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The final 26 Panel for WC. PEOPLE'S PICK

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7 days ago

Rock Hopper wrote:
Righto the latest edition of Piney's power rankings are out. Who's got a Herald 'script?

This is his 26

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Kees Sims.

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Libby Cacace, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma.

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas.

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood.

Then has Rogerson, McGarry, Smith and Woud as 27-30.

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7 days ago

Not particularly interesting at this moment in time to talk about the 26. Is likely 23/26 are locked in. Some of the likes of OPP, Bayliss, de Jong, Woud, LBS, Rogerson, Smith, Sims, Gray, McGarry will get lucky and some will be unlucky but none of these players will get significant minutes in North America. Need to wait to see how those in this group finish their seasons and also wait to see if we get any tournament affecting injuries (none yet thankfully other than poor Oli).

Starting XI chat is more interesting to me. I'm a bit gutted we never got our best team together, which I think at this point is:

Crocombe/Paulsen (can't choose)
Payne Boxall Surman Cacace
Bell Stamenic
Just Thomas Old
Wood

Knowing Bazeley though he will shoehorn in McCowatt or Garbett or Singh regardless of how poor or nonexistent their club form is, no matter how none of them have delivered in white in quite a while.

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7 days ago · edited 7 days ago · History

2ndBest wrote:
Rock Hopper wrote:
Righto the latest edition of Piney's power rankings are out. Who's got a Herald 'script?
This is his 26

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Kees Sims.

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Libby Cacace, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma.

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas.

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood.

Then has Rogerson, McGarry, Smith and Woud as 27-30.

If Smith makes the 26 man squad (decent sized if) then I think my head will explode.

Only way he gets in would be if we have a massive injury crisis among the CB's over the next few months.

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7 days ago

imanixsupporter wrote:
Not particularly interesting at this moment in time to talk about the 26. Is likely 23/26 are locked in. Some of the likes of OPP, Bayliss, de Jong, Woud, LBS, Rogerson, Smith, Sims, Gray, McGarry will get lucky and some will be unlucky but none of these players will get significant minutes in North America. Need to wait to see how those in this group finish their seasons and also wait to see if we get any tournament affecting injuries (none yet thankfully other than poor Oli).

Starting XI chat is more interesting to me. I'm a bit gutted we never got our best team together, which I think at this point is:

Crocombe/Paulsen (can't choose)
Payne Boxall Surman Cacace
Bell Stamenic
Just Thomas Old
Wood

Knowing Bazeley though he will shoehorn in McCowatt or Garbett or Singh regardless of how poor or nonexistent their club form is, no matter how none of them have delivered in white in quite a while.

McCowatt over Old in that formation. You talk about club form... he was one of the top performers in his league before the winter break.

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7 days ago · edited 7 days ago · History

imanixsupporter wrote:
Not particularly interesting at this moment in time to talk about the 26. Is likely 23/26 are locked in. Some of the likes of OPP, Bayliss, de Jong, Woud, LBS, Rogerson, Smith, Sims, Gray, McGarry will get lucky and some will be unlucky but none of these players will get significant minutes in North America. Need to wait to see how those in this group finish their seasons and also wait to see if we get any tournament affecting injuries (none yet thankfully other than poor Oli).

Starting XI chat is more interesting to me. I'm a bit gutted we never got our best team together, which I think at this point is:

Crocombe/Paulsen (can't choose)
Payne Boxall Surman Cacace
Bell Stamenic
Just Thomas Old
Wood

Knowing Bazeley though he will shoehorn in McCowatt or Garbett or Singh regardless of how poor or nonexistent their club form is, no matter how none of them have delivered in white in quite a while.

Singh has been one of the most consistent AWs performers over the last couple of years. He was on fire first half against the Socceroos in Canberra, Wood just didn't convert his chances.

Hopefully Sarpreet can play a few games for the Nix and impress. For sure he is no longer a guaranteed AWs starter, but his form the last few years for the national team has been solid, and he still has the vision very few others in the squad have. Old hasn't done much as an attacker for the AWs, agruably that was his best match in a national shirt last night as a LB.

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7 days ago · edited 7 days ago · History

YoungHeartHM wrote:
2ndBest wrote:
Rock Hopper wrote:
Righto the latest edition of Piney's power rankings are out. Who's got a Herald 'script?
This is his 26

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Kees Sims.

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Libby Cacace, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma.

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas.

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood.

Then has Rogerson, McGarry, Smith and Woud as 27-30.
If Smith makes the 26 man squad (decent sized if) then I think my head will explode.

Only way he gets in would be if we have a massive injury crisis among the CB's over the next few months.

With his 2010 experience, it would be good to still have him involved somehow. Not in the playing squad of course, but some non-player role if possible. Just another head who knows the experience, can offer advice.

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7 days ago

Ok I agree that Singh has done ok semi-recently in white but McCowatt has done nothing for NZ since his Sweden goal and Garbett nothing for the AWs since things went sour in Holland for him.

Singh barely played in Serbia this season, looked very ordinary in his one recent Nix appearance and is highly unlikely to get more than two appearances before the end of the season. Can't see him proving himself to be anywhere near his best before the tournament unfortunately.

I also agree that Old hasn't got a great history for the All Whites either but he looked dangerous in moments in both games this tour and overall to me looks a much improved player since he left the Nix. His speed is a massive weapon at the very top level and his LB familiarity will be critical in games in which we will be doing a lot of defending (and also gives the option of swapping positions temporarily with Cacace mid-game when the oportunity presents itself).

Having X-factor players like Singh & Randall on the bench is nice too.

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7 days ago

This team plus the back UP

André de Jong
Storm Roux
Michael Woud
George Stanger
Logan Rodgerson
McGarry
Dalton Wilkins
Owen Parker Prive

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Kees Sims.

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Libby Cacace, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas.

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood.

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7 days ago

I think we might need OPP, as Thomas and Stamenic struggled against Finland and Bayliss is not ready for that responsibility.

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7 days ago

martinb wrote:
I think we might need OPP, as Thomas and Stamenic struggled against Finland and Bayliss is not ready for that responsibility.

What makes you think OPP with less than a full season of pro football at an ok level is ready to take on any responsibility?

Will he even be a starter this year at club level? If the above two struggles, I don't see how you can expect that OPP wouldn't have as well.

He's not making the squad.

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6 days ago

MetalLegNZ wrote:
martinb wrote:
I think we might need OPP, as Thomas and Stamenic struggled against Finland and Bayliss is not ready for that responsibility.
What makes you think OPP with less than a full season of pro football at an ok level is ready to take on any responsibility?

Will he even be a starter this year at club level? If the above two struggles, I don't see how you can expect that OPP wouldn't have as well.

He's not making the squad.

Just watching his debut for the AWs

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6 days ago

HattyCW wrote:
YoungHeartHM wrote:
2ndBest wrote:
Rock Hopper wrote:
Righto the latest edition of Piney's power rankings are out. Who's got a Herald 'script?
This is his 26

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Kees Sims.

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Libby Cacace, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma.

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas.

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood.

Then has Rogerson, McGarry, Smith and Woud as 27-30.
If Smith makes the 26 man squad (decent sized if) then I think my head will explode.

Only way he gets in would be if we have a massive injury crisis among the CB's over the next few months.
With his 2010 experience, it would be good to still have him involved somehow. Not in the playing squad of course, but some non-player role if possible. Just another head who knows the experience, can offer advice.

Yep, I'm not against that at all.

I think it's a different story perhaps if he stayed on in Auckland for the current A-League season. Even then he may still not have made it to the final 26 man squad due to our depth in that position, but he would have been in the picture more than what he is now.

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6 days ago

I just read via google AI as I was trying to find if Singh was back training, and apparently according to said AI he was spotted training with the allwhites in auck, anyone know if this is correct? Is he training with the nix is well?

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6 days ago

YellowAndBlack wrote:
I just read via google AI as I was trying to find if Singh was back training, and apparently according to said AI he was spotted training with the allwhites in auck, anyone know if this is correct? Is he training with the nix is well?

The news was yes he was on the grass with the AWs, but light stuff, and still 2 weeks away from a Nix return apparently.

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6 days ago

coochiee wrote:
YellowAndBlack wrote:
I just read via google AI as I was trying to find if Singh was back training, and apparently according to said AI he was spotted training with the allwhites in auck, anyone know if this is correct? Is he training with the nix is well?
The news was yes he was on the grass with the AWs, but light stuff, and still 2 weeks away from a Nix return apparently.

Thanks!
Good news

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6 days ago

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2026/4/1/all-whites-in-the-fifa-series-2026-the-reaction

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6 days ago

So sorry, from the other thread, de Vries is confirmed out of the World Cup?

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6 days ago

martinb wrote:
So sorry, from the other thread, de Vries is confirmed out of the World Cup?

No. He is set to be out for six weeks, so due back around the time of the A-League Men semifinals, roughly a month before the World Cup starts.

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6 days ago · edited 6 days ago · History

Very concerning in todays stuff article with Baz, that the only players name he name dropped was Tommy Smith.

Auckland will rise once more

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5 days ago · edited 5 days ago · History

Smith has only played 16 of 41 matches (1,159 mins) for Braintree who sit in the relegation zone in National League (English 5th tier). Sounds like he's spent alot of the season injured. As has been said many times surely you just find an off the field role for him.
https://us.soccerway.com/team/braintree/bBIP6pm3/squad/

If he's picked for the WC, someone of Pijnaker, Stanger or Tuiloma misses out. All playing at a higher level and more deserving of selection.

With a $250K payday per player up for grabs plus the dream of being at a WC, they would rightly be pissed off to miss out to Tommy. Plus none of the AWs fan base want Smith selected. You risk creating some bad press around the team before the event kicks off. Would be a poor decision by Baze and co to pick Smith as a player.

You will have Wood who was there in South Africa, plus Simon Elliott. Plenty of 2010 AWs based Stateside like Nellie, Brown, Christie and Lochhead (living just up the road from their San Diego base) who can come into camp to share some wisdom.

Would be great in Nelsen could be around the team from just before the Iran game up to the 3rd pool match. The guy is a legend, and is fantastic at giving people around him self belief.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360958796/gravity-not-lost-me-all-whites-coach-darren-bazeley-ready-make-big-fifa-world-cup-selection-calls

During his 16 years in NZ Football’s high-performance set-up, Bazeley has been the head coach with ultimate responsibility for selecting four age-group World Cup squads – for the 2013 U-17 event and the 2015, 2017 and 2023 U-20 events – as well as the predominantly U-23 Oly Whites squad for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

This time around he has more golden tickets to hand out than ever before and the rewards will be far greater too. All Whites players will share in 40% of the prize money, which means selection will be worth roughly $250,000 to each of them – a potentially life-changing sum.

“We've got our selection criteria, and it's around form, fitness, how they're performing at the club, but also how they've performed with us. It's important how they perform for their clubs, but how they performed for us in this window and the last window and the window before that is important – it goes a long way.

“Then there's the aspect of what's important off the pitch – culture, environment, leadership – everything that goes into that. Players like Tommy Smith weren't with us this tour, but he's an important cog in the culture and the leadership.

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5 days ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Very concerning in todays stuff article with Baz, that the only players name he name dropped was Tommy Smith.

Arggh ... say it isn't so!

He's only in the conversation 1) as Chris Wood's best mate and 2) this notion that his "experience" will be invaluable.

#1 really shouldn't factor in a coaches thinking. As for #2 if he really does have experience to offer that nobody else can... as many have said, what prevents Baz naming Smith as a member of the coaching staff and saving a squad spot for someone who could actually 1) professionally develop from the experience and 2) do a job if called upon?

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5 days ago

In the Guardian today, we get ranked 41st out of the 48 teams.
Iran ranked 38th, Egypt 19th and Belgium 7th. Socceroos are 28th.

We need to be going all out for a win in the first game.

41) New Zealand

The All Whites will be buoyed up by their first win over a South American team after an unexpected 4-1 victory over Chile, which also turned around a three-game losing streak. It means they head overseas to their first World Cup in 16 years with a skip in their step. It was a crucial turnaround after their disappointing 2-0 defeat against Finland in the first friendly. But against Chile, a reinvigorated New Zealand quickly got to work, pouncing after the opposition had been reduced to 10 men with two goals either side of half-time, managing to break down a higher-ranked opponent where they have previously come unstuck. Whether that stands up against top 10-ranked England in June is another matter. JK

World Cup fixtures: Iran, Los Angeles; Egypt, Vancouver; Belgium, Vancouver

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5 days ago · edited 5 days ago · History

The Guardian will just have a natural English bias because Salah & Marmoush play in the UK at big clubs, whilst they can't name any of the Iran squad.

FIFA has Iran ranked 21st & Egypt 28th. Is no way the Egyptians are 19 spots better than Iran at this WC.

In what preparation state Iran arrive at the World Cup is the great unknown, with most of their squad domestically based.
But they beat Costa Rica 5-0 and lost to Nigeria 2-1 this March window. Infantino said yesterday they will still play their 3 games (LA x2 & Seattle) stateside.
https://www.codesports.com.au/football/infantino-confirms-iran-to-play-in-usa/video/a9b4442b69cf55089784231c58f5c4be

Seems like the men's team are more pro the regime (at least outwardly) than the women's team, holding up photos of victims of the US/Israeli bombings before the Nigeria friendly. That game in Turkey.
The women's team of course refusing to sing the Iran national anthem at Women's Asian Cup in Australia.

Though it's likely easier to the regime's minders to control things playing in neighbouring Turkey as opposed to far away Australia.

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5 days ago · edited 5 days ago · History

Garbett might return this weekend?
Wood next week?

Bit of worry with Libby that it’s both calf and hammy issues and scant news on a likely return timing

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360958795/how-seven-injured-all-whites-are-tracking-10-weeks-out-fifa-world-cup

With the exception of Francis de Vries – and goalkeeper Oli Sail, who is not included here as he won’t be back until October at the earliest – Bazeley is confident his injured men will all be back on the pitch this month.

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4 days ago · edited 4 days ago · History

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360954391/there-are-10-weeks-until-fifa-world-cup-you-still-havent-seen-real-all-whites-yet

In March, we finally saw all three of Bell, Marko Stamenić and Ryan Thomas on the field together, if only for five minutes.

This looms as the biggest potential point of difference with regard to raising the All Whites’ floor.

Ben Old and Jesse Randall made it abundantly clear one of them must start on the left, to give the team a direct threat willing to take on defenders.

Alex Paulsen’s handling of Chile’s pressure with the ball at his feet reinforced that as an area where he has an edge over goalkeeping rival Max Crocombe.

There is more to debate about the All Whites’ top XI than their 26-man World Cup squad.

In November, I suggested 19 players whose absence would be a shock if fit.

Four months on, I’d add Callan Elliot, Nando Pijnaker, Randall and Ben Waine to that list.

Elliot has now backed up Tim Payne at right back in six of the All Whites’ 10 matches over the last 12 months.

Pijnaker is living the life of a fourth-choice centre back (and has also been injured). His invite to the team’s dinner with the 1982 and 2010 World Cup squads last Sunday shows he hasn’t dropped further down the pecking order.

Randall built on his hot form for Auckland FC in A-League Men with eye-catching performances against Finland and Chile, scoring in the latter match.

Waine has become a regular fixture in Port Vale’s lineup after not playing at all for three months from September to December.

That leaves three places, one of which will go to a goalkeeper – Henry Gray, Kees Sims, Nik Tzanev or Michael Woud.

One of the other two will likely go to a central midfielder to cover injury and suspension – Lachlan Bayliss or Owen Parker-Price.

The last place can be considered the wildcard spot, but is probably going to a defender.

Andre de Jong and Logan Rogerson’s cards were marked when they got just 13 minutes against Chile. They will likely be next up in the forward ranks if injuries strike, as will James McGarry at left back.

Centre back/right back Bill Tuiloma’s versatility gives him an edge, but Bazeley seems minded to use spot No 26 on veteran centre back Tommy Smith for his off-field impact. The 36-year-old’s hamstrings might yet have the final say in a call that would attract plenty of criticism if it went the other way.

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