https://x.com/ByPhillipRollo/status/1815851394521604549?t=zkFib-jLW2Fi5mgvTqMKBg&s=19
Garbett captain for the whole Olympics, ahead of Bell & Boxall. Intriguing. I wonder if this puts him in the conversation with Cacace & Bell for the All Whites vice captaincy
Garbett captain for the whole Olympics, ahead of Bell & Boxall. Intriguing. I wonder if this puts him in the conversation with Cacace & Bell for the All Whites vice captaincy
Libby is a locked in starter for the AWs. It's a very small number of AWs games he hasn't been at LB since his debut.
Bell's starting spot is definitely under threat with so many quality DMs around, and Garbett ain't locked in to start either. I'd say Cacace who did a good job in Vanuatu, is maybe now the heir apparent to the Woodsman.
But good chance to grow the leadership group, by giving Garbett some armband experience.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350327898/oly-whites-boosted-sarpreet-singhs-presence-paris-olympics
Joining Singh as over-age players in France are midfielder Joe Bell and centre back Michael Boxall, who only arrived in camp this week after playing for their respective clubs in Norway and the United States last weekend.
Midfielder Matt Garbett will captain the Oly Whites, with goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, defenders Tyler Bindon and Finn Surman and forward Ben Waine the others who have been regulars in All Whites squads over the past 12 months.
Left back Sam Sutton, attacking midfielder Jay Herdman and forward Jesse Randall will be three of the under-23 cohort looking to stake their claim for senior opportunities down the line.
The Oly Whites made it to the quarterfinals in Japan three years ago, where they lost to the hosts in a penalty shootout.
They will have their work cut out to repeat that result this time around, having been drawn in group A with hosts and tournament favourites France, the United States and Guinea – who they play first up on Thursday (NZ time).
“I’ll be challenging this group to say, OK, you're going to come up against some pretty good teams, but this is an opportunity for you to prove and show that you're at that level,” Bazeley said.
“For younger players like Jesse and Jay Herdman and those guys, it's a real opportunity to go and announced themselves. This could be a starting point for their careers.