Juneof86, you're my hero. I will reread before the qualifier.
I think Danny should get you on the payroll (and I'm not even joking).
I was going to say that I accept payment in World Cup match tickets, but New Zealand play on the same days as Canada, so that won't really work. That is a flattering comment though.
Juneof86, you're my hero. I will reread before the qualifier.
I think Danny should get you on the payroll (and I'm not even joking).
I was going to say that I accept payment in World Cup match tickets, but New Zealand play on the same days as Canada, so that won't really work. That is a flattering comment though.
What Danny could also do of course is make a ph call to Canadian coach & ex NZF employee John Herdman. Perhaps grasping your excellent analysis notes to discuss with JH.
Date has been confirmed by the All Whites page on Facebook as June 14.
App i use currently says 1am our time on the 15th but i've seen a few people mention different times on different apps so who knows.
That would be 4pm Doha time, peak summer. I reckon it’ll be late evening local to avoid the day time heat. OFC qualifiers used 8pm kick offs, so 5am NZ
And yes will be a night time kick off Qatar time. Day time Doha temps in June are in 35-42 degrees Celsius range! Expect a 'low' at kickoff of about 30 Celsius. It's why we have a Nov-Dec (rather than usual mid year) World Cup after all. https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/qatar
I presume the Playoff games will be in an airconditioned stadium? Again they should be being held somewhere like Wembley.
And see that Peru are to have a 2 week training camp (plus friendlies) in Spain. It maybe that them, AWs & Costa Rica all only fly into Qatar a day or 2 before June 13th/14th?? Difficult to have proper training camps in 40 degree daytime heat.
But Australia & UAE will have to get to Qatar earlier for their AFC playoff.
Disappointing news about Thomas. But it's hardly a surprise. These AWs will deal with his absence far better, than those of 2013 with Reid's late withdrawl before the game at the Azteca, or Wood on one leg in 2017.
Reading Juneof86's Ticos summary, Costa Rica's possible first choice LB is out (27yr old Ronald Matarrita from Cincinnati in MLS), so injuries can go both ways.
Singh on the other hand, lets all hope & pray he gets over this groin injury. Interesting that he's flown all the way back to NZ to get treated.
as much as I'd like to have thomas in the WC squad, surely Hay cant pick him if he's not played one game to get the team to the WC? I hope Singh recovers, he is a key player for the squad overall.
as much as I'd like to have thomas in the WC squad, surely Hay cant pick him if he's not played one game to get the team to the WC? I hope Singh recovers, he is a key player for the squad overall.
Neither Smith or Reid helped the AWs get to Sth Africa, but Ricki picked them.
Peru warmup confirmed June 5th (NZT). Plus a 2nd warmup game in Doha June 10th, which seems very close to the actual Playoff.
Maybe just 45 mins per player in the 2nd game ie wholesale changes at HT
Wonder if games will be closed doors? Anyway all in all preparation for Playoff is likely as good as it could have been, coming out of 2 year worldwide pandemic.
AWs will either be good enough or not on the day against the Ticos, in what shapes as a tight tense tussle
NZ Football have lined up another game, to be played in Doha on June 10, before they take on Costa Rica but they are still working to finalise an opponent. Hay said there were a “couple of options” on the table
NZF’s Instagram post announcing the game said ticket info will come soon, so definitely not behind closed doors. It’s being played at Espanyol’s stadium in Barcelona, if it was actually behind closed doors it would be a training ground, even that Canada game in 2018 was live-streamed in the end.
As for Thomas, if we qualify he’s goes if he’s fit no questions asked. I feel he’s always been quite underrated here, simply because he hasn’t been in England or the A League. There’s been considerable credit given to guys like Garbett, Singh and Stamenic, but they play Italian U19s, a bottom half 2. Bundesliga side, and a bottom half Danish second tier team respectively, compared to a guy who’s at PSV at the very top of the Eredivisie and playing European football every season. Taking someone like Howieson over him just because he went to Qatar to play vs PNG would be crazy.
I hope Hay runs a bigger squad than a 23 to get a look at guys who didn’t go to Qatar, though a few of the marginal guys play summer seasons so wouldn’t be so easy. If it’s in the window then should be no trouble getting them their though. Guys like Mata, Wynne, Collier, Whyte, Tzanev, Crocombe have all looked to be doing alright last few weeks, and are playing in leagues that Hay has picked players from in the last window, so tough to argue that they need to be at higher levels. They could all possibly come down to essentially ’trial’; none of them would be starters but given it’s likely any World Cup could have squads close to 30 due to Covid fears, there’s no harm in getting a good look in.
NZF’s Instagram post announcing the game said ticket info will come soon, so definitely not behind closed doors. It’s being played at Espanyol’s stadium in Barcelona, if it was actually behind closed doors it would be a training ground, even that Canada game in 2018 was live-streamed in the end.
As for Thomas, if we qualify he’s goes if he’s fit no questions asked. I feel he’s always been quite underrated here, simply because he hasn’t been in England or the A League. There’s been considerable credit given to guys like Garbett, Singh and Stamenic, but they play Italian U19s, a bottom half 2. Bundesliga side, and a bottom half Danish second tier team respectively, compared to a guy who’s at PSV at the very top of the Eredivisie and playing European football every season. Taking someone like Howieson over him just because he went to Qatar to play vs PNG would be crazy.
I hope Hay runs a bigger squad than a 23 to get a look at guys who didn’t go to Qatar, though a few of the marginal guys play summer seasons so wouldn’t be so easy. If it’s in the window then should be no trouble getting them their though. Guys like Mata, Wynne, Collier, Whyte, Tzanev, Crocombe have all looked to be doing alright last few weeks, and are playing in leagues that Hay has picked players from in the last window, so tough to argue that they need to be at higher levels. They could all possibly come down to essentially ’trial’; none of them would be starters but given it’s likely any World Cup could have squads close to 30 due to Covid fears, there’s no harm in getting a good look in.
Yes fact it's at Espanyol's home ground (capacity 40,000), means it is unlikely to be behind closed. Big difference though between opening gates to all and sundry, and closed doors like Canada was, with livestreaming off 2 cameras - hard as future opposition to analyse that much from the latter. So much happens away from where the ball actually is.
Could actually be a sizeable crowd if is open gates. Big Peruvian expat community in Spain, and all over Europe. Getting bigger as their economy is tanking, with 5 presidents in 5 years - and the current incompetent one on his last legs.
So maybe Hay and Co see value in a game against a FIFA world ranked 22 quality opponent, in front of a crowd, with a bit of edge about the game. It hasn't been since Ireland in 2019, that after all AWs have played in front of a largish crowd. All the friendlies last 12 months, plus OFC tourney played in empty stadiums. From memory even Tokyo Olympics last year had no to very small crowds. So they could be seeking to simulate a game with a bit of match day tension & nerves about it, as the Costa Rica game will have in spades.
And yeah Thomas is a class act. Hopefully he can stay at PSV (contract is ending) though they must be losing patience. But I wouldn't write him off from WC at all, if AWs win the Playoff.
Already reported somewhere that Hay will start with a 30 man squad. But don't see much room for the fringe players mentioned above. Except Tzanev and/or Crocombe. Was 30 at the OFC tourney. M Boxall, Rojas, Singh (hopefully), and at least one of Tzanev/Woud will already be additions to the 30 guys of March. Though if you were picking 4 keepers, yes I'd agrue that should be Crocombe given level he's at compared to Searle & Gould - if unvaccinated Tzanev is not picked.
And I guess if Lewis is not recovered from his injury, and question marks linger about Singh, Whyte comes into the frame as a backup. That's given Thomas is out and Howieson failed to impress in March.
So okay yes I agree half of your fringe players are possibilities to start the training camp!
You have to pick the best available. If we make it that far (and hes fit) Thomas will be there. He's probably our best player behind Wood when fit.
Thomas just got ruled out. I never thought he'd play.
The likelihood of him being fit for the WC (or ever?) if we somehow qualify seems really low too.
Singh being out the much bigger concern for me.
What is Thomas's injury. I know he was out with an ACL a few years back. Then he played a bit. Then he disappeared from the scene again with-out much explanation. Then it was reported he had surgery on his knee again, but without much explanation on what exactly the issue was. Anyone know. But yes Singh is a big concern. He had groin issues, Was kinda playing through it at club level which seems now was a massive mistake for a pro. Missed the OFC tournament and only one or two club games. Then he played again to then be not seen since. Now he's back in NZ getting treatment? before the season is finished. Doesn't sound good.
New Zealand will face Peru in a men’s international friendly in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Intercontinental Play-Off.
The All Whites will face La Blanquirroja in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 5.30pm (Monday, June 6, 2022 at 3.30am NZT). The game will be played at RCDE Stadium, home of La Liga’s RCD Espanyol, and will be open to fans for the first time since the team returned to international action in October 2021. New Zealand Football confirms ticket information will be announced shortly.
The game will be followed by a behind closed doors warm-up match against another national team, set to be played on Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Both games will form part of the team’s preparations ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Intercontinental Play-Off against Costa Rica, now confirmed to take place on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. The venue, kick-off time and ticketing information for the play-off will be announced by FIFA soon.
“These two fixtures are exactly the type of games we need to be playing ahead of the Intercontinental Play-Off,” said New Zealand head coach Danny Hay.
“Peru are a top side, ranked number 22 in the world, but we need these kind of challenges if we want to compete at this level. With them playing in the other Intercontinental Play-Off, against either Australia or UAE, they are the perfect side to be facing.
“It is also really good we have a warm-up game in Doha so we have the opportunity to get used to the conditions.
Is going to be very interesting now what happens with Rojas. Apparently Hay sees him as a midfielder. But where? With Thomas out and Singh under an injury cloud, in form Rojas’s value may just be rising.
Still annoyed he didn’t play in the OFC Tourney for whatever reason. It’s getting late in the piece now to bring him into the setup, esp the starting 11.
Think Danny did really well in that interview to emphasise the shift in culture of that he's brought into the set up. His words were something that hopefully make the casual fan with their morning coffee and toast sit up and notice. It seems quite clear that he's honed in on something that was lacking back in his playing days and is really making an effort to be the change he wants to see, and I can't help but applaud that.
On a separate note kind of excited to hear they are looking to go all out against Peru. As he noted they very rarely get the chance to test their level against a world class side so they want to make the most of it. I had anticipated they'd be going in it for more of a runabout the park and not risk any injuries for Costa Rica.
No matter what happens in June, it's really encouraging to be going into a world cup playoff with just a smattering more confidence then we're usually entitled to. And I commend Danny and his team for the efforts they've put into turning the All Whites fortunes around over the last year. This is a team the whole country could and shoukd get behind!
As someone who actively avoids TVNZ (or TV3) that interview surprised me. The interviewer not only asked good questions but actually listened to the responses without interupting (which is rare, lots of people doing interviews these days think they are the one the audience wants to listen to). Well done TVNZ.
As someone who actively avoids TVNZ (or TV3) that interview surprised me. The interviewer not only asked good questions but actually listened to the responses without interupting (which is rare, lots of people doing interviews these days think they are the one the audience wants to listen to). Well done TVNZ.
Newshub is TV3. Any idea when the interview will be aired?
Mods are onto it. Handy time for NZ viewers. Hopefully by 9pm Qatar time it's a bit cooler in June.
I imagine a lot of training in Qatar pre the game, will be late at night (could be a close to midnight finish local time if goes to ET & pens). Need to get those body clocks & sleeping patterns in tune.
Hopefully they organise the last warmup game there (behind closed doors) also late at night local time, and same Peru game in Barcelona.
Latest: All Whites' WC Intercontinental playoff match with Costa Rica will kick off at 9pm in Doha, (6am in NZT).
Hi all, Newshub are interested in talking to anyone heading to this game. If you are, or know anyone, please let me know asap. Chur
There will be a bunch of us in Doha for this. As happened in Russia for the ConFeds might be best to get a reporter there and speak to the fans the day before. I also presume that like Russia, there will be a couple of NZ media faces there given how easy it is to get to from NZ and the importance of the game.
“We went to Melbourne Victory and they declined to release him and that’s just part and parcel of football,” Hay said.
The All Whites cruised through qualifying, beating the Solomon Islands 5-0 in the final to advance to the intercontinental playoff.
They will now play Costa Rica back in Doha on June 15 (NZT) for a place at the World Cup and Hay said the door was still open for Rojas to be involved, having played in the past two intercontinental playoffs.
“Marco Rojas has come into form. He’s playing well. It’s nice to see that,” Hay said.
“The reality is the A-League players do have to do a little bit more. We do watch a lot of it but we understand it’s a big jump up to international football for them.
“The fact that Marco is dominating in that league is a very positive sign for us.
“We’re still keeping an open mind and if players are in good form then they will certainly be considered and Marco is definitely one of those players.”
“The reality is the A-League players do have to do a little bit more. We do watch a lot of it but we understand it’s a big jump up to international football for them.
Interesting quote for me... can he really argue that the A League is a lower level comp than the Irish Premier League is, or that Helsingor is playing at a higher level. Let alone looking at a couple other clubs some of our players are at the have been picked (Wilkins etc). Kirwin is another example, I don't believe Serie C is better than the A League.
“The reality is the A-League players do have to do a little bit more. We do watch a lot of it but we understand it’s a big jump up to international football for them.
Interesting quote for me... can he really argue that the A League is a lower level comp than the Irish Premier League is, or that Helsingor is playing at a higher level. Let alone looking at a couple other clubs some of our players are at the have been picked (Wilkins etc). Kirwin is another example, I don't believe Serie C is better than the A League.
It’s tough to compare leagues, and using the continental results is never that accurate, but if you look at how the three A League teams did in Asian competition this season, it’s tough to argue it’s great.
Victory sit second but lost their ACL playoff to Vissel Kobe, who sit dead-last in the J League, winless through 10 games. Sydney are bottom of their ACL group on 2 points from 5 games, behind Yokohama, Jeonbuk from the J and K Leagues, level with Hoang Anh Gia Lai from Vietnam. City topped their group, as well as the A League, but their group had a Thai team, Jeonnam who are mid-table in the Korean second tier, and a team from the Philippines. Even then they only won the group on goal difference.
It’s also maybe less so the level of the league, but more so that of the player. Pijnaker is likely to be there from Ireland, but not his teammate Max Mata, and there’s no A League NZ centre back that will really miss out. Payne will be there, and the only other is Surman, which wouldn’t happen for many reasons. I have no idea how the League of Ireland stacks up against USLC in the US, where a couple NZ centre backs play, but it’s hard to say.
Helsingør have fallen off a cliff in the last month, so maybe questions can be asked, but before that their looked every inch a Superligaen team, and Just/McCowatt are realistically only comparable to Rojas/Kosta in A League forwards, and I suspect it’ll be a case of ‘and’ rather than ‘instead of’ with those four. I do agree on Wilkins, who’s team is bottom half Danish third tier, but his inclusion in March I’ll allow on the grounds of being there at the start when others couldn’t. If he’s there in June then questions should be asked as to why he’d be there at the expense of guys like Sutton, Wynne, even McGarry.
Serie C is several regional leagues which does dilute the quality, but at the top where Kirwan’s team is, the quality would be at least comparable, especially to Ingham who is next choice at right-back. If his team does navigate the labyrinthine playoffs into Serie B, then there should be no debate, and he does already have one Serie B season under his belt.
Of NZ A League guys, Sail and Payne are nailed on, and quality wise Rojas is as well, Barbarouses hasn’t been his best but is still likely and Lewis is a good chance if he can get back up to speed. Waine would be 50/50 probably, Sutton has been good but it’ll be too early to chuck him in ahead of De Vries, and Old probably hasn’t done enough either. Roux is next-to-no-chance, Ingham is probably next cab off the rank behind Kirwan/Payne, and McGarry would be well down the left-back pecking order at about 5th choice.
“The reality is the A-League players do have to do a little bit more. We do watch a lot of it but we understand it’s a big jump up to international football for them.
Interesting quote for me... can he really argue that the A League is a lower level comp than the Irish Premier League is, or that Helsingor is playing at a higher level. Let alone looking at a couple other clubs some of our players are at the have been picked (Wilkins etc). Kirwin is another example, I don't believe Serie C is better than the A League.
Is Danny's little dish of the ALM, a bit of a red herring, in case he doesn't pick an inform Rojas for other reasons - ie not a good culture fit?? He spoke about importance of a team first culture frequently in that Jenny May Clarkson interview.
Just being Devils Advocate. But I think deep down Hay will be a bit pissed that Poppa didn't make Marco available, and why didn't Rojas tell his club coach, come on it's WC year, let me go same as Ingham & the Nix guys. Poppa himself went to the 2006 WC as a player, he knows you don't get many genuine chances in a career to go to the biggest dance of all.
I'm probably off the mark, and after all ex Socceroos coach Dutchman Pim Verbeek once said something like a training session at many European clubs was higher quality than all A League games. Basically a strong criticism of ALM's quality at the time, in regard to picking players for Socceroos. But still an interesting if not unique comment for Danny to make.
“The reality is the A-League players do have to do a little bit more. We do watch a lot of it but we understand it’s a big jump up to international football for them.
Interesting quote for me... can he really argue that the A League is a lower level comp than the Irish Premier League is, or that Helsingor is playing at a higher level. Let alone looking at a couple other clubs some of our players are at the have been picked (Wilkins etc). Kirwin is another example, I don't believe Serie C is better than the A League.
Yeah shows he's just another person who thinks that Europe is by default better.
Much like his comments around pride in the AW shirt, an attitude sorted by Hudson, one of the few good things he did for us.
“The reality is the A-League players do have to do a little bit more. We do watch a lot of it but we understand it’s a big jump up to international football for them.
Interesting quote for me... can he really argue that the A League is a lower level comp than the Irish Premier League is, or that Helsingor is playing at a higher level. Let alone looking at a couple other clubs some of our players are at the have been picked (Wilkins etc). Kirwin is another example, I don't believe Serie C is better than the A League.
Is Danny's little dish of the ALM, a bit of a red herring, in case he doesn't pick an inform Rojas for other reasons - ie not a good culture fit?? He spoke about importance of a team first culture frequently in that Jenny May Clarkson interview.
Just being Devils Advocate. But I think deep down Hay will be a bit pissed that Poppa didn't make Marco available, and why didn't Rojas tell his club coach, come on it's WC year, let me go same as Ingham & the Nix guys. Poppa himself went to the 2006 WC as a player, he knows you don't get many genuine chances in a career to go to the biggest dance of all.
I'm probably off the mark, and after all ex Socceroos coach Dutchman Pim Verbeek once said something like a training session at many European clubs was higher quality than all A League games. Basically a strong criticism of ALM's quality at the time, in regard to picking players for Socceroos. But still an interesting if not unique comment for Danny to make.
I think Pim was talking about being in a top tier English, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Belgian or Spanish team. Not Ireland, Norway etc
For those not in the know, most players from Ireland's premier league struggle in England's League Two (4th tier) due to fitness requirements etc. I'd put playing in Ireland only just above playing in Wales and below that of Scotland. Ireland's best are usually scouted at a young age and developed in England.
You don't need to compare the also-ran leagues to know it's such a stupid statement. There are probably only 4/5 guys where the step up from club football to international isn't significant. So it's ludicrous that is a measure. Especially because he is also certainly selecting others from the ALM.
Looking at Marco’s form and that of the Victory’s it’s possibly been a good decision for him to stay with them and not join the Oceania qualifiers, if he’s able to rejoin the group.
Marco and Singh are clearly the two most experienced creative players who could play in behind Wood or in a central creative role and who have played with him quite a bit in recent years.
Personally I’d see Kosta as playing wider or up front, if he makes the trip after a week season for Sydney.
Even these guys haven’t got a history of performing that well in knockout situations.
If players didn’t absolutely stand out at the Olympics I don’t think we can expect them to in a tough knockout game either. It’s a lottery.
Still there’s a lot of desire and with Reid, Boxall, Wood and Tuiloma a real threat from set pieces perhaps the real job our advanced players may be tasked with is a defensive one, rather than being the main outlet to goal.
I think de Jong or Collier could be somewhat surprise players, who have something different to offer, but it’s unlikely we’d do something radically different at this point and fit them in, in a more narrow front 2 or 3.
“The reality is the A-League players do have to do a little bit more. We do watch a lot of it but we understand it’s a big jump up to international football for them.
Interesting quote for me... can he really argue that the A League is a lower level comp than the Irish Premier League is, or that Helsingor is playing at a higher level. Let alone looking at a couple other clubs some of our players are at the have been picked (Wilkins etc). Kirwin is another example, I don't believe Serie C is better than the A League.
Is Danny's little dish of the ALM, a bit of a red herring, in case he doesn't pick an inform Rojas for other reasons - ie not a good culture fit?? He spoke about importance of a team first culture frequently in that Jenny May Clarkson interview.
Just being Devils Advocate. But I think deep down Hay will be a bit pissed that Poppa didn't make Marco available, and why didn't Rojas tell his club coach, come on it's WC year, let me go same as Ingham & the Nix guys. Poppa himself went to the 2006 WC as a player, he knows you don't get many genuine chances in a career to go to the biggest dance of all.
I'm probably off the mark, and after all ex Socceroos coach Dutchman Pim Verbeek once said something like a training session at many European clubs was higher quality than all A League games. Basically a strong criticism of ALM's quality at the time, in regard to picking players for Socceroos. But still an interesting if not unique comment for Danny to make.
I think Pim was talking about being in a top tier English, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Belgian or Spanish team. Not Ireland, Norway etc
For those not in the know, most players from Ireland's premier league struggle in England's League Two (4th tier) due to fitness requirements etc. I'd put playing in Ireland only just above playing in Wales and below that of Scotland. Ireland's best are usually scouted at a young age and developed in England.
Ireland is above the NZ domestic scene? I don’t think that could always have been confidently said.
One thing we did learn is that without Singh we do lack creativity in the middle. Rojas would help address that.
Personally I like the idea of Singh having two mobile players like Grieve and Rojas making attacking runs in behind, whilst Wood hold the defensive line up as the target.
Looking at Marco’s form and that of the Victory’s it’s possibly been a good decision for him to stay with them and not join the Oceania qualifiers, if he’s able to rejoin the group.
Marco and Singh are clearly the two most experienced creative players who could play in behind Wood or in a central creative role and who have played with him quite a bit in recent years.
Personally I’d see Kosta as playing wider or up front, if he makes the trip after a week season for Sydney.
Even these guys haven’t got a history of performing that well in knockout situations.
If players didn’t absolutely stand out at the Olympics I don’t think we can expect them to in a tough knockout game either. It’s a lottery.
Still there’s a lot of desire and with Reid, Boxall, Wood and Tuiloma a real threat from set pieces perhaps the real job our advanced players may be tasked with is a defensive one, rather than being the main outlet to goal.
I think de Jong or Collier could be somewhat surprise players, who have something different to offer, but it’s unlikely we’d do something radically different at this point and fit them in, in a more narrow front 2 or 3.
Agree that the Playoff game could well be decided by a single set piece goal. Something apparently Ticos are pretty strong at themselves, plenty of height amongst their CBs.
But with Bell, Tuiloma & Singh (if he's fit) AWs now have some genuine quality corner & free kick takers.
