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All Whites vs Finland | Fri 27th March | 7:00pm (NZT) | Eden Park

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Posted March 27, 2026 12:02 · last edited March 27, 2026 12:05

That Old nutmeg of FDV in the wet is worth a watch.
Listening to Old speak about his season at St Etienne the other day, his confidence does yes seem sky high. His game gone to another level maybe. Lets hope so.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360950088/all-whites-v-finland-all-you-need-know-about-fifa-series-friendly

What they’ve said
Darren Bazeley (All Whites coach): “Any game in football, across club football or international football, the home team has an advantage – the conditions, the crowd – and it's been tough for us. We travel a lot and play away games a lot and deal with crowds in the opposition's environments. We've got used to doing that, which has been good. We had the Australia home and away [matches, last September], which was a little bit different. But this is the first time, really, we've been able to play competitively ranked teams here in New Zealand. With the rankings of Finland and Chile, they're good competitive games that are going to be a challenge for us“.

Jacob Friis (Finland coach): “[Our players are] very excited to participate here. We, of course, talked with the players before we took the decision of going all the way out here. We have players that have been in the national team for many, many years, and they have never played against opponents outside Europe, so of course, it's a big experience for everybody, but we are coping fine. I don't have to play on the pitch, but I woke up five o'clock this morning – I never do that. If I do, then I fall asleep again. But this morning I didn't. So of course, there is a small adjustment, but it's something that it seems the players are coping really well with”.

Players to watch
Ben Old (All Whites): After weeks of playing left back for his club side, AS Saint-Étienne, in the French second-tier, the former Wellington Phoenix player will be eager to take on a more attacking role down that flank for his country. It is understood his hunger impressed the coaching staff when the All Whites had their only training on grass this (wet) week on Wednesday, which could help propel him into a starting spot. His confident mood was reflected in the fact he shared a video of himself nutmegging de Vries from training on Thursday on Instagram, writing: “Sorry ... but I had to”.

Joel Pohjanpalo (Finland): With former Norwich City star Teemu Pukki now retired as of last November, after scoring 43 goals in 133 appearances, Pohjanpalo, who plays for Palermo in Italy’s second-tier Serie B, is the leading scorer in Finland’s squad, with 18 goals in 82 appearances. Rangers winger Oliver Antman, with eight in 27, is the only other play to have scored more than once in their squad.

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coochiee edited March 27, 2026 12:05
That Old nutmeg of FDV in the wet is worth a watch.
Listening to Old speak about his season at St Etienne the other day, his confidence does yes seem sky high. His game gone to another level maybe.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360950088/all-whites-v-finland-all-you-need-know-about-fifa-series-friendly

What they’ve said
Darren Bazeley (All Whites coach): “Any game in football, across club football or international football, the home team has an advantage – the conditions, the crowd – and it's been tough for us. We travel a lot and play away games a lot and deal with crowds in the opposition's environments. We've got used to doing that, which has been good. We had the Australia home and away [matches, last September], which was a little bit different. But this is the first time, really, we've been able to play competitively ranked teams here in New Zealand. With the rankings of Finland and Chile, they're good competitive games that are going to be a challenge for us“.


Jacob Friis (Finland coach): “[Our players are] very excited to participate here. We, of course, talked with the players before we took the decision of going all the way out here. We have players that have been in the national team for many, many years, and they have never played against opponents outside Europe, so of course, it's a big experience for everybody, but we are coping fine. I don't have to play on the pitch, but I woke up five o'clock this morning – I never do that. If I do, then I fall asleep again. But this morning I didn't. So of course, there is a small adjustment, but it's something that it seems the players are coping really well with”.

Players to watch
Ben Old (All Whites): After weeks of playing left back for his club side, AS Saint-Étienne, in the French second-tier, the former Wellington Phoenix player will be eager to take on a more attacking role down that flank for his country. It is understood his hunger impressed the coaching staff when the All Whites had their only training on grass this (wet) week on Wednesday, which could help propel him into a starting spot. His confident mood was reflected in the fact he shared a video of himself nutmegging de Vries from training on Thursday on Instagram, writing: “Sorry ... but I had to”.


Joel Pohjanpalo (Finland): With former Norwich City star Teemu Pukki now retired as of last November, after scoring 43 goals in 133 appearances, Pohjanpalo, who plays for Palermo in Italy’s second-tier Serie B, is the leading scorer in Finland’s squad, with 18 goals in 82 appearances. Rangers winger Oliver Antman, with eight in 27, is the only other play to have scored more than once in their squad.
coochiee edited March 27, 2026 12:04
That Old nutmeg of FDV in the wet is worth a watch.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360950088/all-whites-v-finland-all-you-need-know-about-fifa-series-friendly

What they’ve said
Darren Bazeley (All Whites coach): “Any game in football, across club football or international football, the home team has an advantage – the conditions, the crowd – and it's been tough for us. We travel a lot and play away games a lot and deal with crowds in the opposition's environments. We've got used to doing that, which has been good. We had the Australia home and away [matches, last September], which was a little bit different. But this is the first time, really, we've been able to play competitively ranked teams here in New Zealand. With the rankings of Finland and Chile, they're good competitive games that are going to be a challenge for us“.

Jacob Friis (Finland coach): “[Our players are] very excited to participate here. We, of course, talked with the players before we took the decision of going all the way out here. We have players that have been in the national team for many, many years, and they have never played against opponents outside Europe, so of course, it's a big experience for everybody, but we are coping fine. I don't have to play on the pitch, but I woke up five o'clock this morning – I never do that. If I do, then I fall asleep again. But this morning I didn't. So of course, there is a small adjustment, but it's something that it seems the players are coping really well with”.

Players to watch
Ben Old (All Whites): After weeks of playing left back for his club side, AS Saint-Étienne, in the French second-tier, the former Wellington Phoenix player will be eager to take on a more attacking role down that flank for his country. It is understood his hunger impressed the coaching staff when the All Whites had their only training on grass this (wet) week on Wednesday, which could help propel him into a starting spot. His confident mood was reflected in the fact he shared a video of himself nutmegging de Vries from training on Thursday on Instagram, writing: “Sorry ... but I had to”.

Joel Pohjanpalo (Finland): With former Norwich City star Teemu Pukki now retired as of last November, after scoring 43 goals in 133 appearances, Pohjanpalo, who plays for Palermo in Italy’s second-tier Serie B, is the leading scorer in Finland’s squad, with 18 goals in 82 appearances. Rangers winger Oliver Antman, with eight in 27, is the only other play to have scored more than once in their squad.