Tanzania, Botswana, Italy friendlies

Ok AusKiwi....

Rubbish.  Who is being unrealistic? 

We should have won by a few goals at least.

I think people in NZ have a very poor understanding of just how much quality game time can impact on how well a team plays. They also have this incredibly stupid percpetion of all African no-name countries as worse than us at football, despite the well-known fact that Africa turns out plenty of gifted footballers.

And Auskiwi, if you don't suffer fools, how do you put up with yourself?

I might just wait until after the Confed Cup before putting more sh*t on Rickie and his tactics. Yet it seems like Deja Vu ala Nix's.

Auskiwi and I do sort of think alike. However, as I have alreay mentioned that we have not played for ages and one of the things Ricki mentioned ( I said this 2 weeks ago) that it was HOT - 32 degrees.We are very quick to have a go, but once again every time we play we are playing nations that football is the number 1 game.

Hi all,

I'm not sure what your reasoning is for this comment.

The world rankings between us and Tanzania are quite close, and we are probably fortunate to be ranked where we are.

A difference of 27 places doesnt equate to a 2 goal win.

They must be shaking in their boots.

Loving the Gilardino in that team tbh, might have to change my avatar back to him...

We were crap in that hot climate and not having any game time for a couple of months and had a crap training ground plus crappy stomach bug.

I suppose it was expected to have a crappy result.

But we better perform well this next game and get on song in time for the Italy game. If we are not playing tight in this game, I question whether we deserve to even play the Italians if we can't achieve some consistency across the board.

Need to check out the Italian/Irish game in the net . . .

BTW I thought that Ricki pulled out the long ball game in the second half because the Tanzania GK has some high ball handling weakness. Team morale and fitness is an important lead in and we should focus on each game as it comes. I hope we play quick accurate passing through the midfield before unleashing any wing attack. I hate using long running wing attacks, it slows things down and loses variety options in attack.

I hope the game is covered on the net or TV somewhere.

The All Whites, I think most would agree, are a better side than Tanzania and we should have adapted to the climate.  E.g. it was stinking hot they said, so we should have done long passes across the back and in midfield, worked our way up the pitch slowly if need be, avoiding unnecessary expenditure of energy, and this would hopefully run the opposition ragged chasing the ball.  Although I admittedly didn't see the game I don't think this happened.

And 27 places doesn't equate to a 2 goal win, it equates to nothing - those rankings, for a large part, are bollocks.

Italy are going to put a dress on us.
loyalgunner2009-06-05 23:38:48

Most wouldnt agree because we lost to them !! Still dont see any basis for saying that we are better, and should have won by 2.

Do agree that a big step up needed for Italy

Well fellas if we dont beat Botswana I give up!!!!!!!

Well according to Wiki they don't have one European/Asian/American based player in their national team, with everybody playing in Tanzania bar one who plays in Ethiopia.  And while I know some of the African teams are very strong I doubt many of the strong ones would be from Tanzania, my understanding is that they're more Sth Africa, Egypt, Morocco.  Based on that I think a team stacked with A-League players, plus other European-based players should be able to make reasonably light work of Tanzania - even with a number of players out.

Hot temperature, US-based players only arriving the day before, stomach bugs, being mucked around with training.
That was only a warm-up.

These problems can be fixed before the next game; I'd expect us to do better against Botswana.


How great would it be to go to Africa for work ... ?

agree with all the excuses, no denying that they are true - but unfortunately these disadvantages are always there when the Allwhites play.

Err, this is the All Whites we're talking about...

Completely agree.

And how many European based players who play regular top-class football do we have? Or for that matter in the MLS?

And can we really simply assume that the A-league is better than the Tanzanian league?

Does the fact that Tanzania play in a strong confederation regularly, and are capable of getting decent results against some good opposition not indicate that they're a decent side?

+1. A team of good individuals is no match for a great team made up of slightly lesser players.

We may have a section of our squad playing together every day, but Tanzania will be able to hold regular training camps and work exceptionally hard on tactics and match situations because they don't need to fly their squad halfway around the world to play a home game.

With this opinion based on nothing I'm going to say that I think the A-league is superior to the Tanzanian league.

Does anyone know if the Italy game is going to be televised? I mean seriously, that is a huge game for the All Whites and it would be a big shame not to show it!

What is it with NZ sport, be it footie or rugby or cricket or netball, we are always looking for scapegoats or excuses.  Most NZ problems come down to being out played ala this game.

Black and white we should have at least got a draw given that we played pro players.  Ricki always uses excuses.  Its about time he manned up and said that his tactics for NZ are simply not good enough.... and while we are at it stop using the same feeble excuses that we have used since the mid 70s when we were amateurs.

Hey I was hoping and dreaming, stop spoiling it!!

Sorry. Carry on as you were.

Hey sorry if has been mentioned. But what time is the All whites game on tonight. and any coverage, Tv Radio Net updates?

I don't know if this link will work but I'm going to try it for live updates...


www.oleole.com/footballresults/matchreport/botswana-newzealand060609/ml72ac.html

TV coverage for the Italy game? what time of the day is it and is there a pub or the like in Auckland to watch it?

that link won't work. i checked it several times in the tanzania game. i think it is going to be the same story as tanzania. will have to wait for the articles after the game.

yeah Chris I remember your comments at the time lol!

Here is a site which shows highlights, it is normally not too bad, I think they get their videos from you tube, so the match highlights should be on their as well. There are a couple of sites showning the match live steam, but these sites normally dont work too well.

More info on tonights Botswana v NZ game re the pitch... they actually replaced the turf for us !!
see here for sauce

www.kickoff.com/static/news/article.php?id=8905
RedGed2009-06-06 22:34:36

I don't see any Botswana game on Iraqgoals but it has the Twenty20 match of NZ vs Scotland on channel 4.

Scotland is batting.

7 overs.

I know, it's steer madness and looks fun.

46-1 at the half way stage (i.e.3.3 overs done)