All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams

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

144 replies · 266 views Pinned
about 19 hours ago
observerfromuh wrote:
tbh the ref has let a bit slide but no excuses. the commentators need to go too.
FIFA+.  Some Englander.  Was bloody awful too.
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about 19 hours ago
coochiee wrote:
We always seem to play poorly at Eden Park. Flat atmosphere.
Was a couple of mins there late first half, where Finland just held the ball, playing their little triangles. They are dominating the midfield.

Pohjanpalo  is a big unit and does have 21 goals in Serie B for Palermo this season. A well taken header, but a worry no one picked him up.

Two fairly evened matched teams, but AWs need to play better.
 Pohjanpal is playing in Serie B?!! I watched the game late and we made him look like prime Haaland. I should have gone to bed.
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about 18 hours ago · edited about 18 hours ago · History
Netzer wrote:
As I mentioned before   -that's what you get with "jobs for the boys" like the coaches (HC not even been in charge at NL level and AC v;Readings,Elliot - for real) with no idea/man management and/or tactical knowledge at international level- no surprise- DB will select the same players (Just,Tuiloma,Mac Cowatt etc) for the WC but not  performance based- not his fault to being completely out of his depth - NZF will never learn even with the best budget and squad ever available and an easy WC route and draw- for example like Australia appointed GH for the WC to have success 
NZF couldn't afford the wages of Guus Hiddink's brother let alone GH himself.
Your comments make little sense. Who actually deserves to get into the AWs ahead of Just & McCowatt. Name them.

This was a really disappointing poor performance. The worse by this AWs team in some time. The Socceroos game at Mt Smart last year (3-1 loss) was a pretty flat game, but this was even poorer.

Those matches aside this team has been producing some promising performances against top 50 sides, the last 2-3 years. Really need to see a response against Chile.

As per others, Bell starting will be a big help. And I'm hopeful Paulsen will offer more than Crocs, esp re trying to play out from the back.

But come the WC we need nearly all of Libby, Boxy, Singh, Garbs plus Wood fit and ready to go, otherwise it could be bleak watching.
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about 18 hours ago · edited about 18 hours ago · History
djtim3000 wrote:
 coochiee wrote:
We always seem to play poorly at Eden Park. Flat atmosphere.
Was a couple of mins there late first half, where Finland just held the ball, playing their little triangles. They are dominating the midfield.

Pohjanpalo  is a big unit and does have 21 goals in Serie B for Palermo this season. A well taken header, but a worry no one picked him up.

Two fairly evened matched teams, but AWs need to play better.
 Pohjanpal is playing in Serie B?!! I watched the game late and we made him look like prime Haaland. I should have gone to bed.
Well our starting striker tonight plays for the bottom team in the English 3rd tier, and ain't got anywhere near 21 league goals this season.

Palermo are 4th in Serie B, and Pohjanpal is the league's leading scorer, 8 goals!! ahead of the guy in 2nd.  https://us.soccerway.com/italy/serie-b/standings/jwYYXp2E/top-scorers/   We would definitely start a guy like that in the AWs up alongside Wood.

It ain't going to happen, but man I'd agrue Mata (long ball option Plan B), or Dyer (scoring goals) deserve to be World Cup squaddies more than an out of sorts Kosta. He offered nothing really when coming on.

Crowd 17,603.
https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2037466815480410334
Our newest All White Lachlan Bayliss on making his debut 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/kxjAT20Cwo
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) March 27, 2026 

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about 18 hours ago
That was just not good, against a team that I think were signifcantly inferior to teams we have competed well against (Norway, Ivory Coast, Australia when we played them in Canberra). Hoping it was just a bad night, unlike that loss to Australia at Mt Smart, we have another chance v Chile to put it right at home. 

We're never going to see a Thomas/Stamenic/Bell midfield 3 are we? We will keep playing 3 ineffective 10s instead. All 3 are far better players than all of our #10s in my opinion and so we should have tried a setup that got them all into the XI. Stamenic can be a pseudo #10. 

Would have liked to have seen the likes of McCowatt and Garbett tried as the #9 before now, Waine and Kosta aren't good enough. Who knows if McCowatt or Garbett would have been either but surely worth a go. Since that isn't happening we have to try Randall as the #9 vs Chile. 

McCowatt shouldnt be played as one of the #10 positions again. Has had too many chances and isn't going to deliver. I was actually pretty impressed by de Jong today, and thought Old did alright too. 

I have always been of the opinion over the last year that Crocombe should be our #1 but after how poor that game was I feel like we have to try to do some things differently so we might as well give Paulsen a crack. Especially as today a big part of the plan seemed to be to pass it back to Crocombe to try and draw Finland forward and then attack quickly. If that is the strategy then we probably should be playing Paulsen. 
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about 17 hours ago · edited about 17 hours ago · History
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.

“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.

“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.
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about 13 hours ago
This side really lacks any nous without the senior players in there, completely directionless.  I think we'll look respectable IF the likes of Wood, Boxall and Cacace are all fit.

For now, the glaring issue is lack of goals, and pressure that's creating - too many low-quality shots taken in panic, and the link up play which had been present in some of the past matches wasn't there. If we can get a couple goals tucked away (big if), the decision making and confidence in the final third will improve.
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about 10 hours ago · edited about 10 hours ago · History
Teams will be more faster then us, teams will be more classy then us, teams will be more skilful then us. That is a fact and always will be. 

it’s also not possible for a national team coach to have a direct impact on any of these points.

But lord, the one thing that should never happen to the All Whites is to be beaten up by an opposition that is more physical. 

That mindset can be impacted by the coach but did not occur at all yesterday. 

Auckland will rise once more

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about 9 hours ago
Well that was underwhelming. Usual Baze Tactics. All run around tightly together as a clump, no width or stretching the opposition and not forgetting the long ball attack. Sadly Ben Waine spent more time moaning to the referee than actually getting on with his job. Less of the Jack Grealish Headbands Ben and more focus on doing what you are meant to be doing. Poor Ben Old. So much talent but not asked to use it in the current scheme and game plan. Tim Payne past it? He still looks sluggish but he I am not sure if he would be a or should be a starter.

In essence what I saw from the All Whites was a load of players with high potential and or skills, completely bereft of ideas on what to actually do. 11 players or should I say, 11 individuals trying to make something happen. No real game plan other than the long ball. The last 5 games have all been the same. You want them to win but you can't see it happening. Bazely has been given some decent fixtures to give the team purpose, familiarity, yet it looks so disjointed. Worse than A League at times. Sorry, but that's how it looked to me anyway.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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about 8 hours ago
AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Teams will be more faster then us, teams will be more classy then us, teams will be more skilful then us. That is a fact and always will be. 

Defeatist.

Pathetic.

Three for me, and two for them.

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about 8 hours ago · edited about 8 hours ago · History
Jonty07 wrote:
We are terrible. De Vries is pants, Payne is pants! Extremely average and there's not a chance we get out of group stage!
This game showed exactly the difference between a championship level player and a decent Aleague one.
De Vries may have a good cross on him and that works when you have Wood in the middle, but defensively De Vries is gobshite. Too slow, and immobile. Fiorst goal was all his error for letting the striker get passed him and then not even leaping for the ball.
Second goal showed why Crocombe really shouldnt be our #1. He lost his temper/focus in the first half and never regained it, their second goal was a simple one to stop and he barely moved! Paulsen stops that all day everyday.

On the positive side, Randall and Bayliss looked decent, both troubling the Finnish defence - even if they were on tired legs. Just the finishing was lacking.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 8 hours ago
coochiee wrote:
We always seem to play poorly at Eden Park. Flat atmosphere.
Was a couple of mins there late first half, where Finland just held the ball, playing their little triangles. They are dominating the midfield.

Pohjanpalo  is a big unit and does have 21 goals in Serie B for Palermo this season. A well taken header, but a worry no one picked him up.

Two fairly evened matched teams, but AWs need to play better.
I thought the atmosphere sounded awesome on TV, constant noise, at times you were struggling to hear the commentators, i thought it sounded noticeably different to usual AW's games.

"You can never get a bloody tradesman at Easter, it's a wonder Jesus got crucified" - Karl Pilkington

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about 7 hours ago · edited about 7 hours ago · History
I had the FIFA+ English commentator and he certainly wasn’t drowned out.

Those who were actually at the match will know best how the atmosphere was. Maybe it was decent

Nice to see a good pocket of Finnish fans, and even a small group of Boca Junior hinchas.

The early game showed there will be a loud Chilean backing on Monday 
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about 5 hours ago
theprof wrote:
 Jonty07 wrote:
We are terrible. De Vries is pants, Payne is pants! Extremely average and there's not a chance we get out of group stage!
This game showed exactly the difference between a championship level player and a decent Aleague one.
De Vries may have a good cross on him and that works when you have Wood in the middle, but defensively De Vries is gobshite. Too slow, and immobile. Fiorst goal was all his error for letting the striker get passed him and then not even leaping for the ball.
Second goal showed why Crocombe really shouldnt be our #1. He lost his temper/focus in the first half and never regained it, their second goal was a simple one to stop and he barely moved! Paulsen stops that all day everyday.

On the positive side, Randall and Bayliss looked decent, both troubling the Finnish defence - even if they were on tired legs. Just the finishing was lacking.
People getting stuck in too much on De Vries for the first goal. Set pieces work because the defense has to react and the time it takes to react, with a well worked set piece, creates the space for opportunities. De Vries had no chance to jump, at best he could have impeded the run before the attacker arrived in the area to jump. And again, a well worked set piece makes it hard for defense to impede those runs. It may look bad because he didn't jump, but that is not actually looking at the situation with all your neurons firing.
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about 5 hours ago · edited about 5 hours ago · History
Such a putrefied performances lads AND lassies just get rid of this Bozo you have as NZ mánager.  Utter crap,  that formation doesnt fit in your better players ,   break the Piggy bank, and ger some proper dude at the helm.  

Right back must be Storm Roux because of experience,  left back ,  ger some one ,   Ryan Thomas así faux 9 since Wood Is recovering ,   Bell stamenic  de Vries and Bayliss or old in diamond formation.  At least Danny Hay played attractive football ,  frantic football with Cacace as the full footballer anchor.   As Keano Said fail to prepare......prepare to ....
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about 5 hours ago · edited about 5 hours ago · History
Any defensive coaches here?  Why wouldn't you get the AWs biggest unit Surman, to man mark the large viking Pohjanpal at corners? An obvious goal threat.
You'd hope the AWs staff had done a bit of home work on the Finns, and specifically the leading goal scorer in Serie B this season.

Another issue/tactic that seemed strange as pointed out by Imanix was playing back to Crocombe to pump it long. That might work okay with Wood up front, but last night it mostly was just giving the ball back to the Finns. Hopefully Paulsen can do better.
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about 4 hours ago
coochiee wrote:
 Netzer wrote:
As I mentioned before   -that's what you get with "jobs for the boys" like the coaches (HC not even been in charge at NL level and AC v;Readings,Elliot - for real) with no idea/man management and/or tactical knowledge at international level- no surprise- DB will select the same players (Just,Tuiloma,Mac Cowatt etc) for the WC but not  performance based- not his fault to being completely out of his depth - NZF will never learn even with the best budget and squad ever available and an easy WC route and draw- for example like Australia appointed GH for the WC to have success 
NZF couldn't afford the wages of Guus Hiddink's brother let alone GH himself.
Your comments make little sense. Who actually deserves to get into the AWs ahead of Just & McCowatt. Name them.

This was a really disappointing poor performance. The worse by this AWs team in some time. The Socceroos game at Mt Smart last year (3-1 loss) was a pretty flat game, but this was even poorer.

Those matches aside this team has been producing some promising performances against top 50 sides, the last 2-3 years. Really need to see a response against Chile.

As per others, Bell starting will be a big help. And I'm hopeful Paulsen will offer more than Crocs, esp re trying to play out from the back.

But come the WC we need nearly all of Libby, Boxy, Singh, Garbs plus Wood fit and ready to go, otherwise it could be bleak watching.
Hey someone for the world cup,  there are Tons of mánagers who would rise to the ocassion. WC CARROT.  Some glamour coach the players need hope they looked hopeless AND that uninspiring feeling comes from the bench.
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about 4 hours ago
Offer Martín O'Neill the post,  at least he Is a proper coach who knows how to field an eleven on the pitch.  Or Mick McCarthy, anyone who has a proven pedigree,  an experienced Man with a proper CV ,  it Is just 3 ganes and then who knows,  Egypt and Iran are very beatable 
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about 4 hours ago
coochiee wrote:
Any defensive coaches here?  Why wouldn't you get the AWs biggest unit Surman, to man mark the large viking Pohjanpal at corners? An obvious goal threat.
You'd hope the AWs staff had done a bit of home work on the Finns, and specifically the leading goal scorer in Serie B this season.

Another issue/tactic that seemed strange as pointed out by Imanix was playing back to Crocombe to pump it long. That might work okay with Wood up front, but last night it mostly was just giving the ball back to the Finns. Hopefully Paulsen can do better.
I can't remember if Surman was marking someone specifically, but you may want your best headerers zonal, then along with the 'keeper you have decent aerial coverage in like 3 areas. If they are man marking then they can be pulled out of play.
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about 4 hours ago
coochiee wrote:
Any defensive coaches here?  Why wouldn't you get the AWs biggest unit Surman, to man mark the large viking Pohjanpal at corners? An obvious goal threat.
You'd hope the AWs staff had done a bit of home work on the Finns, and specifically the leading goal scorer in Serie B this season.

Another issue/tactic that seemed strange as pointed out by Imanix was playing back to Crocombe to pump it long. That might work okay with Wood up front, but last night it mostly was just giving the ball back to the Finns. Hopefully Paulsen can do better.
Im not so sure the tactic was to go back to Crocs to launch it so much as the CBs and 6's had little options showing so we played across the back. The thing is at any level you have to "want" the ball. Otherwise you get lost and become a passenger.  
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about 4 hours ago
A 'glamour' coach would have the team max 2-3 weeks from squad gathering together in the US, before first match against Iran. Really what could they achieve in such a short time. It's also just not the Kiwi way, to make last minute coaching changes. High risk the players don't like the whole idea, and it just destabilizes the whole WC campaign.

Last night was a very poor performance. Probably the poorest AWs effort since Mexico in 2024 (3-0 loss). Hopefully it's an aberration.

Lets not forget an AWs team sans Wood, Thomas, Libby & Paulsen went toe to toe with a strong Colombian side in November (2-1 loss). Only conceding a late soft goal, and Randall was near to scoring prior that would have put us up 2-1. 

Has been enough promising stuff under Bazeley to feel that overall the team is heading upwards. But yes need a big response for the Chilean match. If is a similarly feeble performance, pile on the criticism. Though again a late coaching change this close to the WC, ain't gonna happen.
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about 4 hours ago
My assessment.

Full backs - massive step up from A League. Look at the first 10 minutes. Payne took a heavy touch when playing a one two to come inside, when receiving the ball back form a throw etc- simply not international standard. Just puts the pressure on us and creates transitional  moments when vulnerable. We need pace and muscle out there and Payne is a liability now- would not have said that 3 years ago but his club form has dropped massively also. Elliot should be given a run on Monday. He's still raw but he's quick, aggressive and good 1 v 1 . Payne's experience is now overshadowed by limitations. De Vries will always be reliable but get torn apart by pace - thats why we need two 6's to cover our FBs or CBs as we will sometimes need 2 v 1 in those situations. 

Right Hand Side was dead. Callum M had another meh match. Needs to want the ball - invert runs, I dunno. Maybe those at the match could see what  he was doing off the ball/camera. But he and Payne weren't up to much. I think Just should play on the RHS - cut in and we play an 8 in front of the 6's with some real energy and bite (like a Garbett, Bayliss).

Now the talk about the best generation ever has to stop just being talk - the 2010 side must get pretty frustrated hearing that trundled out when results are still L's. Over the world cup cycle there was always a performance focus given we don't have competitive qualies but now  that has to change. Even this week we are still talking about performance. Stuff that- that word should be banned now. We want W's, winners in the team.  

Randall is good on the RHS. Think Kosta as a false ( offered something different as we needed to draw their CBs out to create the space rather than play high with Waine. Horses for courses but that was obvious from the first half. 
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about 4 hours ago · edited about 4 hours ago · History
tablemanners wrote:
 coochiee wrote:
Any defensive coaches here?  Why wouldn't you get the AWs biggest unit Surman, to man mark the large viking Pohjanpal at corners? An obvious goal threat.
You'd hope the AWs staff had done a bit of home work on the Finns, and specifically the leading goal scorer in Serie B this season.

Another issue/tactic that seemed strange as pointed out by Imanix was playing back to Crocombe to pump it long. That might work okay with Wood up front, but last night it mostly was just giving the ball back to the Finns. Hopefully Paulsen can do better.
Im not so sure the tactic was to go back to Crocs to launch it so much as the CBs and 6's had little options showing so we played across the back. The thing is at any level you have to "want" the ball. Otherwise you get lost and become a passenger.  
It was noticeable that when Bell came on he very much 'wanted' the ball. I mean yes he was fresh on as a sub, but that's also that's his game, getting on the ball as much as possible.

He was missed not being a starter. Apparently a bit of a calf niggle. Fingers crossed he'ss good to go from the start on Monday. Wouldn't mind Stamenic (basically as a 10), Bell and Rufer all starting together. Old to LB to replace the lame FDV, and Just across to be where Old was last night. Randall in for McCowatt. Tuiloma (if fit enough) in for Payne at RB
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about 3 hours ago
I wonder who could replace Payne, he was not at his best last night, and I feel that there must be an alternative.
Maybe I am being a bit scathing!!

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about 2 hours ago
I want to see Randall start and Old at LB - lets see what is happening that the coaching are raving about in France.

I thought we lacked creativity completely, which is another reason to pick Randall. He has pace to cause issues and is ok at taking on his man, he absolutely stood up their RB at one stage etc. Bayliss I thought did excellent when he came on, turned into space and drove at pockets and gave us some impetus. We certainly looked more threatening with him on.

We were always going to struggle. Players out + players not 100%, but I still expected more. I thought De Vries outside his lapse at the corner was ok. Yes he's not quick, but he's serviceable. As someone mentioned, why wasn't Surman or Bindon marking the scorer.

Payne not doing it for me currently and McCowatt seems to offer very little. Is it our system, because at club level he looks solid. Just likewise was quite poor last night. Tactics, positioning or the strength of the opposition??

It was a meh game by us.
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