OFC Men’s Nations Cup 2024 (Vanuatu)

Fantastic surface out there compared to what we're used to. Hopefully doesn't chop up too much

Nice confidence boost for Waineo that. Deft ball from Elijah Just in the build up too.

Fill yer boots lads!

Ben Waine 1st goal, what a thump that was. He looks like he has added some muscle and doesnt look so lightweight anymore

Waine Train pulling into the station.

Did the commentators mic sound just drop??

My volume is all over the place. Got to love the OFC.

YoungHeartHM

Nice confidence boost for Waineo that. Deft ball from Elijah Just in the build up too.

Fill yer boots lads!

 Must have read my earlier post!  Stuff Waineo

Just is pulling the strings nicely going forward. Such an underrated classy little player. If he just put a bit more muscle on him he'd be a beast.

Great goal that too from Waineo. What a ball!

We want 10!

If we can win every game by a stupid margin then maybe FIFA will take notice that something needs to change as far as confederations go.

Good to see Paulsen and Bindon now locked in for NZ.

Great to hear the crowd noise oohing and ahhing after that shot - looks a lovely day all around!

loyalgunner

Good to see Paulsen and Bindon now locked in for NZ.

Doesn't it need to be 3 competitive games?  Which they should get in this tourney anyway. Also don't forget Surman as well (Welsh heritage)

That’s the first I’ve heard about 3 caps but you may be right.

loyalgunner

If we can win every game by a stupid margin then maybe FIFA will take notice that something needs to change as far as confederations go.

I was more alluding to the fact we don't score many. When we get the chance and have an opponent on the ropes like we do so far today, let's just go for the jugular.

Run it up.

Disappointed with how crap the Solomon's have been though. Average stuff from them in what are conditions that should give them some advantage.

dunnix

Great to hear the crowd noise oohing and ahhing after that shot - looks a lovely day all around!

The broadcast is quite nice, the venue looks like a pleasant one and for the Solomons boys they can look at Dan Hall, Raphael Lea’i and Brian Kaltak and see that there are pathways if they can catch the eye. 

Tbh so far it’s a reasonable ad for Oceania football. 

Geez only 30 minutes in. Wonder how much huffing and puff there’s gonna be at 60 minutes. 
They’re not exactly Spritely now.

In a must win game for the Solomon's you would have thought starting Raphael Lea'i would have been the better option than bringing him on after 35 minutes, chasing the game at 2-0 down...

YoungHeartHM

loyalgunner

If we can win every game by a stupid margin then maybe FIFA will take notice that something needs to change as far as confederations go.

I was more alluding to the fact we don't score many. When we get the chance and have an opponent on the ropes like we do so far today, let's just go for the jugular.

Run it up.

Disappointed with how crap the Solomon's have been though. Average stuff from them in what are conditions that should give them some advantage.

Tbf their defense has never been a strong suit, as they're an all-gunz-blazing attacking team with futsal roots that capitalises off poor conditions and poor opposition game control. With a good pitch condition, they're opened like a knife through butter by any patient team. Quality in transition but not much else; you're still right, as even in that regard, they've disappointed so far.

No Lea'i should likely be down to fitness? Still, as their undoubted star, you'd like to see a risk or two. For context, some of their other best players failed trials in the Maltese second tier a couple of years ago

Binden and Finn cap tied now or too young?

Cheers Kosta!

Also that Solomon Islands penalty shout... hilarious 😂 Feni basically jumped into our defender, honestly should've been yellow for simulation

Nice to see the "full" strength side getting the job done fairly competently enough. Ben Waine looks vicious. Absolutely itching for a hatrick

Some of our players looked a little shagged after 30 minutes. Wickedly hot or just the off-season?

Think the bench will get cleared early

I guess we aren't going to beat Australias 31-0 scoreline today.  But happy with the progress so far.  Lets score a few more in the second half. 

3-0 H/T.

Fair on reflection. Strong start, punctuated by a slowed down middle part of the half and a cheeky goal tucked away at the end there. Heat taking its toll on that middle part of the half - 26°C but 94% humidity! Might as well be playing in a sauna!

The game is pretty much under control as it stands, nothing really from the Solomon's performance so far gives me any confidence that they'll cut that deficit, so will expect to see all subs used in the second half to keep players fresh. 

A few more debutants off the bench perhaps?

Feeling vindicated, knew the boys would find it easy in this tournament. A few on here were worried we would struggle. 

Weird sub to use indeed...
Anyone know what the sub rules are for the tournament?
3 sub windows and 5 subs or just 3 subs?

Island conditions are tough - would hope for good rotation between this game and the next to allow decent recovery!

AucklandPhoenix

Some of our players looked a little shagged after 30 minutes. Wickedly hot or just the off-season?

Think the bench will get cleared early

Love seeing Waine hungry for a hat-trick, hope he gets it before he's subbed off.

Subs not exactly staking much od a claim to start. Gone a bit quiet going forward this half. 

Well this second half is just shark all round.

Yeah this is 100% terrible, there's not really any getting around it.

Vanuatu game gonna be interesting. A better defensive outfit than the Solomons and we tired fast today.

I wonder if they will take a note from this game - try to hold us out early while we're fresher, then put the pressure on second half.

A very dry second half but hopefully we get into more of a groove against Vanuatu and in the finals.

The ref blew full time a minute early? 

Lucky not to concede right at the death there. Poor passing and pissing around in the middle wasting time and a turnover almost burns us.

Terrible second half - Heat or not that was a dreadful watch.

I know its hot, but stop going backwards so much...some of those passes in the second half just not good.

nufc_nz

The ref blew full time a minute early? 

Probably for the best.

boys looked tired at the end and some sloppy passing

Did what needed to be done.
A lot of new boys there - will be better from the experience

I know I shouldn’t be making gigantic assumptions based upon 10 minutes, but for those in the know is this guy Finn McConchie any good?

The 10 minutes I saw virtually every pass was back when in the majority of cases there was no pressure. Also looked a little tired.

WTF the Solomons coach interview…

“Our locker rooms were locked when we went to go in at half time, I’m not sure what that was about? But anyway…”