All Whites’ first away matches in Oceania since 2017 an Olympics prelude
Monday, 17 June 2024
The All Whites are in action away from home in the Pacific for the first time in seven years this week, as they begin their defence of their Oceania Nations Cup title.
They play the Solomon Islands (Tuesday 4pm NZ time) and co-hosts Vanuatu (Friday 4pm NZ time) in group A of the seven-team tournament in Port Vila, the Vanuatu capital, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals
Co-hosts Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and Samoa comprise group B, which is being played in Suva, with everyone then descending on Port Vila, with the semifinals set for June 27 and the final set for June 30.
The All Whites are the defending champions, having defeated Papua New Guinea in a penalty shootout in Port Moresby the last time the tournament was held, in 2016.
Since drawing with the Solomon Islands in a World Cup qualifier in September 2017, the All Whites’ only matches against their Oceania rivals were played in Qatar – the qualification tournament ahead of the 2022 World Cup in the same country.
Here’s everything you need to know about what the All Whites are up to over the next fortnight, with a host of big names missing and their Paris Olympics campaign just around the corner.
‘Big names missing’? Who’s not there?
English Premier League striker Chris Wood headlines a long list. The Nations Cup clashes with his wedding, scheduled for Monday on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Centre backs Michael Boxall and Nando Pijnaker, midfielders Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Sarpreet Singh and Marko Stamenic and forward Callum McCowatt are the other absentees who have been core players during coach Darren Bazeley’s first year and a bit in charge. Centre back Tommy Smith – Wood’s best man – will miss the All Whites’ first match, as will left back Liberato Cacace, who is suspended.
What does that mean for the All Whites’ chances?
It doesn’t change the fact that they will be the team to beat, though it does introduce an element of uncertainty, as their 21-strong squad has a fairly inexperienced look about it, especially when it comes to playing away in Oceania. A similarly understrength squad won the Nations Cup the last time it was held, though they only won their semifinal 1-0 before drawing the decider 0-0 and going to penalties. Two of the All Whites’ three away matches in 2018 World Cup qualifying also ended in draws. Cautious optimism will be the name of the game, but with nothing at stake expect Fifa rankings points, the only concern would be an untimely loss of pride.
Who are the new faces in the squad?
Six of the 21 players selected by Bazeley are yet to make their senior international debuts, though it is expected all of them should do so at some stage in the two group matches this week.
English Premier League-bound goalkeeper Alex Paulsen is one of them, as are centre back/left back Lukas Kelly-Heald, left back Sam Sutton, midfielder Fin Conchie and forwards Jesse Randall and Oskar van Hattum.
Young centre backs Tyler Bindon and Finn Surman – the pairing Bazeley is looking to for the Olympics – have only played a handful of minutes for the All Whites so far, while midfielder Ben Old and forwards Max Mata and Ben Waine are other youngsters who will be looking to press their claims.
How are the other teams shaping up?
Vanuatu were 1-0 winners over the Solomon Islands in the first match in group A, which means the All Whites can knock the Solomon Islands out and secure progression with a win in their first match on Tuesday. In group B, Tahiti began with a 2-0 win over Samoa, while Fiji romped to a 5-1 win over Papua New Guinea. Boasting Central Coast Mariners centre back Brian Kaltak at the heart of their defence, Vanuatu might well be the team best-placed to challenge the All Whites.
Did you say something about the Olympics?
Yes. The Nations Cup is the first of two major men’s football tournaments in two months for New Zealand, with the second being the tournament at the Paris Olympics contested by predominantly under-23 teams. The Oly Whites will also be coached by Bazeley and will mainly feature players born 2001 and later, but can include three over-age players.
Which All Whites at the Nations Cup are eligible for the Oly Whites?
Paulsen, Bindon, Kelly-Heald, Surman, Sutton, Conchie, Old, Randall, van Hattum and Waine all qualify as under-23 players. Their inclusion here is a strong signal they are in line for Olympics selection, though one or two might only make the group of four travelling reserves that accompany the main squad of 18. Senior fullbacks Tim Payne and Liberato Cacace are favoured to join Wood as the over-age players, though selection decisions are only due to be finalised later this month, ahead of a squad announcement on July 2.
What should we expect from this tournament?
Playing away in Oceania is never easy, as New Zealand players are often confronted with conditions that can be challenging for them, both on field and off. The squad for this Nations Cup doesn’t boast a lot of recent experience dealing with them, and it will be interesting to see if any players stand out in the way they cope with them. Centre backs Bindon and Surman, midfielders Alex Rufer and Old and forwards Mata and Waine probably have the most to play for when it comes to pushing for more playing time in full-strength All Whites squads, while this tournament should mark the start of a goalkeeping contest between Paulsen and current No 1 Max Crocombe.
All Whites – Oceania Nations Cup
Squad
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Oli Sail
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Liberato Cacace, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Tim Payne, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman, Sam Sutton
Midfielders: Fin Conchie, Cam Howieson, Eli Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Alex Greive, Max Mata, Jesse Randall, Oskar van Hattum, Ben Waine
Fixtures (NZ time)
All matches at VFF Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila.
June 18, 4pm: v Solomon Islands
June 21, 4pm: v Vanuatu
June 27, 12pm or 4pm: Semifinals (if qualified)
June 30, 4pm: Final (if qualified)