Stamenic, Thomas & Bell together may still happen at the WC. Bell apparently had a calf niggle so not fully fit to start this game, and he'll have to start on Monday against Chile, a match Thomas will likely sit out.
He will be away from squad training at his sister's Te Puke wedding Saturday-Sunday, plus he has his own loading to manage to the end of the Eredivisie season with his dodgy hammys.
Really in a way it would have been better if the AWs had played 2 games in Europe this window, keeping the travel distances short for the key players in their squad. But hey from a PR perspective NZF want the AWs playing at home as often as they can.
Old with an honest assessment of the AWs effort tonight. It's games like this where I feel Garbett is missed, he's all heart and getting stuck in. Makes things happen. Follow me.
Agree big chance for Paulsen on Monday to grab the starting keeper role. He's playing for Lechia Gdansk, and from their last match highlights playing well. Crocs was decidedly average tonight. I found it depressing watching the Finns comfortably win ball after ball he pumped forward.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360950091/set-piece-blunder-costs-all-whites-against-finland-first-fifa-world-cup-send-match
Stamenić was partnered by Ryan Thomas at the base of midfield, as the wait to see both of them and Joe Bell on the pitch at the same time went on. Bazeley said Bell – one of eight substitutes used – had been managing a calf niggle and initially was set to sit the match out entirely.
While he was glad to have had a strong outing high up the pitch after weeks playing at left back for his club, Old was among those gutted not to have done better for the 17,603 fans in attendance.
He will be away from squad training at his sister's Te Puke wedding Saturday-Sunday, plus he has his own loading to manage to the end of the Eredivisie season with his dodgy hammys.
Really in a way it would have been better if the AWs had played 2 games in Europe this window, keeping the travel distances short for the key players in their squad. But hey from a PR perspective NZF want the AWs playing at home as often as they can.
Old with an honest assessment of the AWs effort tonight. It's games like this where I feel Garbett is missed, he's all heart and getting stuck in. Makes things happen. Follow me.
Agree big chance for Paulsen on Monday to grab the starting keeper role. He's playing for Lechia Gdansk, and from their last match highlights playing well. Crocs was decidedly average tonight. I found it depressing watching the Finns comfortably win ball after ball he pumped forward.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360950091/set-piece-blunder-costs-all-whites-against-finland-first-fifa-world-cup-send-match
Stamenić was partnered by Ryan Thomas at the base of midfield, as the wait to see both of them and Joe Bell on the pitch at the same time went on. Bazeley said Bell – one of eight substitutes used – had been managing a calf niggle and initially was set to sit the match out entirely.
While he was glad to have had a strong outing high up the pitch after weeks playing at left back for his club, Old was among those gutted not to have done better for the 17,603 fans in attendance.
“It just didn’t look like we wanted it enough,” was his analysis afterwards. “They looked like they were winning all the duels, winning all the chances – just simple things you need to do to win a game.
“We didn't have the quality, but I also don't think we had the fight that deserved to win the game.”
Bazeley said there had been “a lot of honesty” from the his players after a first half that wasn’t up to scratch.
“It hurts the players, because we all know this is a home game, with a good crowd.
“They wanted so hard to put on a performance and get a result, because we have done it pretty tough over the last year away from home, and this time we're the home team.
“They wanted so hard to put on a performance and get a result, because we have done it pretty tough over the last year away from home, and this time we're the home team.
“We should have that advantage, and we didn't take advantage of that.”
The All Whites suffered an injury blow when de Vries went off late in the first half after feeling tightness in his calf.
He was being assessed but it is hard to see him playing on Monday, with his next club match for Auckland FC in A-League Men as soon as next Friday night.
Lachlan Bayliss made his debut in the second half and released Old and Eli Just with a couple of nice first-time balls in midfield, but was left trailing goalscorer Oksanen as Finland put the match to bed.