WCQ vs PNG | Sat 19th Mar | 3:00am | SS7

I think this is the squad for the game

Matt Gould
Oli Sail

Dane Ingham
Nikko Boxall
Francis de Vries
Niko Kirwan
Winston Reid
Tommy Smith
Dalton Wilkins

Matt Garbett
Cam Howieson
Clayton Lewis
Ben Old

Joey Champness
Andre de Jong
Logan Rogerson
Kosta Barbarouses
Ben Waine

Yipe that's basically the squad. Unless Poppa releases Rojas.

Will also be interesting to see if Mikey Boxall plays for Minnesota today. His omission 'injured' smells a a bit fishy, given how Minny's coach Heath - basically pulled him out of the Olympics last year.

Starting 11, I'd guess of -
Sail, Kirwan, Reid, Smith, De Vries, Lewis, Garbett, Howieson, Champness, de Jong & Barba.

Ingham may start ahead of Kirwan, as I imagine Kirwan won't get to Qatar until tomorrow, having played for his club today. And if Champness plays for
Giresunspor tomorrow, he'll also get to Qatar late.

Plus Nikko Boxall may come in for either Smith or Reid, as that's 2 pretty slowish aging CBs. Be nice if Sligo released Pijnaker a few days early. They play again tomorrow, and then also on Saturday, same day as this AWs v PNG game.

3 (Sail, Howieson & Barba) of the above 11 (4 if Ingham starts) haven't been involved with the AWs for awhile. So next few days training sessions will be important. Though Howieson & Barba both have a tonne of international experience. Even Sail is a pretty experienced keeper now.

Looks like PNG has left for Qatar straight from home. No mention of any warmup games or anything. So if AWs play with speed & fluidity first 10-20 mins, it could be quite a shock to the Kapuls, and chance to go a few goals up early before they settle?? Think their national league has been Covid suspended, so they could be seriously underdone.
https://www.pngfootball.com.pg/mrdc-supports-kapuls-with-k100000/

Tommy Semmy seems their best player on paper. But Reid/Smith/Boxall jnr you'd trust to do the job. And yes if David Browne suddenly sorts out his visa issues, that would be a boost to PNG. But AWs should, (should) still win comfortably.
https://www.pngfootball.com.pg/pngfa-announces-squad-for-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-ofc-qualifier/

Looks like weather will be about low 20s, so pretty mild. Don't think they are using 2022 WC venues, so no aircon to help cool things in need. Open air stadium in this shot. https://twitter.com/nz_football

 PNG played a Qatari second tier team Az Zubara and won 5-0 on the weekend. 

Lineup was:

1.Ronald Warisan

2.Alwin Komolong

3.Felix Komolong

4.Daniel Joe

5.Godfrey Haro

6.David Muta

7.Emmanuel Simon

8.Jacob Sabua

9.Raymond Gunemba

10.Mathew David 

11.Obert Bika

Gunemba scored 2, and Emmanuel Simon, Pala Paul and Stahl Gubag score one each.

Word on David Browne is he’s still waiting on immigration to secure his visa, but still time yet.

When you look at the squad for the first two games. I struggle as to why Musa doesn't get a call up. Sure he plays USL not MSL. But his USL club is one of the best performing.

2ndBest

I think this is the squad for the game

Matt Gould
Oli Sail

Dane Ingham
Nikko Boxall
Francis de Vries
Niko Kirwan
Winston Reid
Tommy Smith
Dalton Wilkins

Matt Garbett
Cam Howieson
Clayton Lewis
Ben Old

Joey Champness
Andre de Jong
Logan Rogerson
Kosta Barbarouses
Ben Waine

This team seriously lacks midfielders who can tackle. 

Rusty Dunks

2ndBest

I think this is the squad for the game

Matt Gould
Oli Sail

Dane Ingham
Nikko Boxall
Francis de Vries
Niko Kirwan
Winston Reid
Tommy Smith
Dalton Wilkins

Matt Garbett
Cam Howieson
Clayton Lewis
Ben Old

Joey Champness
Andre de Jong
Logan Rogerson
Kosta Barbarouses
Ben Waine

This team seriously lacks midfielders who can tackle. 

See comment above. 

Ranix

When you look at the squad for the first two games. I struggle as to why Musa doesn't get a call up. Sure he plays USL not MSL. But his USL club is one of the best performing.

True dat. Surely playing at a better level than the Irish league or about equal to South Africa at least?

Musa didn't play the first game of the season, so maybe out injured?

Some interesting calls, like Rufer missing out when arguably in his best ever form (prior to coming off on Saturday).

Not a fan of Howieson being called up... Whyte is playing pro, a lot more potential moving forward and wants to be a pro.

Not a fan of Howieson being called up... Whyte is playing pro, a lot more potential moving forward and wants to be a pro.

Does Whyte not play that attacking mid role and Howieson that defensive role? 

Any idea if Sky is broadcasting? I found this link and I think it's Livestream done by the same group that does the OFC CL.

Sancho

Any idea if Sky is broadcasting? I found this link and I think it's Livestream done by the same group that does the OFC CL.

 Is definitely on Sky in NZ

I'm sure Whyte could play as a deep lying play maker with Garbett pushed up, or some other combination... or Musa could have been called up.

The guy seems to be happy playing at NZ level... I don't believe it is a high enough standard anymore.

Enough said

Not a fan of Howieson being called up... Whyte is playing pro, a lot more potential moving forward and wants to be a pro.

Does Whyte not play that attacking mid role and Howieson that defensive role? 

Howieson does have a tonne of experience, including playing the Island teams for AWs before. He's also spent 1-2 seasons playing with Lewis at ACFC. So that's handy combination stuff, when you have such a short lead in time to the first game.

I can see why Hay picked him. He's basically a stop gap selection, in to do a job. He brings an experienced head, which will be useful in the first 2 pool games.

Whyte seems to be doing well, but it's only pre season stuff in Finland - so I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

First day training in Qatar 🇶🇦 💪 pic.twitter.com/wIVdHvTScn

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) March 14, 2022

Game streamed off OFC website.
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/category/fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-oceania-qualifiers/

What do you guys reckon the best approach is here with the Nix having such a late kick off on Friday night? Try and go for the All nighter or sneak a cheeky 3 hour nap in-between the nix game and kick off of all whites game? I think the former would be too unmanageable for me but is the second option worth a crack maybe with a prior trip to the dairy for one of those nasty red bull drinky things? Otherwise is anyone just planning on going to bed normally after the Nix and just keeping all the phones and internet off and catching the replay of the All whites game Saturday morning at your convenience?

Geek fact - we've only played PNG twice in World Cup qualifiers, way back in 1997...

Lots of smiles from the Cook Islands side. They'll be under no illusion as to the challenge they face this morning. 

Hopefully they can put up a good showing for their country - considering they're a side that hasn't graced the football pitch at this level for 7 years.

This week in the #KiwiFootballFix, All Whites Coach Danny Day mentions 3 key players that will start against Papua New Guinea in the upcoming @OFCfootball @FIFAWorldCup Qualifiers.

Full Show:
📺 https://t.co/Cxuo5LTW1R
🎙️ https://t.co/pZS7IPMrf2@skysportnz @NZ_Football pic.twitter.com/mbMTjT9MZr

— Sky Sport Presents (@SkyNZPresents) March 17, 2022

Ahead of the @FIFAWorldCup Oceania Qualifiers, @ChrisChang spoke to @WgtnPhoenixFC’s @_waineo and Ben Old about being part of the All Whites squad for the first time 💪🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/IQVN0Utm0H

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) March 17, 2022

So is only 18 guys currently in Qatar?  

Howieson suddenly as potentially quite an important figure (in these early 2 pool games anyway). Starting 11, I'm guessing of -

Sail, Kirwan, Reid, Smith, De Vries, Lewis, Garbett, Howieson, Champness, de Jong & Barba.

Bench - Gould, Wilkins, Ingham, N Boxall, Old, Rogerson & Waine

Though Champness (especially) & Kirwan as late arrivals maybe on the bench.

Should be an easy win, but am just so damn excited about the game.  

Will we he able to watch the stream delayed???

watching_from_far

Will we he able to watch the stream delayed???

 
Yes, but just beware that mycujoo (the streaming service) highlights along the bottom time bar (or whatever it’s called) when goals are, so you might have to be careful to avoid spoilers

detoxin

Should be an easy win, but am just so damn excited about the game.  

Hopefully the game is wrapped up early so can rotate the bench early, especially Reid

detoxin

Should be an easy win, but am just so damn excited about the game.  

That's wishful thinking. 

Ranix

detoxin

Should be an easy win, but am just so damn excited about the game.  

That's wishful thinking. 

even if we play badly it should be a win by 4 or 5. Im not expecting Sail to have a busy day at the office.

theprof

Ranix

detoxin

Should be an easy win, but am just so damn excited about the game.  

That's wishful thinking. 

even if we play badly it should be a win by 4 or 5. Im not expecting Sail to have a busy day at the office.

Be nice if they did, margins of four or more have only occured three times in 28 matches v OFC teams sice Australia's departure in 2006.

Fire Up 🔥 !

Wake Up.

Who is the commentator? 

Has the makings of some brilliance…
‘Darren Hay’ …’Papua New Guinea with a strong side, compared to NZ’ he was trying to say first choice I’m guessing.

Heavily RP, but much younger than the usual Martin Tyler grandad vibes. 

https://el.soccerway.com/matches/2022/03/18/oceania/wc-qualifying-oceania/papua-new-guinea/new-zealand/3710351/

Wilkins, Ingham and N Boxall 3 sort of surprise selections. But then I guess Smith has consistently had bench cameos only under Hay (a “finisher”)

Semmy is there for PNG. No Browne 

Safe as how-sez 
Babarouses!

Though he did throw in an Ollie Sail, not Oliver. Just one. 

does seem like our game plan is pass it to champness

Yet again, some absolutely atrocious refereeing on display

coochiee

Game streamed off OFC website.
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/category/fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-oceania-qualifiers/

Does anyone have another live stream, this one won't work for me.....

referring is pretty average indeed, it's FIFA save these refs just for the OFC. Having said that we have been very scrappy and lack cohesion. 25 minutes in and only our second corner, and we've really only just made the keeper move twice. Need to get the ball through the middle and put the PNG defence under more pressure. Champness running at them more often would be nice.

I'm unconvinced DeJong is better than Waine. 

We were unlucky not too score then.

I don't get it though, does anyone think de Jong is better than Waine?