Algeria
Scotland
Paraguay
Ivory Coast
Tunisia
Qatar
Uzbekistan
Saudi Arabia
South Africa

Napier Phoenix

Fudge, tough crowd. I have seen enough from this team to fancy our chances of getting a result or two at the WC. Were people realistically expecting us to win today?

As much as I think we currently have the best 20 odd players ever available to the AWs (give or take a striker or two), I’m not confident in us not conceding soft goals and losing as has happened this window.

A soft goal stopped us qualifying for the last REAL WC in Qatar and at least one of the two goals against Colombia should have been stopped. I really can’t see us getting anything unless we end up in a group with Scotland, Caribbean islands/African Islands etc.

Napier Phoenix

We can beat all of those teams.

coochiee

Of that below list of predicted Pot 3 teams I reckon we could sneak a win or draw against everyone except Norway. Watch the Scots on here explode!

That's us at complete full strength, no one unavailable.

Not sure how accurate this article is as it has Australia in Pot 2, when I understand they will actually be in Pot 3 now.

https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/which-pot-could-each-team-be-in-for-the-2026-world-cup-draw-confirmed-pots-predictions-how-it-works

Pot 3 - 12 teams total
Norway
Panama
Egypt
Algeria
Scotland
Paraguay
Ivory Coast
Tunisia
Qatar
Uzbekistan
Saudi Arabia
South Africa

Norway just beat Italy 4-1 in Milan this window.

I get your point there will be some teams in Pot 3 that with luck we could beat.
Norway at full strength is not one of them.

Marto

Napier Phoenix

Fudge, tough crowd. I have seen enough from this team to fancy our chances of getting a result or two at the WC. Were people realistically expecting us to win today?

As much as I think we currently have the best 20 odd players ever available to the AWs, I’m not confident in us not conceding soft goals and losing as has happened this window.

A soft goal stopped us qualifying for the last REAL WC in Qatar and at least one of the two goals against Colombia should have been stopped. I really can’t see us getting anything unless we end up in a group with Scotland, Caribbean islands/African Islands etc.

AWs without clearly their best two full backs this window in Payne & Cacace. 
I doubt that 2nd Colombian goal happens if they are on the park.

With Wrexham they have a noticeable poorer defensive record when Libby doesn't play, compared to when he does.

Napier Phoenix

Lets wait for the draw before making exact predictions shall we? We could of beaten both Colombia and Norway most recently.

Buffon II

Napier Phoenix

Fudge, tough crowd. I have seen enough from this team to fancy our chances of getting a result or two at the WC. Were people realistically expecting us to win today?

Against who from the teams we can draw?

Throw some names out there.

A very understrength Norway.

We don’t get close to their best 11 at the moment. They have obliterated their qualifying group.

I think the one thing that the last game illustrated is how easy our midfield two got overrun in a 4,2,3,1 system.

It also illustrated that with Just and Old, while both have a bit of speed and try their hardest in defence, they are both lightweight and their pace is nothing special at this level.

Which basically means when everyone is back the best system is 4,3,2,1, with Thomas, Marko and Bell in midfield, Singh and McCowatt above with wood at the top.

I really hope in the next window that this is put in place as it is not to late to implement.

It also has the advantage of getting the best players on the pitch.

Hopefully Bazely has learned what he needs to with these two games. We get our setup at its peak and have our best XI on the park then we can push for solid draws or steal a win or two.
Our chances of points in my opinion.

Norway - unlikely
Panama - possible
Egypt - sure if we play super well
Algeria - a game to target
Scotland - another game to target
Paraguay - possible
Ivory Coast - would be tough
Tunisia - tough again
Qatar - definitely possible
Uzbekistan - sure
Saudi Arabia - definitely possible
South Africa - possible

For what's it's worth, Ecuador's starting 11 for their 1-0 win against Argentina in September. Their last WC qualifier, so presumably very close to full strength.

Hernán Galindez (Huracán, Argentina), Piero Hincapié (Arsenal, England), Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge, Belgium), Willan Pacho (PSG, France), Ángelo Preciado (Sparta Prague, Czechia), Pedro Vite (UNAM, Mexico), Nilson Angulo (Anderlecht, Belgium), Alan Franco (Atlético Mineiro , Brazil), Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea, England), Enner Valencia (Pachuca, Mexico), Gonzalo Plata (Flamengo, Brazil).


Their team for yesterday's 2-0 win over NZ.

Hernán Galindez, Joel Ordóñez, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié, Moisés Caicedo, Nilson Angulo (Alan Minda 82′), Pedro Vite (Jordy Alcivar 75′), Alan Franco (Denil Castillo 37′), John Yeboah (John Marcado 75′), Leonardo Campana, Gonzalo Plata.

9 guys started both matches. This was apart from veteran Valencia missing, likely very close to Ecuador's top team running out yesterday. Their coach Beccacece probably felt the pressure to beat the 86th team in the world after so many scoreless draws, so took no risks.
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/11/19/ecuador-coach-feels-the-heat-ahead-of-friendly-against-new-zealand/

We on the other hand had 6-8 starters missing.

Did we play any better without Chris Wood? 
This is the same question that Poles were asking whether their team plays better without Lewandowski.  The consensus as far as I could see in the readers 'comments in Polish press was "it depends which Lewandowski runs out onto the park".  In the last qualifier Poland played against Malta he was the provider, rather than the scorer, which was noticeable.  
But Poland has competent strikers galore. Meanwhile, I would argue that against Ecuador we were missing McCowatt who might have done better than Waine.

in general terms I would say we are better with Wood on the park, however I think sometimes we can get a little carried away with the get the ball to Wood via a cross tactic. If we utilised the through ball more often and surprised teams with that and the occasional cross to Wood I think we'd do better. Wood is not a one trick pony he can score with his feet and head.

We need the Wood and Singh double act, on song next June.

Sarpreet threads a beautiful little pass to put Wood in at Canberra. Izzo saves. One of 2-3 big chances the Woodsman failed to convert that night.

Singh can play that lovely ball. I think it was him who also put Barba in on goal against Colombia, a classy swift team counter. Kosta a bit unlucky the ball squirmed under their keeper but not into the net.

Wood of late often seems to be playing with niggles when with the AWs, or just a bit off his game like that night in Canberra.

But if he's injury free heading into the WC, gets a good 2-3 weeks of solid prep in AWs camp in the lead in, I'm optimistic he can finally produce a big moment/goal in a national team shirt. He'll want it badly on the big stage. He so nearly did it against Costa Rica.

If he's niggle free he should feel pretty fresh next June. It's like he's hardly played the last few months at Forest. Finges & toes. Rabbit's foot.