All Whites vs Poland | Fri 10th Oct | 7:45am (NZT) | Stadion Śląski (Chorzów, Poland)

Nice breakfast viewing time. Mainland with torn loyalties.

Zawada likely a slim chance of a call up. From memory most of Poland's first choice fowards come from likes of the Bundesliga and Serie A.
 
He might be back on the physio's table anyway, as he missed Groningen's opening Eredivisie game, a 4-1 loss at AZ. Looks like he also didn't play the friendly against Wrexham a few weeks back either, which was Libby's debut for his new club. Groningen signed Oscar on a 3 year deal so must be confident in his fitness.

🇳🇿🆚🇵🇱

🆕 The All Whites have locked in Poland as the second team they will face this October alongside Norway.

🗓️ 10 October [NZT]
⏰ 7:45am [NZT]
📍 Chorzów, Poland
🏟️ Stadion Śląski

➡️ Read all the details at https://t.co/sw0vmzeJP9 pic.twitter.com/Z3k88A7E7y

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) August 13, 2025

Crazy that this game has been tentative for six months, so glad it's over the line. People who have supported football in New Zealand for the longest will know and appreciate the most - this is quite likely the best ever season for the national team games programme.

For any kiwis in Europe, it's cheap and accessibile eg from Berlin, Prague, and cheap enough flights from the UK just a 50min bus from Krakow.

Some details to sort out with ticketing, accom recommendations, fan frienldy games and prematch. But get amongst here to start shaping it:
https://theflyingkiwisfc.com/join-new-zealand-fans-for-poland-vs-all-whites-oct-9th/ 

Not bad.

image.png 73.01 KB

Poland draw 1-1 with the Netherlands in Holland. WCQ.

I expect the Polish team will continue its extended run of utter, absolute unpredictability, and I do not mean in it a good way.  However, the recent change of the national coach is a blessing to a point, hopefully arresting the decline.  
May be too early to tell. I do not expect much.  

Hopefully our form today will motivate a few more of us Euro kiwis to head east for a great weekend of kiwi football. Bring it on!

Marto

Hopefully our form today will motivate a few more of us Euro kiwis to head east for a great weekend of kiwi football. Bring it on!

The venue, The Silesian Stadium, is historically the prime venue for truly big games, like the WC qualifiers (more so than the Warsaw one). If you make it to any football game in Poland, this is the place to go to (especially if it is a friendly, as it takes away any potential risk from the local "fans").
You could fly in to Katowice, and take a bus directly from the airport to Chorzow.  It is not that far, maybe three quarters of an hour, to get there by bus, and you do not really feel they are different cities, as it is one continuous sprawl.

Poland beat Finland 3-1 in WCQ
Goals Cash, Lewandowski & Kamiński.

They go to 10pts, equal with Holland the Dutch a game in hand.

Poles play away to Lithuania (4th in the pool) a few days after facing the All Whites.

The starting lineup for Poland's 3-1 victory over Finland on September 8, 2025, was Skorupski; Cash, Wisniewski, Bednarek, Kiwior, Zalewski; Kaminski, Slisz, Zielinski, Szymanski; Lewandowski. The formation was a 4-3-3, with Lewandowski as the captain

POLAND STARTING XI 🇵🇱🇫🇮

The Polish national team starting line-up up against Finland in Chorzów:

Skorupski - Cash, Wisniewski, Bednarek, Kiwior, Zalewski - Kaminski, Slisz, Zielinski, Szymanski - Lewandowski#POLFIN pic.twitter.com/LRrqDJ81w8

— PSN Futbol (@PSN_Futbol) September 7, 2025

Their squad for the September fixtures against Holland & Finland.

Łukasz Skorupski (Bologna FC)

Jan Ziółkowski (Legia Warszawa)

Piotr Zieliński (Inter Mediolan)

Lot of strong club sides and recognisable player names in there. Aren't we lucky, to get a chance to see the boys get a chance to put things right so soon, after such a disappointing window, against such a quality team. 

Kiwior has now joined Bednarek at Porto on loan from Arsenal.

They have 5 games to build a stronger partnership before the international window and with our continuous goal scoring issues it could be an ever bigger problem for us.

But with a huge O Classico against Benfica on the 6th It’s possible the pair could be rested, especially with the extra Europa League games they have.

Poland (2nd on GD to Holland in their pool) also play away to Lithuania (4th) a few days after facing the All Whites, in WC qualifying.

They should win fairly comfortably in Vilnius, but it's obviously a far far more important game for them, than a soon forgotten NZ friendly match. So it might be more their 'B' side that plays the AWs.

It will be tough regardless. Hopefully Paulsen gets a game in gaol to show his stuff.

Edit - or game in goal even. I imagine yes a Polish gaol not for the faint hearted!

Like the Mean Machine or something, yeh? Toughen him right up that would…

Discussion happening in the McCowatt thread, but I’d like to see a midfield and forward lineup of:

Just/McCowatt/Garbett - Wood
Singh
Stamenic - Thomas
Bell

So a diamond midfield with one of Just, McCowatt or Garbett playing a sort of false 9 role alongside Wood.

It’s a bit like what we tried against Costa Rica with Wood and Greive up front, but I think Just, McCowatt and Garbett would be able to actually finish the lay offs from Wood.

coochiee

Poland (2nd on GD to Holland in their pool) also play away to Lithuania (4th) a few days after facing the All Whites, in WC qualifying.

They should win fairly comfortably in Vilnius, but it's obviously a far far more important game for them, than a soon forgotten NZ friendly match. So it might be more their 'B' side that plays the AWs.

It will be tough regardless. Hopefully Paulsen gets a game in gaol to show his stuff.

Edit - or game in goal even. I imagine yes a Polish gaol not for the faint hearted!

I expect a high number of subs to be tried out, both teams need to give their respective benches a good look (Poland possibly more than New Zealand).  Result is truly secondary here for Poland, assessing team performance and player combinations against a decent opposition (NZ) is way more important.
Poland is FIFA ranked 37 at present, Finland (which Poland has just played) 69, New Zealand is 82, while poor old Lithuania is at 143 one of the lowest ranking UEFA countries.

Squad for October window maybe named end of next week?
Likely named before the NZ U20s in Chile play their first game 28th Sept?

Note both the Nix and Auckland start their ALM seasons on 18th Oct, only 3 days after the AWs game in Oslo (15th Oct our time).

This was the 22 man squad in September - noting Paulsen, Cacace & Stamenic all dropped out after initially being picked.

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Henry Gray, Oli Sail

Defenders: Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Finn Surman, Francis de Vries, James McGarry

Midfielders: Joe Bell, Elijah Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Ryan Thomas

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Luke Brooke-Smith, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, Chris Wood


The guys in bold I think are at the most risk of being dropped for the October games

Possible Outs - Sail, Gray, Elliot, McGarry, LBS, Randall, Rogerson
Possible Ins - Paulsen, Tzanev, Sims, Tuiloma, Wilkins, Smith, Stanger, Stamenic, Waine. Of course Garbett. Longer shot ADJ
Unavailable - Pijnaker, Cacace, Mata (some others I can't think of)


Sail likely will stay in Auckland. Paulsen comes back in. 3rd GK from any of the guys based in Europe take your pick. Sounds like Tzanev has been up & down at Newport.

With this window just before the final regular season MLS round ('Decision Day') I think definitely need a 4th CB, with Surman & Boxall again likely to rotate with one start each.

Fans won't like it but suspect Smith will be picked. Left sided backup to Bindon, and that 'mentoring role'. Plus Tuiloma can be cover for the two other right sided MLS guys. But maybe it's both Smith & Stanger that come in. Baze has often picked 5 CBs in his squads.

I'd like to see Billy T come in as a physical impact RB, to replace Payne at around 65-70 mins in each game. With short cameos like that, he should be better equipped to handle the defensive full back role, but add something attacking from dead ball situations. Back on the pine now at in form Charlotte, but he's played well at RB in the MLS this season when given the chance.

McGarry looked okay in his limited mins against Australia. He may keep his spot with Libby still out. Though suspect Bazeley wants to have a look at Wilkins.

After 3 weeks away with the U20s, Chiefy likely doesn't want LBS selected for these AWs game, so close to the ALM kicking off. Waine will likely enjoy getting away from Port Vale for a bit. In comes Garbs (thanks MartinB). But no one else stands out attacking wise to upsurp Randall and/or Rogerson. 

Even Andre De Jong isn't doing much at the moment, but this maybe his best chance of a lookin if Baze wants to help out his old mate Corica by leaving the Auckland FC duo in NZ.

Did Matt Garbett get a mention somewhere? 

martinb

Did Matt Garbett get a mention somewhere? 

Cheers. The bleeding obvious. I just knew I'd miss someone. 
I'll cheat and update the above

coochiee

martinb

Did Matt Garbett get a mention somewhere? 

Cheers. The bleeding obvious. I just knew I'd miss someone. 
I'll cheat and update the above

It’s okay Coochie. 98% of the time, perfect every time!

Marko Stamenic played 90 minutes for Swansea which is great news. Hopefully shows it was just a minor, not much fitness lost, and firing for the internationals.

Libby looks less lucky with his new injury on the other side and the weeks are adding up without match fitness. Unsure on the likeliness if we was declared fit, that Wrexham would let him use the internationals to gain fitness (eg 30 - 45mins gametime) or keep him closer to home.

Ben Waine has struggled for game time and involvement of late, Tyler Bindon not in the matchday squad at all with Chris Wilder back. If he starts the internationals it could really help his fitness and confidence, but hard to leave any of the three centre-backs out.

Eli Just not in Motherwell Squad at all for the Quarter Final win, anyone pick up on why? Been a man in form so far.

Squad naming next week.

With Nix playing in Perth only 3 days after the AWs in Oslo, Owen Parker-Price must be a chance of a squad callup. Oslo to Sweden is just a short flight or ferry trip. Same Dalton Wilkins in Denmark.

I'm sure Chiefy would be happy if Baze released Payne & Rufer early after the Poland game.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360830981/all-white-callum-mccowatt-scores-perfect-hat-trick-away-against-danish-giants-fc-copenhagen

An All Whites regular under coach Darren Bazeley, McCowatt is expected to be named next week in the squad for next month’s friendlies against Poland and Norway.

Probably helps the Nix slightly the game is in Perth. So they can get there with still 2 days to recover after the Norway game. Would be surprised to see either OPP or Wilkins in this squad.

Bazeley has shown he doesn’t mind being 1-2 short in the squad in the past.

I think it’ll be Cacace, Randall, Sail and Rogerson out.

Garbett, Stamenic, Paulsen back in.

Tough squad to break at the moment to be honest. Bazeley has really found his core 23 the last few windows. But still trying to find the right combinations in the XI. 

coochiee

Squad naming next week.

With Nix playing in Perth only 3 days after the AWs in Oslo, Owen Parker-Price must be a chance of a squad callup. Oslo to Sweden is just a short flight or ferry trip. Same Dalton Wilkins in Denmark.

I'm sure Chiefy would be happy if Baze released Payne & Rufer early after the Poland game.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360830981/all-white-callum-mccowatt-scores-perfect-hat-trick-away-against-danish-giants-fc-copenhagen

An All Whites regular under coach Darren Bazeley, McCowatt is expected to be named next week in the squad for next month’s friendlies against Poland and Norway.

AWs verus Norway
Tuesday 14th Oct 6:00pm local time (or 15th Oct 4:00am NZT).
After the game you'd think it will be back to their Oslo hotel and catch a flight next morning (so flying out late afternoon/evening 15th Oct NZT)

Nix verus Perth
Saturday 18th Oct 8:45pm (12.45am NZT). I think it's 8.45pm Perth time kick off, or is that NZT, making it an even tighter schedule?

Flying time Oslo-Perth around 20 to 22 hours, with Dubai or Doha the likely layover.

Unless they find a Concorde to dust off somewhere I doubt they will have 2 full days in Perth to recover.

Payne far more likely to start for the AWs, if him and Roofs are both in Norway. 
If that happens could see Tim P on the pine in Perth for the Nix. Rufer starting.

Very interesting in home straight to the world cup how much game time and form will really matter or change things. Perhaps it can work the other way and players not getting enough mins and possible NZ starters an get mins and momentum in these monthly international windows. 

Amongst 10s and Wide Forwards:

#10 Garbett to return (remembering League One doesn't follow international break so it's harder to get them released) 

#10 Sarpreet Singh played 18 mins on 14/09 and an unused sub 21/09 so has lost momentum.

Eli Just I can't see why but wasn't involved in Motherwell's big Cup Quarter Final on the weekend.

Bolters might be Owen PP in the #10 and Luke BS if they want to fast track him and keep him around it for the experience and limited mins, but might be a bit close to the main event to be broadening the net

Personally hoping Rufer doesnt get picked this window. Played poorly in the last window, Garbett & Stamenic to come back in, and OPP is a chance. Leave Rufer to focus on Perth and help him get back to his best, because at his best he definitely is one of NZ's 4 best 6s. 

Hopefully we can go one better than this, very cool, result in 1999

A young Nellie, and dreadlocked Christie. Definite encroachment by the Polish keeper in the final pen in the shootout.

Looks like both teams were struggling in the Thai heat.

and the middle of prime jacko
you can see how good he was

AWs squad naming soon?

Injury doubts Singh and potentially Just who has missed the last few Motherwell matches.

Plus a juggle with the AWs playing Norway 15th October, and Nix and AFC kicking off their ALM campaigns only a few days later.

Edit - that should read an injury doubt on Libby not Singh!

What’s happened with Singh this morning?

coochiee

AWs squad naming soon?

Injury doubts Singh and potentially Just who has missed the last few Motherwell matches.

Plus a juggle with the AWs playing Norway 15th October, and Nix and AFC kicking off their ALM campaigns only a few days later.

Shark meant to write Libby. No idea why I wrote down Singh.

Overall should be more European/US based guys come into this window.

Stamenic (now fit), Garbett & Paulsen (both now cemented as starters at their clubs).
Maybe Waine in lieu of very limited striker options.
Maybe OPP, if Baze does Chiefy a favour & releases Rufer to the Nix early post the Poland match.
Gray, Sims or Tzanev take your pick as the 3rd GK. Gray yes was picked in Sept.
Tuiloma might come in for Elliott - though BT didn't look great for Charlotte yesterday
A 4th CB from either Stanger or Smith. Cue some justified grumptiness if it's Tommy S
My bolter pick, Skipe Ukich. Well impressed with him yesterday in Chile. That's if Bazeley leaves Randall & Rogerson to prepare for Auckland's ALM kick off, and Just is out injured. Won't happen for now, but off a sample of one game to Ukich's level is not inferior to LBS's.

#AllWhites squad due tomorrow

Smith/Cacace very unlikely, Just more likely

Garbett will return, Waine maybe

Big ? is # of ALM players

Payne/FDV for sure, likely an LB2, but others could be left out

If so, who's in?

Any of Kirwan/Tuiloma/Stanger/Parker-Price/De Jong/Dyer?

— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 29, 2025

Unknown being NZU20s last pool game vs Japan is Oct 4th in Chile, and AWs play Poland 10th Oct. NZ beat Egypt on Wednesday they are likely into the knockouts at U20 WC. You'd almost think Baze would wait 24 hours until Wed arvo to announce his AWs squad.

Gray & LBS were in his Sept squad.

New caps Stanger & OPP.

Baze keeps Corica & Chiefy happy.
Just a full back from each. FDV & Payne the only ALM players picked.

Wilkins and Tuiloma the backup FBs. No guys from the U20s.

And a ADJ recall. De Jong is 29 in early Nov. When you add in guys like 25-26 year olds OPP, Stanger & Wilkins squad is actually a bit of more experienced looking than the Sept squad with it's 11 ALM players.

The reality check will be when Poland and Norway name theirs.

Our squad to face Poland and Norway in October has been confirmed 🇳🇿🇵🇱🇳🇴

🆕 Owen Parker-Price
🆕 George Stanger

🇳🇿⚔️🇵🇱 | 10 Oct 7:45am NZT
🇳🇿⚔️🇳🇴 | 15 Oct 5:00am NZT

Watch live and free on FIFA+ and TVNZ 🎥 pic.twitter.com/5ExU5r8dyz

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 29, 2025

Unsure how Ben Waine gets a call up, but here we are!

there's not a lot of other options when it comes to players up front.

Really happy with that squad selection. Not worth taking any other A-League players halfway across the world when none of them are particularly close to first choice. Maybe would have been cool to see Dyer instead of Waine, other than that you cant really fault the decisions.