On this day back in 1993, the All Whites faced Australia in Melbourne for a World Cup qualifier and were done early on, eventually succumbing 3-0. Football aside it was quite the mullet show too... In 2001, the All Whites kicked off their campaign for the 2002 World Cup with a 5-0 drubbing of Tahiti, featuring a Vaughan Coveny hat trick: And then in 2012, the third match of the Nations Cup in Honiara saw a 1-1 draw with the hosts in front of an ecstatic home crowd:
On this day in 1992 the All Whites hosted Fiji in a World Cup qualifier at Mt Smart. Result went our way, although Vaughan Coveny probably has less positive memories thanks to the Fijian keeper... Chris Zoricich was released to play this game to try and boost his case for a UK Work Permit to stay with Leyton Orient, and TVNZ responded by spelling his name wrong in the team graphics...
In 1991, the All Whites played their second centenary match against England, at a wind buffeted Athletic park in Wellington wearing a naff reddish strip. Conditions and result a bit grim: Jump forward to 2001 and a World Cup qualifier in Auckland - the only time we've played the Cook Islands at senior level, and the only time Noah Hickey scored two goals in a match at senior level: In 2003 we continued the warm up for Confeds with a match against the USA, and even though the score went against us, Vaughan Coveny lashed in a career highlight goal: 2012 - Horror in Honiara :( Nations Cup 2016 in Port Moresby saw as prevail over New Caledonia thanks to some farcical keeping!
Back in 1995 we faced Tahiti en route to South America, and suffered a loss which was not exactly part of the plan... Then in 2005 we ended a year of inactivity with a friendly against Australia at Craven Cottage in London. Decent crowd, decent occasion, OK-ish performance but yet again result not in our favour:
That Craven Cottage game, a more than decent performance by a very ordinary looking AWs team on paper. Old, Wilson, Webster, Fisher, Christie. No greats there. But Che Bunce so nearly with a goal.
Whilst the Socceroos I think all of that side, maybe bar the thug Muscat were in their excellent 2006 WC squad. Loads of guys playing in top Euro leagues. A team who should have beaten 10 man Italy (WC winners in that edition) in their last 16 game, and go on to play a very beatable at the time Ukraine in the quarters. They were just missing Kewell & Viduka as big names from that time. Bresciano, Aloisi, Lazaridis, Cullina & Grella were also regulars in their 2006 side.
On this day back in 2009, we built up to the Confeds Cup with an amazing match against Italy in South Africa - we scored 3 goals, rattled the reigning world champions, and even saw Andrea Pirlo nutmegged by Jeremy Brockie... all of which makes the subsequent "performances" at Confeds all the more confusing... In 2012, the All Whites played the third place match at the Nations Cup, and very nearly tripped themselves up before Shane Smeltz rescued things at the death:
Back in 1997, the All Whites played PNG at North Harbour in a World Cup qualifier and put seven past them, including a Coveny hat trick and a double from Rufer: Then in 2001, another World Cup qualifier at North Harbour, this time against the Solomons, and a 5-1 win: And in 2016, the Nations Cup Final - PNG the opponents again, and a bowel-loosening penalty shootout before eventual victory...
Yeah, we played like a bunch of league one battlers in that game and looked very well organised in a 4-4-2. mully was great in the middle of the park
Also featuring a young Jon McKain there! I don’t remember Webster and I certainly don’t remember Che Bunce being a top CF, but that move and strike would have made any of our strikers happy. Was this before the Wales game? I didn’t watch this game, but the Wales game was really when I started to believe in the AWs.
Only one game on this day in All Whites history, and it was pretty awful to be honest - against Belarus in Minsk building up for Confeds in Russia. Just, yeh...
On this day back in 1979, New Zealand beat Australia at Newmarket Park thanks to a Duncan Ormond goal - our first win over Australia in 25 years! Then in 2001, another World Cup qualifier, putting 7 past Vanuatu at North Harbour with another Coveny hat trick:
On this day back in 1995, the All Whites faced Chile in Antofagasta and notched a decent goal in a 3-1 defeat. Then in 1999, they faced Thailand in Bangkok as part of their build up to Confeds in Mexico, with 2 goals from Chris Jackson earning a draw (before some weird shootout scenario!)
Shark. 40 years ago. When the Scots had lots of big names. Anyone else feel a little old? I was 2 years older than Piney I think (he made mention of 1982 team the other day).
On this day back in 1997, we faced Fiji at North Harbour in a World Cup qualifier. Rufer back into the All Whites fold, and Tim Stevens viciously headbutted the fist of a Fijian player...
Back in 1999, the All Whites continued their build up to Confeds with a match against Poland - featuring the debut of a young Ryan Nelsen... Then in 2000, the Oceania Nations Cup got underway with a 2-0 victory over Tahiti with goals from Bouckenooghe and Jackson (with Chris Killen debuting off the bench).
In 1995, the second match of the South American tour got off to best possible chance as Vaughan Coveny put the All Whites ahead against Turkey within the first minute!! Unfortunately, that was good as it got... Then in 2001, a World Cup qualifier against Australia in Wellington. Batty - nuff said... And June 20 also saw us face Colombia in Confeds 03, Iraq in Confeds 09 - and, magnificently, Italy at the World Cup :)
In 1995, the second match of the South American tour got off to best possible chance as Vaughan Coveny put the All Whites ahead against Turkey within the first minute!! Unfortunately, that was good as it got... Then in 2001, a World Cup qualifier against Australia in Wellington. Batty - nuff said... And June 20 also saw us face Colombia in Confeds 03, Irag in Confeds 09 - and, magnificently, Italy at the World Cup :)
In addition to the 0-0 with Paraguay in South Africa, and the 4-0 pasting by Portugal at Confeds, this date sees two other All Whites fixtures in history.
Back in 1999, the build up to Confeds 99 continued with a 2-2 draw in Muscat against Oman, thanks to a towering Vicelich header and a finish from a jubilant Ngata. Then in 2001, the second leg of the World Cup playoff against Australia in Sydney saw an even bigger loss than Wellington, although we at least got on the scoreboard this time...
In addition to the 0-0 with Paraguay in South Africa, and the 4-0 pasting by Portugal at Confeds, this date sees two other All Whites fixtures in history.
Back in 1999, the build up to Confeds 99 continued with a 2-2 draw in Muscat against Oman, thanks to a towering Vicelich header and a finish from a jubilant Ngata. Then in 2001, the second leg of the World Cup playoff against Australia in Sydney saw an even bigger loss than Wellington, although we at least got on the scoreboard this time...
Made the mistake of watching that 2nd leg AWs v Socceroos game. Ugly viewing. Thank fudge we don't play like that anymore.
On this day back in 1995, the All Whites were on the receiving end of one of the worst defeats in their history, losing 7-0 (it could have been waaaay more) to Uruguay who were stacked with stars of that time (Francescoli, Fonseca, Poyet, Sosa, etc). One heck of a match for a teenaged Ivan Vicelich to come off the bench for his debut...
Busy day in All Whites history, starting back in 1995 when the team recovered from its 7-0 humiliation days earlier to earn arguably one of the best results in our history!! 2-2 against Uruguay, in Uruguay, against a full strength lineup. Unreal! Jumping forward to 1996 and the team visited Beijing, and despite a 2-0 loss, game was notable for Mark Burton's debut, and Wynton Rufer's first full cap since the 80s... 1997 saw a World Cup qualifier at North Harbour Stadium where Australia overran us without getting out of second gear: And then the Nations Cup Final in Tahiti in 2000 where Australia won yet again, and Chris Jackson put on an insane play-acting effort that still makes no sense over 20 years later...
On this day back in 1999, the All Whites build up to Confeds in Mexico included this visit to Kuala Lumpur and a really pleasing performance - 5 goals and some decent football. Enjoy!
On this day in 2002, the Nations Cup got underway at North Harbour Stadium in a horrendous rainstorm, but the All Whites held their nerve to prevail over Tahiti.
On this day back in 1997, the All Whites played the second leg of the World Cup qualifying playoff against Australia in Sydney - a day later than scheduled and at a different stadium after torrential rain forced the original schedule to be abandoned. The scoreline was slightly better than the first leg but the Socceroos still absolutely dominated against a NZ side wearing a black away strip (which hadn't really been much of a thing before then, with blue the usual option, that naff pink looking thing in 1991 notwithstanding)
Back in 2002, the All Whites played their third match of the Nations Cup, following up a 9-1 thumping of PNG (that wasn't filmed) with a 6-1 victory over the Solomons.
The semi finals of the 2002 Nations Cup saw a comfortable victory over Vanuatu, which took place at Mt Smart Stadium after the North Harbour pitch had been destroyed by continual use and horrendous rain...
The 2002 Nations Cup final happened on this day, and while it was not exactly Champagne Football (let's be honest, it wouldn't even qualify as Ribena football...) the result was still sweet, and was a very very fun day in the crowd. Enjoy :)
The 2002 Nations Cup final happened on this day, and while it was not exactly Champagne Football (let's be honest, it wouldn't even qualify as Ribena football...) the result was still sweet, and was a very very fun day in the crowd. Enjoy :)
First game of Confeds 99, and Zoro's strike! The hilites I put on my channel provoked a copyright hissy fit and threats of shutting down my channel, but somehow this bloke has kept his on there, so happy viewing :)
On this day back in 2000, the All Whites started their Merdeka Cup campaign in Kuala Lumpur against the hosts, with a squad and team that had many young and inexperienced players.
On this day in 1981, we saw an iconic match and incredible result - 13-0 v Fiji!! The record breaking 6-goal haul from Steve Sumner, and the WCQ record scoreline, grabbed attention around the world. Get in :)
Back in 2000, the Merdeka tournament in KL continued, and the All Whites notched up a win over Oman through a goal from Brad Scott (one of the new faces in the squad). Good result overall, and a full debut for Ben Sigmund as an advanced attacker...
Back in 2000, a youthful All Whites outfit with a couple of older heads won the final of the Merdeka tournament against the hosts Malaysia. Goals from Ryan Nelsen and Paul Urlovic did the trick, bringing a shiny cup and a not insignificant prize-winner cheque to the NZF offices back home. Nice work :)
On this day back in 1990, the All Whites hosted China at Western Springs and prevailed with a 1-0 win thanks to a Noel Barkley header - pretty good effort all round and solid result, even if the stadium was less than ideal...
On this day in 2017 the All Whites hosted the Solomon Islands at North Harbour Stadium for a World Cup qualifier. The 6-1 result reflected their dominance, and Chris Wood hit a excellent hat trick to lead the way :)
Back in 2013 the All Whites faced Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and earned a good win thanks to an excellent Chris Killen strike (his last ever All Whites goal). And then in 2017, there was the return leg of the World Cup qualifiers in Honiara, where a maiden strike from Myer Bevan and an own goal were enough to secure a draw in tough conditions and advance to the intercontinental playoff.
