History for coochiee

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2025/9/12/all-whites-vs-australia-2025-soccer-ashes-the-aftermath

Thoughts & Reaction

This trend of our centre-backs getting waxed by pacey forwards is not one that sits nicely, especially since Bindon and Surman are probably the quickest of our options. Boxall used to be lightning quick but at 37yo he’s obviously dropped a step or two, however the Auckland game reflected why Boxall’s veteran presence is so valuable alongside 21yo Surman and 20yo Bindon. Nando Pijnaker’s injured but he’s dropped way back in the mix ever since Bindon emerged anyway, same with Tommy Smith – between them they’ve got one international cap in the past twelve months. It’s between Bindon, Surman, and Boxall for the two starting spots and whoever is picked, we can’t be letting them get isolated by transitional attacks like this.

Bindon had his first bad game for the All Whites in G2 (and even in a clunky one, he still produced two or three superb defensive interventions). His precocious youth is so much a part of his success story that it’s easy to overlook his inexperience. Gotta remember that he’s also in a tricky situation at Sheffield United where he’s only on loan at a club that’s lost every game this season and that means he’s suddenly under pressure in a way that he’s never known before. It was always a supportive environment at Reading, first because there were no expectations and then because he’d won the fans over with his excellence. The first two years of his pro career were all ups. Now he’s going through a down spell for the first time and it felt like there was a hint of hesitation, a hint of doubt in his mahi against Australia. But he’ll get through it.

We definitely missed the unique combo of strength and mobility that Marko Stamenic offers. These two games and the 2024 Nations Cup are the only times that Stam has been absent during the Bazeley Era (and he’s started every game he’s been available for – Bazeley’s never used him as a substitute... although that could change with Ryan Thomas bringing extra competition in the midfield). In fact, of the four players who’ve appeared in at least 20/26 games under Baze, three of them weren’t here. The others were Cacace and Garbett, alongside Eli Just who has only missed one game under Baze and that was against Qatar where he probably would have been subbed on except the game got abandoned before that could happen. And since speed seems to be a theme from this series, Cacace and Garbett are also among our quickest players.

What’s our best midfield? Kinda think it’s Stamenic and Thomas with Singh further forward but the debate is misleading because the 2025 Soccer Ashes showed yet again that it’s not merely about the best eleven. You’ve got to have impactful players coming off the bench. You’ve got to have depth that can rotate in from game to game without dragging things down. With Stamenic, Thomas, Bell, and Rufer competing for two places and then guys like Singh, Just, McCowatt, and Garbett all in the mix for the attacking mid role (and the wide spots too for that matter) the All Whites are in a good place... when they’re all available.

Ceri Evans was 17 years and 45 days old when he debuted for the All Whites back in 1980. He remains the youngest known debutant for the All Whites but Luke Brooke-Smith is now in second place after being subbed on for the last dozen minutes at Mt Smart Stadium aged 17 years and 95 days. LBS was 16y 199d when he became the youngest ever Wellington Phoenix player. He was 16y 261d when he scored (also at Mt Smart Stadium) to become that club’s youngest goal-scorer. This lad is breaking a lot of records.

LBS has the opportunity to be selected for World Cups of all three age-grades within the space of one year. He’s going to be in the U20 World Cup squad for later this month. He’s still eligible for the U17 WC in November too, though his presence will depend on whether they can sort something out with the Wellington Phoenix since their season will have begun by then. And now having made a senior debut, encompassing the idea that he offers something a little different to other NZ forwards despite his youth, he’s firmly in the picture to challenge for a spot at the FIFA World Cup next year. Milly Clegg did the same thing a couple years ago, scoring at both the U17s and U20s before being selected for the 2023 Women’s World Cup (albeit not getting on the pitch).

Players who are locks for the World Cup squad (barring injury):

Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Boxall, Finn Surman, Tyler Bindon, Libby Cacace, Francis De Vries, Tim Payne, Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas, Matt Garbett, Sarpreet Singh, Elijah Just, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses

Kosta’s place could come under threat if Ben Waine and Max Mata both get cracking but that’s not looking very likely at the moment. That’s 18/23 players (hopefully 26 if they decide to keep the expanded squads from last time), which doesn’t leave much room for newcomers. There’ll be another goalie and probably three more defenders – right now that’d be Nik Tzanev, Nando Pijnaker and Tommy Smith... possibly with Callan Elliot too. 

That’d leave 1-4 spots up for grabs between recent candidates like Waine, Mata, Alex Rufer, Bill Tuiloma, Logan Rogerson, and yes Luke Brooke-Smith; emerging/re-emerging overseas pros like Kees Sims, George Stanger, Matt Dibley-Dias, and Dalton Wilkins; and whichever of the array of Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC locals breaks through in a hurry. Others like Owen Parker-Price and Andre De Jong have the ability but don’t really have unique enough profiles to stand out against the incumbents.

The longest active starting streak in the All Whites now belongs to... Sarpreet Singh. He’s been picked in each of the previous seven fixtures. Max Crocombe and Joe Bell are both at six games. It was previously Marko Stamenic at eight games before he missed this tour with a minor niggle. Bazeley was able to rotate a little during the Oceania WCQs so this stat doesn’t have any serious meaning to it but it’s a nice wee development for Sarpreet Singh who’s been able to maintain a great level of fitness and availability for both club and country of late. Very notable. One awful free kick aside, he was pretty quiet in the second game but was a massive part of what worked so well in the first one.

Chris Wood has scored 12 goals in 16 games for Darren Bazeley. He’s scored 45 goals in 86 internationals overall. He is two caps shy of equalling Ivan Vicelich’s appearance record. It feels like not that long ago that he surpassed Vaughan Coveny’s scoring record and already he’s left him in the dust with a 16-goal lead. No other active player has reached 10 international goals yet (closest are: Kosta Barbarouses with 9, then Ben Waine & Eli Just with 8 each).

The last time Ryan Thomas played for the All Whites was the debut game of Joe Bell, Callum McCowatt, Eli Just... and Elliot Collier. It was a 3-1 loss against Ireland. Players who’ve debuted in between that game and Thomas’ return to the national team:  

Nando Pijnaker, Max Mata, James McGarry, Niko Kirwan, Kelvin Kalua, Marko Stamenic, Matt Garbett, Joe Champness, Francis De Vries, Dalton Wilkins, Alex Greive, Oli Sail, Ben Old, Ben Waine, Jamie Searle, Callan Elliot, Kyle Adams, Tyler Bindon, Finn Surman, Fin Conchie, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Oskar van Hattum, Alex Paulsen, Sam Sutton, Jesse Randall, and Liam Gillion.

Also, James McGarry’s debut came the game after Ryan Thomas’ previous match and until this tour he hadn’t played since. His absence was only three days less than Thommo’s. McGarry made two short sub cameos here and you know what? He looked decent. There isn’t much room for him in a full strength All Whites squad at the moment but it’ll be exciting to see what he brings to Brisbane Roar after a tough couple years in Scotland (with a bit of Greece at the tailend).