WC Intercontinental Playoff vs Costa Rica | Tue 14th June (15th NZT) | 9pm (6am NZT)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/300613844/yeah-nah-were-the-all-whites-robbed-of-an-equalising-goal-against-costa-rica

No Singh = no goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128970306/all-whites-performance-in-world-cup-playoff-loss-to-costa-rica-hailed-as-one-of-their-best

Edit - oh and I do feel for Winnie especially. He's obviously focused his last 12 mths (since he finished at Brentford) pretty much solely on the AWs. Today's loss will hurt him more than most. He'll never go to another WC. Hope he plays at Eden Park and NZF do some sort of tribute.

This interview gone to Air yet? Any questions about some sort of OFC/AFC Nations League?

Infantino pre Covid was talking up the need for minnows like NZ to get more meaningful games, hence pushing the whole Nations League(s) concepts.

TONIGHT: FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaks exclusively to @NewshubSport's @NarelleSindos just hours away from the All Whites' attempt to qualify for their third Football World Cup https://t.co/L5Eo9bxdAG ⚽ #Newshub Live at 6pm | @ThreeNewZealand pic.twitter.com/6oZ7lrtGEA

— Newshub (@NewshubNZ) June 14, 2022

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/300613844/yeah-nah-were-the-all-whites-robbed-of-an-equalising-goal-against-costa-rica

No Singh = no goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128970306/all-whites-performance-in-world-cup-playoff-loss-to-costa-rica-hailed-as-one-of-their-best

struggle to see how 27% of voters believe that Garbett committed a foul.

Balbi

330 minutes since we last scored against a non-oceania team and 400 without scoring from open play as per Stuff.

Not easy when the officials want the other team to win and our top 3 creative midfielders can't play!

There's gotta be a voodoo on them at this stage to be honest...

Singh, Thomas and even Rojas were really huge misses considering how this game went.

theprof

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/300613844/yeah-nah-were-the-all-whites-robbed-of-an-equalising-goal-against-costa-rica

No Singh = no goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128970306/all-whites-performance-in-world-cup-playoff-loss-to-costa-rica-hailed-as-one-of-their-best

struggle to see how 27% of voters believe that Garbett committed a foul.

The number should be much higher, it was quite blatant. 

However, the result of the play should've been a NZ free kick due to Garbett being fouled first, then his hold on the CR player stopped any advantage (such as a goal).

hope we will be a good sparing partner for the Socceroos in September for their send off

Balbi

Watch the red card again, Reid completely loses it absolutely goes. Libby is the one who engaged with the ref because Reid blew up big time.

11 v 11, sorry I wasn't clear, I meant if Just comes on instead of Kosta we'd have done better. 

Yeah he was losing it big time. The poor guy hasnt played much so all his focus would have been on this game.

I think he was subbed soon after to avoid him getting an ugly red! 

I called it a foul before VAR went back to it, and just hoped it wasn't blatant enough to go back to... obviously it was.

I'm proud of the lads, we looked by far and away the better team and based on everything leading up to that game, that should not have been the case.

I'm happy with what Hay has done with the group and am looking forward to seeing what is really a very young core group of players developing into something even better.

Nelfoos

theprof

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/300613844/yeah-nah-were-the-all-whites-robbed-of-an-equalising-goal-against-costa-rica

No Singh = no goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128970306/all-whites-performance-in-world-cup-playoff-loss-to-costa-rica-hailed-as-one-of-their-best

struggle to see how 27% of voters believe that Garbett committed a foul.

The number should be much higher, it was quite blatant. 

However, the result of the play should've been a NZ free kick due to Garbett being fouled first, then his hold on the CR player stopped any advantage (such as a goal).

So VAR should have ruled in our favour then? in which case it agrees with the ref and advantage is played and the goal stands? the travesty of that decision is that if you decide that Garbett has grabbed onto the CR player's sock or leg then you have to look at why he was down there, and that is because he was fouled in the first place! I'm pretty sure VAR isnt allowed to rule call a ref back on those decisions anyway, (cards, offsides, fouls leading to goals only) the only reason it got involved is because there was a goal scored and that is a stretch as there was multiple plays after the foul before the goal.

theprof

Nelfoos

theprof

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/300613844/yeah-nah-were-the-all-whites-robbed-of-an-equalising-goal-against-costa-rica

No Singh = no goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128970306/all-whites-performance-in-world-cup-playoff-loss-to-costa-rica-hailed-as-one-of-their-best

struggle to see how 27% of voters believe that Garbett committed a foul.

The number should be much higher, it was quite blatant. 

However, the result of the play should've been a NZ free kick due to Garbett being fouled first, then his hold on the CR player stopped any advantage (such as a goal).

So VAR should have ruled in our favour then? in which case it agrees with the ref and advantage is played and the goal stands? the travesty of that decision is that if you decide that Garbett has grabbed onto the CR player's sock or leg then you have to look at why he was down there, and that is because he was fouled in the first place! I'm pretty sure VAR isnt allowed to rule call a ref back on those decisions anyway, (cards, offsides, fouls leading to goals only) the only reason it got involved is because there was a goal scored and that is a stretch as there was multiple plays after the foul before the goal.

First foul is by CR, so we should play on while NZ have the ball. Then Garbett commits a foul, ending any advantage we could have - like a double knock on in rugby, we would play on, but there's been a second offence that negates the advantage. It should be a free kick to us, but that's not how VAR saw it. I didn't think it was "clear and obvious" enough for VAR to get involved but, again, that's not how VAR saw it. It was clearly in the same phase of play though.

Today hurts. It stings. I'm really grumpy. 

But a reality check of what being robbed in a WC playoff is really like. 'Hand of Frog'. FYI - Ireland haven't been at a WC since 2002 (been there 3 times in total)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLUxMRYJAso

Think this is going to sting for a while. 
Found a replay and though I was filthy with Greive and Garbett for missing, we actually put them under a lot of pressure, and they were good in the opening salvos. Grieve was very effective, KeerUan put in a some challenging delivery and we were swarming the box. Sod it. 
And the manner in which Reid was wrestled the ground on a corner was familiar.
Oh well, it wasn’t as bad as Thierry Henry and the Irish or the Hand of God goal. Probably should stop watching it, I know what’s going to happen and it’s not guna make me feel any better…
Edit: and in the little bit I’ve watched Bell plays a fantastic switch to Cacace, across the width of the field with pace, dropping it in his foot. He also plays a good attacking ball into Wood’s feet that might have come to something on another day. He’s also very active with Lewis moving the ball around. If this was his worst game, he’s going to be very good indeed imo. 

coochiee

Today hurts. It stings. I'm really grumpy. 

But a reality check of what being robbed in a WC playoff is really like. 'Hand of Frog'. FYI - Ireland haven't been at a WC since 2002 (been there 3 times in total)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLUxMRYJAso

Snap! Hadn’t read your comment. 
Hope the Flying Kiwis who made it to the game are partying it up and getting a whole lot of catharsis. 

I'm struggling to come to terms with this tbh. Lack of sleep not helping! It hurts and can only imagine how the players are feeling. 

The last two playoffs were easier to stomach, we were second best and the better team went to the WC. Not so much this time. I was pretty disappointed with Costa Rica & think we would have brought much more value to the WC. Just seems such a shame and a missed opportunity our guys won't have the chance for 4 more years..

Feel for the older guys in the squad especially Reid as that's basically their international career over. Hopefully they can all make it out for the Aussie game and can get a good send off. 

FIFA please get us into some sort of competition over the next few years! (Gold Cup???). Would be a travesty if this young group basically go into exile after the Socceroos game only to emerge for WCQ against the islands and the odd friendly in the Middle East. 
 

Libby's comment about the refereeing is spot on - "It took the enjoyment out of the game". I cannot agree with this enough.

I would go a step further... It takes the CREDIBILITY out of the game. Why bother to try when the game was rigged against you from the outside? I'm not saying it was rigged, but at the VERY LEAST there was a clear bias in favour of Costa Rica. Maybe it was simply incompetence, we will never know.

Nelfoos

theprof

Nelfoos

theprof

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/300613844/yeah-nah-were-the-all-whites-robbed-of-an-equalising-goal-against-costa-rica

No Singh = no goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128970306/all-whites-performance-in-world-cup-playoff-loss-to-costa-rica-hailed-as-one-of-their-best

struggle to see how 27% of voters believe that Garbett committed a foul.

The number should be much higher, it was quite blatant. 

However, the result of the play should've been a NZ free kick due to Garbett being fouled first, then his hold on the CR player stopped any advantage (such as a goal).

So VAR should have ruled in our favour then? in which case it agrees with the ref and advantage is played and the goal stands? the travesty of that decision is that if you decide that Garbett has grabbed onto the CR player's sock or leg then you have to look at why he was down there, and that is because he was fouled in the first place! I'm pretty sure VAR isnt allowed to rule call a ref back on those decisions anyway, (cards, offsides, fouls leading to goals only) the only reason it got involved is because there was a goal scored and that is a stretch as there was multiple plays after the foul before the goal.

First foul is by CR, so we should play on while NZ have the ball. Then Garbett commits a foul, ending any advantage we could have - like a double knock on in rugby, we would play on, but there's been a second offence that negates the advantage. It should be a free kick to us, but that's not how VAR saw it. I didn't think it was "clear and obvious" enough for VAR to get involved but, again, that's not how VAR saw it. It was clearly in the same phase of play though.

I could not disagree more. Garbett did not foul the opposition player - he was falling to the ground because he, himself, was fouled. His arm ended up practically resting on the other player's leg due to being fouled. There is no way this is a foul by Garbett.

the concacaf gold cup is in 2023 June. July and Qatar is an invited guest, but the 2023 Asian cup is in June/July 2023 aswell. Who know's maybe we could replace Qatar to be the one invited guest?. Better than copa america as it is every two years.

morgenstern12

the concacaf gold cup is in 2023 June. July and Qatar is an invited guest, but the 2023 Asian cup is in June/July 2023 aswell. Who know's maybe we could replace Qatar to be the one invited guest?.

Why do you think Qatar was invited in the first place? Think logically about this. It makes zero sense whatsoever for a Central American confederation to invite Qatar to their tournament. A team and country that is in a completely different geographical location, and not known for their football prowess, or even viewership numbers. 

Also, why did FIFA give the WC hosting rights to Qatar?

Some interesting questions to ponder.

Gordinho

martinb

A second leg with home support would have been interesting. We might have even been favorites.

Absolutely - a return match would have been epic. FIFA didn't do the sport any favours with this one-off 'neutral' venue thing. Opportunity missed for them to really boost the game in both Costa Rica and here (even more).

It to happen, because they also had to squish in the AFC fourth round match between Australia and the UAE.

Ninja

Nelfoos

theprof

Nelfoos

theprof

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/300613844/yeah-nah-were-the-all-whites-robbed-of-an-equalising-goal-against-costa-rica

No Singh = no goals
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128970306/all-whites-performance-in-world-cup-playoff-loss-to-costa-rica-hailed-as-one-of-their-best

struggle to see how 27% of voters believe that Garbett committed a foul.

The number should be much higher, it was quite blatant. 

However, the result of the play should've been a NZ free kick due to Garbett being fouled first, then his hold on the CR player stopped any advantage (such as a goal).

So VAR should have ruled in our favour then? in which case it agrees with the ref and advantage is played and the goal stands? the travesty of that decision is that if you decide that Garbett has grabbed onto the CR player's sock or leg then you have to look at why he was down there, and that is because he was fouled in the first place! I'm pretty sure VAR isnt allowed to rule call a ref back on those decisions anyway, (cards, offsides, fouls leading to goals only) the only reason it got involved is because there was a goal scored and that is a stretch as there was multiple plays after the foul before the goal.

First foul is by CR, so we should play on while NZ have the ball. Then Garbett commits a foul, ending any advantage we could have - like a double knock on in rugby, we would play on, but there's been a second offence that negates the advantage. It should be a free kick to us, but that's not how VAR saw it. I didn't think it was "clear and obvious" enough for VAR to get involved but, again, that's not how VAR saw it. It was clearly in the same phase of play though.

I could not disagree more. Garbett did not foul the opposition player - he was falling to the ground because he, himself, was fouled. His arm ended up practically resting on the other player's leg due to being fouled. There is no way this is a foul by Garbett.

I actually agree with you, my imagined version of events series of events assumes Garbett commits a foul (which I dont think he did)  

Yeahcoulddo

I'm struggling to come to terms with this tbh. Lack of sleep not helping! It hurts and can only imagine how the players are feeling. 

The last two playoffs were easier to stomach, we were second best and the better team went to the WC. Not so much this time. I was pretty disappointed with Costa Rica & think we would have brought much more value to the WC. Just seems such a shame and a missed opportunity our guys won't have the chance for 4 more years..

Feel for the older guys in the squad especially Reid as that's basically their international career over. Hopefully they can all make it out for the Aussie game and can get a good send off. 

FIFA please get us into some sort of competition over the next few years! (Gold Cup???). Would be a travesty if this young group basically go into exile after the Socceroos game only to emerge for WCQ against the islands and the odd friendly in the Middle East. 
 

A Double This. I think that adds to the pain, and why we look forward to WC qualification as much if not more than anyone, because we so so rarely see our team play big games. Made even worse now because we know we have an exciting youngish team, playing a good brand of football.

67% possession (did I read that right), including being down to 10 men for last 25 mins against a team ranked 31 by FIFA, at a venue where most of the crowd were against us. Insane stat really.

Lets really hope FIFA/NZF can find us something meaningful in 2023-2024, before the usual OFC qualifying dross.

Against the 30th ranked team in the world we dominated. And well. Ok, so we didn't go thru but be excited football fans, NZ football is looking huge. It's happening. #CRCNZL

— David Dome (@Domestar) June 14, 2022

Now that I've calmed down a bit.

- We dominated the game, and it's not often you can say that about an NZ team against superior opposition. Credit to Hay.
- Unfortunately, we shot ourselves in the foot conceding a goal that should've never, ever been scored. It was Campbell v, what, 4 players? I still have no idea how no one stuck a foot out. I genuinely think that if they don't score that early, we'd be odds on to win or at least go to pens. They had no idea how to play proactive football.
- The disallowed goal was frustrating purely because VAR is simply there to suck the joy out of football, but I can see why it was given a foul. The red card was a stonewall red, too. Right call on that one and extremely dumb by Kosta, a player who would've never got on the pitch if Rojas had been fit.
- However, the ref was still clearly out of his depth.
- Keep the fudgeing momentum going and get us some games. I realise not all Euro players will always come, but who cares. The main thing these guys need is games together.
- I'm actually going to miss this big one off game for entry into the World Cup. For teams like us, these games almost feel bigger than the World Cup itself.

i'm curious as to who is next in line... thinking Smith, Boxall and Reid are probably not far off hanging up their international boots, so who is coming through??

Pjanker and Surman from the NIX, but who else... Stensness would have been good to have today!

Yeah despite the abject heartbreak today, there are some real positives to take out of this game. We outplayed the opposition and our young/inexperienced players were absolutely immense. Sail was great as ever, Pijnaker was a stand out both defensively and offensively, Cacace was our best player, Kirwan more than lived up to his name, despite not playing his best game Bell was still extremely classy, Lewis played like a man possessed, Garbett looked far beyond his years in tenacity and skill, Greive took the step up and looked like he belonged and the subs - Just, Stamenic and Waine - all played like consummate professionals with their hearts on their sleeves. The future of New Zealand Football looks brighter than ever and I for one am very, very excited for 2026 and hopefully some meaningful games in the four years we have to wait.

A good handful of those young players will be in top five leagues within the next few years and the rest are all good enough to be playing at a high level in Europe. Come 2026, I can see a team that might look something like this (hopefully with Wood still going strong and Thomas involved and back to his best) having a shot at getting out of the groups with some high quality performances.

2026 Dream.png 3.75 MB

There's a bunch more young guys on the come up like Sutton, Old, Surman, Paulsen, Jelacic etc plus kids we haven't even heard of yet to be excited about too. We have an incredible generation of talent coming through and combined with the culture Danny Hay has created, even with the loss today, we could well be on the brink of something very special.

MetalLegNZ

i'm curious as to who is next in line... thinking Smith, Boxall and Reid are probably not far off hanging up their international boots, so who is coming through??

Pjanker and Surman from the NIX, but who else... Stensness would have been good to have today!

Stanger is still promising imo but he needs to start playing at a respectable level before he gets a sniff at the All Whites first team. Although I think it’s too low a level for Pijnaker, if Stanger can’t get a game in the Scottish Prem then he should try out Ireland, it could be a good level for him to grow and improve.

I quite like reading Rollo's articles usually. But his ratings today were garbage. You don't give out 4s like that. 4s are for when you get smashed 5-0 or when you have a head explosion like Kosta (actually the 1 in that case might be fairly justified), but although we didn't do enough as a team, we still outplayed the Costa Ricans and played the 90 minutes with both crowd and refereeing team against us. Individual ratings were much higher than what he gave. Shame as it just feels like he's bashed them when they were down. No need for that. 

Just watched the replay and I still think the AWs were hard done by. If VAR calls a foul by Garbitt having his arm around the defender in the lead up to the non goal then they have to call a foul by the Costa Rica player who had an arm around obstructing Tuiloma in the lead up to their goal. Var didn’t even notify the ref.  It’s like Cacace said the officials were inconsistent. Costa Rica will be thrashed at the WC . Just watched Germany put five goals past Italy. Spain will shred them also.

I think the most brutal thing is that it's 4 more years before we play in a competive match rather than just friendlies. (No offense to other OFC nations if there is an OFC tourn played, but it's hardly exciting).

If you're Italy at least you have the Euros to look forward to in 2 years, if you're UAE you have the Asia Cup, if you're Colombia you have the Copa America, etc. I know Asia wouldn't want it, but even if we stay in OFC a good compromise would be to let us play the Asia Cup (and let the Nix play the Asian Champions league if we qualify!).

Friar Tuck

MetalLegNZ

i'm curious as to who is next in line... thinking Smith, Boxall and Reid are probably not far off hanging up their international boots, so who is coming through??

Pjanker and Surman from the NIX, but who else... Stensness would have been good to have today!

Stanger is still promising imo but he needs to start playing at a respectable level before he gets a sniff at the All Whites first team. Although I think it’s too low a level for Pijnaker, if Stanger can’t get a game in the Scottish Prem then he should try out Ireland, it could be a good level for him to grow and improve.

Hope Trevor Zwetsloot can resurrect his once promising career after that bad ACL. Has been 3 years now. But fingers crossed. He seems to flip between CB & DM. Having a Trevor in the AWs would be like a throwback to the old days.

Left field, but could Stamenic end up as an elegant ball playing CB one day? He's tall, and who knows the AWs at full strength may end with a veritable log jam of talent in midfield. That would be the complete opposite to an AWs throwback, a paucity of CBs and an oversupply of quality midfielders.

Stamenic also doesn't mind a bit of the physical. I see his first involvement as a sub yesterday was clattering his ex FC Copenhagen squad mate Oviedo in a tackle. Sort of annoying as conceding that foul, took another minute off the clock.

You also of course have Payne who can play in the centre of defence, and likes of Kyle Adams, Nikko Boxall, even Deklan Wynne (he's played a bit at CB) will be in discussions in the 2023-2026 cycle.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128968389/all-whites-v-costa-rica-chris-wood-deserved-better-outcome-in-doha-after-controversial-calls

coochiee

Friar Tuck

MetalLegNZ

i'm curious as to who is next in line... thinking Smith, Boxall and Reid are probably not far off hanging up their international boots, so who is coming through??

Pjanker and Surman from the NIX, but who else... Stensness would have been good to have today!

Stanger is still promising imo but he needs to start playing at a respectable level before he gets a sniff at the All Whites first team. Although I think it’s too low a level for Pijnaker, if Stanger can’t get a game in the Scottish Prem then he should try out Ireland, it could be a good level for him to grow and improve.

Hope Trevor Zwetsloot can resurrect his once promising career after that bad ACL. Has been 3 years now. But fingers crossed. He seems to flip between CB & DM. Having a Trevor in the AWs would be like a throwback to the old days.

Left field, but could Stamenic end up as an elegant ball playing CB one day? He's tall, and who knows the AWs at full strength may end with a veritable log jam of talent in midfield. That would be the complete opposite to an AWs throwback, a paucity of CBs and an oversupply of quality midfielders.

Stamenic also doesn't mind a bit of the physical. I see his first involvement as a sub yesterday was clattering his ex FC Copenhagen squad mate Oviedo in a tackle. Sort of annoying as conceding that foul, took another minute off the clock.

You also of course have Payne who can play in the centre of defence, and likes of Kyle Adams, Nikko Boxall, even Deklan Wynne (he's played a bit at CB) will be in discussions in the 2023-2026 cycle.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128968389/all-whites-v-costa-rica-chris-wood-deserved-better-outcome-in-doha-after-controversial-calls

Zwetsloot seems to be going well at New England Revs II, he’s getting consistent game time and is a starting xi player. From what I can tell he’s been playing solely as a DM but he could end up being a bit of a Stamenic and shift deeper. He’s an American through one of his parents so hopefully he can kick in and get an MLS deal.

I reckon next cycle we could be looking at the likes of Pijnaker, Tuiloma, Adams, Surman, Payne, de Vries, Stanger, Schrijvers and Boxall Jr in the mix for selection.

Watching that game it had me thinking, how competitive could we be on the world stage if our best athletes had a meaningful pathway to income through football instead of rugby? 

coochiee

Friar Tuck

MetalLegNZ

i'm curious as to who is next in line... thinking Smith, Boxall and Reid are probably not far off hanging up their international boots, so who is coming through??

Pjanker and Surman from the NIX, but who else... Stensness would have been good to have today!

Stanger is still promising imo but he needs to start playing at a respectable level before he gets a sniff at the All Whites first team. Although I think it’s too low a level for Pijnaker, if Stanger can’t get a game in the Scottish Prem then he should try out Ireland, it could be a good level for him to grow and improve.

Hope Trevor Zwetsloot can resurrect his once promising career after that bad ACL. Has been 3 years now. But fingers crossed. He seems to flip between CB & DM. Having a Trevor in the AWs would be like a throwback to the old days.

Left field, but could Stamenic end up as an elegant ball playing CB one day? He's tall, and who knows the AWs at full strength may end with a veritable log jam of talent in midfield. That would be the complete opposite to an AWs throwback, a paucity of CBs and an oversupply of quality midfielders.

Stamenic also doesn't mind a bit of the physical. I see his first involvement as a sub yesterday was clattering his ex FC Copenhagen squad mate Oviedo in a tackle. Sort of annoying as conceding that foul, took another minute off the clock.

You also of course have Payne who can play in the centre of defence, and likes of Kyle Adams, Nikko Boxall, even Deklan Wynne (he's played a bit at CB) will be in discussions in the 2023-2026 cycle.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128968389/all-whites-v-costa-rica-chris-wood-deserved-better-outcome-in-doha-after-controversial-calls

Stamenic's definitely got it in him. I remember he started at CB for Copenhagen's first team in a friendly in January, before he went back to Koge. Apparently he looked pretty decent, too. Copenhagen are the ones who permanently pushed him further back to DM in the first place - always thought he looked better playing more advanced, and though I reckon he still doesn't look comfortable sitting deeper he's definitely improving

siac

I think the most brutal thing is that it's 4 more years before we play in a competive match rather than just friendlies. (No offense to other OFC nations if there is an OFC tourn played, but it's hardly exciting).

If you're Italy at least you have the Euros to look forward to in 2 years, if you're UAE you have the Asia Cup, if you're Colombia you have the Copa America, etc. I know Asia wouldn't want it, but even if we stay in OFC a good compromise would be to let us play the Asia Cup (and let the Nix play the Asian Champions league if we qualify!).

Yeh England playing 3-4 games in the last week and complaining about too much football and how tired they are. We might not get that in 4 years.

martinb

siac

I think the most brutal thing is that it's 4 more years before we play in a competive match rather than just friendlies. (No offense to other OFC nations if there is an OFC tourn played, but it's hardly exciting).

If you're Italy at least you have the Euros to look forward to in 2 years, if you're UAE you have the Asia Cup, if you're Colombia you have the Copa America, etc. I know Asia wouldn't want it, but even if we stay in OFC a good compromise would be to let us play the Asia Cup (and let the Nix play the Asian Champions league if we qualify!).

Yeh England playing 3-4 games in the last week and complaining about too much football and how tired they are. We might not get that in 4 years.

 
I looked it up the other day, by the time the Eden Park game comes around, England will have played 35 home games since our last one. The US will have played 46.

siac

I think the most brutal thing is that it's 4 more years before we play in a competive match rather than just friendlies. (No offense to other OFC nations if there is an OFC tourn played, but it's hardly exciting).

If you're Italy at least you have the Euros to look forward to in 2 years, if you're UAE you have the Asia Cup, if you're Colombia you have the Copa America, etc. I know Asia wouldn't want it, but even if we stay in OFC a good compromise would be to let us play the Asia Cup (and let the Nix play the Asian Champions league if we qualify!).

Just as a response to this, AFC has already locked in the 24 teams qualified for the Asian Cup next year. So highly unlikely we get any sniff of that. But I'd still be interested in us targeting a guest spot in Copa America or the Gold Cup (someone further up noted that Qatar would need to withdraw from the Gold Cup, while Copa America pretty much always needs guest teams and we have shown ourselves to be a respectable opponent). 

lthomas20

siac

I think the most brutal thing is that it's 4 more years before we play in a competive match rather than just friendlies. (No offense to other OFC nations if there is an OFC tourn played, but it's hardly exciting).

If you're Italy at least you have the Euros to look forward to in 2 years, if you're UAE you have the Asia Cup, if you're Colombia you have the Copa America, etc. I know Asia wouldn't want it, but even if we stay in OFC a good compromise would be to let us play the Asia Cup (and let the Nix play the Asian Champions league if we qualify!).

Just as a response to this, AFC has already locked in the 24 teams qualified for the Asian Cup next year. So highly unlikely we get any sniff of that. But I'd still be interested in us targeting a guest spot in Copa America or the Gold Cup (someone further up noted that Qatar would need to withdraw from the Gold Cup, while Copa America pretty much always needs guest teams and we have shown ourselves to be a respectable opponent). 

Well Qatar have qualified for next year's Asian Cup (in China), and you can't play in both that and the simultaneous Gold Cup surely?  You'd think the Asian Cup (Qatar defending champions) would take precedence.

So yeah NZF get on the WhatsApp to CONCACAF.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_AFC_Asian_Cup

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_CONCACAF_Gold_Cup
On 2 September 2020, CONCACAF announced that 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar would participate in the 2021 and 2023 tournaments[2] despite the 2023 AFC Asian Cup overlapping with the Gold Cup.[3]