Current version

Posted December 09, 2013 12:34 · last edited December 09, 2013 12:39

It's surprising, but World Cup finalists will often play smaller countries on the eve of the Finals.

After all, we played Brazil in their last warm-up before the 2006 World Cup in Geneva, 6 June 2006.

They were preparing for their group game against Australia. And the score against Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka etc. wasn't too embarrassing -  4-0, considering our team wasn't as good then as a few years later in 2009-10. We could field a stronger XI next year. 

NZ line-up: 

Glenn MossDavid MulliganKris BouckenoogheSteven OldDanny HayIvan VicelichNoah HickeyJeremy ChristieLeo Bertos, Vaughan  CovenyChris Killen 

 (Subs used: Che BunceJarrod SmithTim BrownJeremy BrockieRaffaele De GregorioChris James)

Brazil line-up: started their strongest line-up. Subs, apart from Robinho for Ronaldo at half-time, only on from 65 mins , 75 mins:

Nelson DidaMarcus CafuJuanLucioRoberto CarlosKakaEmersonRonaldinhoZe RobertoLuiz RonaldoAdriano

(subs used: Robinho, Gilberto, Gilberto Silva, Juninho, Luis Ricardinho,  Cicinho)

Video highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNW_1COiUw

Brazil hammered a Lucerne XI 8-0 in their previous game.

So actually the Netherlands, Spain or Chile are possibilities...

I knew Clem Khaiseb from Namibia who was one of the leading strikers in our national league in the mid-1990's for Christchurch (his 100 m. sprint time was a world-class 10 seconds - a World Student Games athlete for Namibia). He was studying at Lincoln.

His form here earned him a call-up to the Namibian national team where he played in games for a couple of years.

He was part of the Namibian team which Saudi Arabia contracted to act as their warm-up opponents in camp in France on the eve of the 1998 Finals. They played the Saudis in about three games behind closed doors. A weaker African football country.

Sometimes you just have to be available and strike it lucky....

Many countries (including England) are basing themselves in North America on the eve of the Finals - so it might be possible to get games there.


Previous versions

3 versions
Big Pete 65 edited December 09, 2013 12:39

It's surprising, but World Cup finalists will often play smaller countries on the eve of the Finals.

After all, we played Brazil in their last warm-up before the 2006 World Cup in Geneva, 6 June 2006.

They were preparing for their group game against Australia. And the score against Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka etc. wasn't too embarrassing -  4-0, considering our team wasn't as good then as a few years later in 2009-10. We could field a stronger XI next year. 

NZ line-up: 

Glenn MossDavid MulliganKris BouckenoogheSteven OldDanny HayIvan VicelichNoah HickeyJeremy ChristieLeo Bertos, Vaughan  CovenyChris Killen 

 (Subs used: Che BunceJarrod SmithTim BrownJeremy BrockieRaffaele De GregorioChris James)

Brazil line-up: started their strongest line-up & subs, apart from Robinho for Ronaldo at half-time, only on from 65 mins , 75 mins:

Nelson DidaMarcus CafuJuanLucioRoberto CarlosKakaEmersonRonaldinhoZe RobertoLuiz RonaldoAdriano

(subs used: Robinho, Gilberto, Gilberto Silva, Juninho, Luis Ricardinho,  Cicinho)

Video highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNW_1COiUw

Brazil hammered a Lucerne XI 8-0 in their previous game.

So actually the Netherlands, Spain or Chile are possibilities...

I knew Clem Khaiseb from Namibia who was one of the leading strikers in our national league in the mid-1990's for Christchurch (his 100 m. sprint time was a world-class 10 seconds - a World Student Games athlete for Namibia). He was studying at Lincoln.

His form here earned him a call-up to the Namibian national team where he played in games for a couple of years.

He was part of the Namibian team which Saudi Arabia contracted to act as their warm-up opponents in camp in France on the eve of the 1998 Finals. They played the Saudis in about three games behind closed doors. A weaker African football country.

Sometimes you just have to be available and strike it lucky....

Many countries (including England) are basing themselves in North America on the eve of the Finals - so it might be possible to get games there.


Big Pete 65 edited December 09, 2013 12:36

It's surprising, but World Cup finalists will often play smaller countries on the eve of the Finals.

After all, we played Brazil in their last warm-up before the 2006 World Cup in Geneva, 6 June 2006.

They were preparing for their group game against Australia. And the score against Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka etc. wasn't too embarrassing -  4-0, considering our team wasn't as good then as a few years later in 2009-10. We could field a stronger XI next year. 

NZ line-up: 

Glenn MossDavid MulliganKris BouckenoogheSteven OldDanny HayIvan VicelichNoah HickeyJeremy ChristieLeo Bertos, Vaughan  CovenyChris Killen  (Subs used: Che BunceJarrod SmithTim BrownJeremy BrockieRaffaele De GregorioChris James)

Brazil line-up: started their strongest line-up & subs, apart from Robinho for Ronaldo at half-time, only on from 65 mins , 75 mins:

Nelson DidaMarcus CafuJuanLucioRoberto CarlosKakaEmersonRonaldinhoZe RobertoLuiz RonaldoAdriano

(subs: Robinho, Gilberto, Gilberto Silva, Juninho, Luis Ricardinho,  Cicinho)

Video highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNW_1COiUw

Brazil hammered a Lucerne XI 8-0 in their previous game.

So actually the Netherlands, Spain or Chile are possibilities...

I knew Clem Khaiseb from Namibia who was one of the leading strikers in our national league in the mid-1990's for Christchurch (his 100 m. sprint time was a world-class 10 seconds - a World Student Games athlete for Namibia). He was studying at Lincoln.

His form here earned him a call-up to the Namibian national team where he played in games for a couple of years.

He was part of the Namibian team which Saudi Arabia contracted to act as their warm-up opponents in camp in France on the eve of the 1998 Finals. They played the Saudis in about three games behind closed doors. A weaker African football country.

Sometimes you just have to be available and strike it lucky....

Many countries (including England) are basing themselves in North America on the eve of the Finals - so it might be possible to get games there.


Big Pete 65 edited December 09, 2013 12:36

It's surprising, but World Cup finalists will often play smaller countries on the eve of the Finals.

After all, we played Brazil in their last warm-up before the 2006 World Cup in Geneva, 6 June 2006.

They were preparing for their group game against Australia. And the score against Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka etc. wasn't too embarrassing -  4-0, considering our team wasn't as good then as a few years later in 2009-10. We could field a stronger XI next year. 

NZ line-up: 

Glenn MossDavid MulliganKris BouckenoogheSteven OldDanny HayIvan VicelichNoah HickeyJeremy ChristieLeo Bertos, Vaughan  CovenyChris Killen (Subs used: Che BunceJarrod SmithTim BrownJeremy BrockieRaffaele De GregorioChris James)

Brazil line-up: started their strongest line-up & subs, apart from Robinho for Ronaldo at half-time, only on from 65 mins , 75 mins:

Nelson DidaMarcus CafuJuanLucioRoberto CarlosKakaEmersonRonaldinhoZe RobertoLuiz RonaldoAdriano

(subs: Robinho, Gilberto, Gilberto Silva, Juninho, Luis Ricardinho,  Cicinho)

Video highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNW_1COiUw

Brazil hammered a Lucerne XI 8-0 in their previous game.

So actually the Netherlands, Spain or Chile are possibilities...

I knew Clem Khaiseb from Namibia who was one of the leading strikers in our national league in the mid-1990's for Christchurch (his 100 m. sprint time was a world-class 10 seconds - a World Student Games athlete for Namibia). He was studying at Lincoln.

His form here earned him a call-up to the Namibian national team where he played in games for a couple of years.

He was part of the Namibian team which Saudi Arabia contracted to act as their warm-up opponents in camp in France on the eve of the 1998 Finals. They played the Saudis in about three games behind closed doors. A weaker African football country.

Sometimes you just have to be available and strike it lucky....

Many countries (including England) are basing themselves in North America on the eve of the Finals - so it might be possible to get games there.