Haiti's squad. Their first WC appearance in 52 years.
A win would be a nice confidence boost for the AWs and their attack, esp given the England game could be park the bus stuff.
The squad features the team’s key players: captain Johny Placide in goal, defensive stalwarts Ricardo Ade and Carlens Arcus, the latter enjoying a fine season in Ligue 1, the midfield duo of Leverton Pierre and Danley Jean Jacques and legendary striker Duckens Nazon.
Since qualification was secured, Migne and his staff have been trying to attract new players to bolster the ranks and bring additional experience. Josue Casimir and Wilson Isidor, both on the squad list, recently made their debuts, with the latter scoring his first international goal in the friendly 1-1 draw against Iceland in March.
Having come through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain, Lenny Joseph is fresh from a season in which he scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists across all competitions with Ferencvaros, and adds another dimension to an already formidable attacking line-up. The other two are Dominique Simon, who plays in Slovakia and will bolster the midfield, and Keeto Thermoncy, a 20-year-old centre-back who has taken part in youth team training camps and was given a one-minute appearance against Nicaragua.
They will join marksman Nazon, the national team’s all-time leading goalscorer with 44 goals in 76 appearances, and other attacking options like Frantzdy Pierrot, Louicius Deedson, Derrick Etienne Jr. and Ruben Providence.
So with the final done and dusted, this is the next big game on the calendar.
Randall has played himself out of contention for a starting place since he signed with Dundee. de Vries' injury took away his fully fit & in form advantage over Cacace so no chance he starts.
Since Old may be arriving late into camp, I am expecting the following XI:
Crocombe Payne Boxall Surman Cacace Stamenic Bell Just (McCowatt/Singh/Thomas) Garbett Wood
Old will come back and take the LW spot. Most interesting thing by far to see is who starts at #10
Semantics but I can see Bindon starting this game, in 8 days. He last played for the Blades 22nd April. He needs mins.
He's too good a player not to have some important involvement at the World Cup. He may not start ahead of Boxy or the Surmanator, but he's gonna come off the pine. Maybe even at RB for a tiring Payne.
Yes who starts at 10 is the big selection decision (besides who starts in goal). Is it Thomas, or someone more attacking like Singh?
Thomas had only one goal, and one assist (which was hardly an assist as a team mate sent in a worldie from 30 metres) all season at Zwolle. He's not really a creative player.
I think we are all keen to get a look at the trio of Bell, Stamenic & Thommo. It could be very effective at a World Cup, when being a touch conservative, looking to frustrate the other teams by trying to hog the ball, could be the way to go.
But then it could be a game by game thing, re the strategy and who starts. Like I understand Iran have an older side, so it maybe it is a case of trying to attack them from the start at a high tempo??
I don't think Old starts at the WC as a LW, maybe at LB. But his final ball decision making around the box is still a major work on. It's primarily why his SE coach/es pushed him further back to find a spot for him. That and the first choice left back at the time being injured. He hasn't done much in his AWs apperances as an attacking player. His best AWs game was his last one against 10 man Chile at LB.
I think it will be a battle between Singh & McCowatt to start alongside Just & Wood upfront. We need Sarpreet getting up to match sharpness fast, otherwise he could mostly be a spectator this WC. When he joined the Nix in February he hadn't played in 2 months, and he was very average in that "2nd coming" debut against WSW. Looking well well short of match fitness.
It is not yet clear when Old will arrive in Florida or whether he will be available for the All Whites’ first warm-up friendly, against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale next Tuesday (12pm next Wednesday).
An NZ Football spokesperson was not able to confirm specifics with key staff in transit at present.
Saint-Étienne are looking to return to Ligue 1 at the first time of trying, after stumbling down the stretch to finish third in Ligue 2 and miss out on either of the two automatic promotion places.
They had to win a qualifying match against fellow Ligue 2 side Rodez to advance to the playoff, where they prevailed in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw.
Old played the full match, but missed his spot kick, and came out of it with a minor hamstring injury.
Between that and the World Cup release date, his involvement in the playoff had been in doubt until his coach Philippe Montanier confirmed that he was still with the team in his pre-match press conference on Monday (Tuesday NZ time).
Montanier said it was doubtful Old would play in the home leg, with a final decision to be made on the morning of the match.
Old is primarily competing for a starting spot on the left of All Whites coach Darren Bazeley’s attacking midfield trio at the World Cup, with Jesse Randall, Matt Garbett, Callum McCowatt and Eli Just the other contenders.
He is also a chance to receive playing time at left back, a position he has taken up for the first time with Saint-Étienne this season. He started there as he earned his 22nd and most recent All Whites cap, in the 4-1 win over 10-man Chile at Eden Park in Auckland in March.
Old’s versatility has come as a boost to the All Whites, with first-choice left back Liberato Cacace and his understudy Francis de Vries both spending significant time on the sideline with injuries in recent months.
Cacace has not played a competitive match since early February for Wrexham AFC due to hamstring and calf inuries, but was an unused substitute in their last two English Championship matches as they finished seventh, just missing out on the promotion playoffs.
De Vries was out for six weeks after being forced off with a calf injury in the All Whites’ loss to Finland in March, but recovered and made three appearances off the bench as Auckland FC won the A-League Men championship.
Old could have an important role to play as the leading duo carefully increase their workload ahead of the All Whites’ World Cup opener, against Iran in Los Angeles on June 15 (June 16 NZ time).
Stuff has asked NZ Football why his injury concern has not resulted in him being brought into camp as soon as possible.
A group of players whose seasons finished in early May have been in Miami, to the south of Boca Raton, since the middle of last week, primarily doing fitness work.
De Vries and Auckland’s four championship-winning World Cup squad members are set to fly out from New Zealand on Wednesday.
I imagine from yesterday their minds would have quickly switched to flying out.
For some of them this will be their only ever World Cup. Getting on the beers can wait until July. They are pro athletes about to go into potentially the biggest shop window of their careers.
Folk thought last year Garbett was in Bali sunbathing and knocking back cocktails, when he was hammering himself in a football tailored boot camp.
AucklandPhoenix wrote: By the look of the AFC All Whites, they would have been drinking the last three days and will be absolutely shattered when they arrive.
Lol. Start Tim Payne and bring on both Alex Rufer and Sarpreet Singh for 25 minutes v Haiti. Then put the Auckland players in the deep end against England.
AucklandPhoenix wrote: Your social media algorithms need some AFC fine tuning Coochie.
The pictures of Cameron Elliot and Michael Woud don’t lie!!
Callan and what's an algorithm?
If that stuff is popping up your socials it likely is also in those of AWs PT Coach Sunz. He's an unforgiving hard arse, as I guess all pro football fitness trainers are.
Elliot & Woud may very quickly find themselves out in the baking Florida sun sweating buckets.
Don’t think Thomas will be a 10 for us. He hasn’t been playing there for his club. Stamenic and Bell showed how one might stride forward and the other cover, so maybe we might see that a bit from Thomas, but he hasn’t been used as a 10 for the AWs yet. Surely Singh is the incumbent? He has kept up his international form and needs minutes.
IMG_9335.png418.96 KBMy preferred XI. Swap Old for McCowatt, Randall or Singh depending on the opponent and corresponding game plan.
This team can keep a disciplined and hard to break down defensive structure, has the talent to play a line breaking pass and is a threat on the counter with the likes of Just, Old, Payne and Cacace bombing forward.
Stamenic can play that box crashing style 8 role on attack and take on any lay offs from Wood.
I think I’d go Randall and Boxall. And depending on fitness maybe Old starts as a LB, because Cacace has played no games for the longest time. Cacace becomes an impact player.
Boxall had a couple of immense games against high level opposition. He played delicious attacking passes in behind for Payne. He tackled, headed, passed, body checked and had amazing touch. And he’s an athlete. More now than ever!
Randall goes direct at goal and shoots of his right. He’s got just a little more than opponents expect- pace, strength, power, guile and he’s had a productive season.
For those worried about Boxy being 37 years young.
Iran have named two 36 year olds & a 37 year old in their preliminary 30 man WC squad. Trio of defenders. 272 caps between the 3 of them. All 3 could be cultural architects, or bonafide starting options.
The average age of thay preliminary 30-man squad is approximately 29.3 years. That's with the inclusion of two 19 yr olds (3 caps combined) & one 20 yr old (2 caps), who could all be cut from the 30. They have 16 players age 30 & above.
We have 8 players 30 & above. Crocs, Smith, Boxy, Payne, FDV, Thomas, Kosta & Wood. An average age of 28.1 years over the squad. The average age of our starting 11 should be lower than that, as Kosta & Tommy (both 36) definitely won't be starting.
Pierre continues to train at a field with synthetic grass in Pétion-Ville, an upscale area of Port-au-Prince, as he awaits his visa, “in hopes of being with his team as soon as possible,” Jeanty told The Associated Press in a phone interview Wednesday.
“I hope he doesn’t have to live in (Haiti) after the World Cup,” Jeanty said. “It’s an opportunity to present himself to the world and await a contract.”
The team’s home stadium in Port-au-Prince — not far from the neighborhood where Pierre is from — was deemed too dangerous, forcing Haiti to play its “home” World Cup qualifiers in Curaçao.
Pierre is from Cite Soleil, a seaside slum that has endured violence and hunger for years and serves as a base for powerful gang leaders. Cite Soleil has seen multiple massacres and gang rapes, with violence recently displacing more than 5,300 people, according to the latest report from the UN’s International Organization for Migration.
This game should be used to get minutes into those key players lacking them ie Bindon. This will probably be our only match in North America where we should expect to be on the front foot although I am somewhat disappointed they we only have 2 warmup games this time when we had 4 in 2010.
We need a solid unchanged backline so for me that sees Boxy start every game with Surman and maybe even Bindon in a back three. We will be under the cosh for the next four games so best we prepare now. I'm very worried about LB as Libby is not match fit and the other options are not international quality no matter how well they play at AFC etc. I'm also deeply worried about RB, Timmy will have to play 4 games of his life next month, staying injury free for us to have any chance. Bell and Thomas should be played beside each other screening them.
Hopefully those kiwis fans who make this game have a great day out like those of us who attended the Chile game in NZ or like I did in Canada last year when we beat Ivory Coast.
Finger crossed.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
Marto wrote: This game should be used to get minutes into those key players lacking them ie Bindon. This will probably be our only match in North America where we should expect to be on the front foot although I am somewhat disappointed they we only have 2 warmup games this time when we had 4 in 2010.
We need a solid unchanged backline so for me that sees Boxy start every game with Surman and maybe even Bindon in a back three. We will be under the cosh for the next four games so best we prepare now. I'm very worried about LB as Libby is not match fit and the other options are not international quality no matter how well they play at AFC etc. I'm also deeply worried about RB, Timmy will have to play 4 games of his life next month, staying injury free for us to have any chance. Bell and Thomas should be played beside each other screening them.
Hopefully those kiwis fans who make this game have a great day out like those of us who attended the Chile game in NZ or like I did in Canada last year when we beat Ivory Coast.
Finger crossed.
A little bleak there mate, you ok. The WC is suppose to be exciting not traumatic!!
I don't think we will be under the kosh as much as you think. Whilst I don't expect us to dominate possession, I do think we will be able to get the ball and hold on to it for good periods of time.
I do agree with you a little on Payne, how well NZ goes will depend on which Payne shows up. I'm less concerned about the LB role as I think Old will do well there if Carcace is not fit, and De Vries is a decent option as well.
I think our biggest issue will be up top. Creating decent opportunities outside of set pieces.
We want to be your eyes and ears on the ground with the All Whites, as they take part for the first time since 2010, when they famously went undefeated in South Africa.
I'm writing this from San Francisco International Airport, in the middle of my journey from Auckland to Florida, where Darren Bazeley and his team have set up camp.
The team are set to train together for the first time on Friday local time (overnight Friday-Saturday NZ time) as they build towards their first warm-up friendly against Haiti (kickoff 12pm June 3 NZ time).
We will be looking to bring you every last detail as they prepare not only for that match, but for the blockbuster friendly against England to follow, then their three group G matches at the World Cup itself.
My colleague Phillip Rollo is set to join me when the show moves to San Diego in the second week of June, ahead of the All Whites' tournament opener against Iran in Los Angeles (kickoff 1pm June 16 NZ time).
We were together in the stands at Eden Park three years ago when the Football Ferns stunned Norway for their first World Cup win.
This time around we're hoping we will get to see the All Whites' first World Cup win.
They haven't even kicked a ball yet and there's already plenty happening, from Ben Old being allowed to delay his arrival even though he's under an injury cloud, to the All Whites' five Auckland FC players having to switch from party mode to business mode, to Wellington Phoenix fullback Tim Payne becoming an Instagram sensation.
But as I prepare for my trip across the continental United States, I want to know what you want to know about the All Whites and the World Cup – and how you're feeling about their chances.
Let me know by replying in the comment box below – I will see your suggestions privately, but won't share them publicly – or sending me an email.
Check back for all the news from my first day with the All Whites in Florida on Saturday morning (NZ time).
Good morning from the Sunshine State, where cloud cover has made conditions a little bit cooler than they were yesterday.
I'm off to All Whites training again shortly, then it will be off to the team hotel for some interviews – the fruits of which you should see on Stuff later today.
Ben Old's AS Saint-Étienne were beaten 4-1 in the away leg of their French promotion playoff against Nice.
He was an unused substitute and should arrive here in Florida today, bringing the whole All Whites squad together.
Lets see the All Whites be competitive against Haiti. A win would be ideal, 2:0 but a draw would at least show some sort of defensive things being ready. Then the big England match!
Marto wrote: Will this game and the England game be on TVNZ or Prime? Asking for those who are older and have big issues with Fifa+.
FIFA+ is moving/moved to DANZ. Apparently it will still be free....ha ha! When does FIFA give anything away for free? You have to open an account with DANZ and then use your FIFA+ account id to access. What could possibly go wrong.
PKB wrote: Lets see the All Whites be competitive against Haiti. A win would be ideal, 2:0 but a draw would at least show some sort of defensive things being ready. Then the big England match!
Have to at least show we can score some goals. If we can't score against Haiti, we have no chance against the teams in our group.
Ryan Thomas will sit out both of the All Whites’ warm-up matches ahead of the FIFA World Cup – a development that adds a new wrinkle to the biggest selection puzzle coach Darren Bazeley has to solve.
Joe Bell will also be wrapped in cotton wool and won’t be involved when New Zealand face Haiti at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday night (kickoff 12pm Wednesday NZ time), but is set to feature against England in Tampa on Saturday.
The two midfielders have been managing minor muscle issues – Thomas in a hamstring and Bell in a calf – but while he admits the situation is not ideal, Bazeley is confident the pair will both be fully fit for the All Whites’ World Cup opener against Iran in Los Angeles, which is still more than a fortnight away.
Worried about our players picking up an injury against Haiti. The Grenadiers are super athletic and could potentially simply outrun us - that is OK, but i am more worried about seriously missed tackles and such. Less likely in the England game where everyone is more mindful of the risks of overcommitting in a warmup game.
I'm expecting Baze to pick Boxall and Garbett for the other spots.
I think Old should be our left winger, his ability to play LB allows for flexibility for Cacace to go forward at times and Old can stay back to cover him. Whether he will even be fit enough to claim that spot vs Iran is anyone's guess though.
