June 26, 2026 • 8 mins
It is do or die for the All Whites this afternoon at the FIFA World Cup.
They've shown promise in both matches to date, but their 3-1 loss to Egypt on Monday put a major dent in their hopes of pushing past the group stage.
Their toughest challenge of the tournament awaits them, as they are taking on the number 10 ranked Belgium in what is a must-win game.
Ben Sigmund is a former All White who played in the last World Cup in 2010, he joined Adam to preview the match.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
And let's chat the Football World Cup as more teams
cement places in the round of thirty two. An incredibly
tough job for our All Whites today, needing to take
on world number ten ranked Belgium. It's pretty simple. If
the All Whites are going to make the round of
thirty two, they have to have a win against a
(00:32):
team ranked so far ahead of them. Let's preview the
game now. Former All Whites who is part of the
twenty ten World Cup campaign and longtime professional footballer in
New Zealand, Ben sigmund Is with us. Ben, morning to you,
Thanks for your time. Now, we all know this is
such a tough game for the All Whites as we
count down to kick off today. How do you assess
what lies ahead? And I guess also rate their chances.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, it also makes it pretty difficult when Belgium, of god,
I think they pretty much got a win as well,
so you know, both teams have begune at it rather
than thinking, you know, maybe Belgium won't play their best
team or they can rest some players. Well, they obviously
got to you know, finished strong as well, and it
only adds to the pressure. But at the end of
(01:17):
the day, that's what we are, well, that's what the
leads play for, and they've put themselves in this position
and they've proven that they can play and compete at
this level, so you know, I'm sure they'll give it
their best crack.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We know, of course, the all Whites have had decent
patches of showing some pretty good form, especially at the
start of games. They've scored early as well. Will that
be giving them encouragement knowing that if they can prolong
some of that early dominance that they could be in
with a better chance later today.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
And I heard people say, oh, did Darren Baisley sort
of make subs too soon and or not soon enough
and all those types of things. But at the end
of the day, like those those boys are pros, and
you know they used to playing ninety minutes or ninety
five minutes, and you know, so I just don't think
there's an excuse there to say, oh, well, we you know,
we we could have made subs or whatever. I sort
(02:08):
of feel like it was like they played well for
forty five minutes and then we just kind of shut
down for the next forty five and as we all know,
you know, it's a ninety minute game, and you know,
they've just got to dig a bit deeper and you know,
work a bit harder and just keep those stands that
they kept. You know that they brought in that first
forty five minutes because they didn't look out at place
at all. They were so on top of Egypt that
(02:31):
wasn't funny. So it was rather disappointing and I guess
from everyone's point of view, just everyone was gutted to
see because they put themselves in such a good position
to go on and win that game.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah. Indeed, in Belgium themselves, a team ranked inside the
top ten at this tournament, can New Zealand play on
the fact that they themselves haven't had a tournament they
would have wanted so far?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, I reckon Belgium. When you look at it now,
you probably think Belgium probably more beatable than Egypt, even
you know, after seeing the games and you know, results
and what have you. And then the other is I
think Belgium have God is maybe their players are a
but aging and you know, getting a bit older, and
(03:13):
maybe they're a bit slower around the field. I don't
really know, and you know, so you know, maybe that's
a point where we've got to look at it and go, well,
we are a young team that can get around the
field and it's mobile, and maybe that's how we capitalize
on them, and you know, just keep taking it to them.
And you know, unfortunately, that's probably a little bit of
mental strength involved with the boys to go, hey, look,
(03:36):
we've been working hard for forty five minutes, but we've
got to keep going and keep it at that level
for the next forty five minutes. And then when those
subs do come on and they keep it at that
level and just keep pushing and pushing. But there is
an element of just mental strength, and I felt like
they kind of let themselves down a little bit in
that area in that second half against Egypt.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Ben give us the perspective from your experience at the
tournament in South Africa in twenty ten. The All Whites
haven't had to travel between these last few games, saving
you as the Egypt game Vancouver today, how easy is
it at the World's Cup to shut out all the
noise around them at the tournament friends and family there
as well soaking up all the action and festivities, all
the expectations on these players. How easy is it to
(04:20):
just focus on the game coming up, especially when you've
got all that downtime.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, it's it is crazy, Like it's there is not
so much distractions but the buzz of the actual World Cup.
And I just remember we were just treated like royalty,
you know, like your food. We just had abundance of food.
Like you were just driven everywhere. There was security, there
was like so you're you're not in reality. It's like
(04:45):
you're in a different world while you're in the World
Cup bubble. But in saying that though, like I just
remember being there and like all that I was focused
on was playing for my country, doing well and playing
for the best of our ability, right, And so those
players will be doing exactly the same thing, and you know,
I'm sure they'll be hurting from the game. You know,
I think games where they could have maybe got something,
(05:08):
so they'll be at least wanting to get something from this,
and you know, if they do, then you know they
could create history and obviously win a game. But also
I would like to think they'll go through as well.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
You've been a long time Phoenix follower and involved in
the club in various capacities since you're playing days, so
I'm sure you would have had some pride seeing Finn
Sermon and his impact at this tournament, particularly that thundering
head of goal against Egypt.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yeah. Yeah, and it's it's just great for any of
these young kids growing up in New Zealand to go
in and play pro, you know, not just for the
Phoenix but around the world and some big clubs, and
then to play for New Zealand and score a goal.
And Finn's just growing and growing and like, who knows,
like after the World Cup, like we might find that
he's in a bigger league in the Premier League or
(05:55):
Championship or Scottish leagues. Who knows where he'll be and
man like his will to his oyster and he's still young,
so excited about his future and you know what's next
for him because I'm pretty sure there's a few clubs
chasing him.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And that's the thing with this team, hasn't it been?
Many of them are on the right side of the
scale when it comes to youth on their side and
signs of longevity at this top level. I guess much
like Chris Wood and Tommy Smith now who are back
sixteen years on from their first appearance at a World Cup.
It does bode well for the future, doesn't it, regardless
of the results today.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, and especially if we keep qualifying for the World Cup,
because our rankings go up, so then more clubs are
going to start looking at our players, which then gives
them more opportunity. There's more money comes into the game
for the Pew Zealand football which then gives us more
development for a pathway and the grassroots of clubs and academies.
So it's pretty exciting and I just can't help but
(06:53):
think where I was growing up, not having a pathway
or an academy or anything. It was just play for
your club. And then it was like, oh, who's got
an opportunity? Does anyone know anyone to go overseas for
a trial over an England? Nor do you know anyone
that can help you know. So the pathway and the
opportunities now for these young kids is huge and from
(07:13):
where it was when I was a young fellow that,
you know, it's great to see. You know, what I
worked so hard for was to make sure that we
could create and find opportunities for these young kids so
they can play. You know, come from New Zealand knowing
that you know, I can be a footballer and make
a living from it because you know, growing up here
it was always just the rugby and you know, if
you weren't any good at rugby, there was no real
(07:35):
opportunity in the football sense. So you know, to see
where this game has come and how far it's growing
is like football's taking over in this country, which is
great to see.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
And your final thoughts on today, Ben, before you go,
one thing you're looking for from the All Whites to
hopefully achieve out there on the field today.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Yeah, for me, as I said earlier, it would be
that mental strength. You know, like I've always sort of said,
these kids or these players are way more talented than
the twenty ten boys. You know, they they've got technically
the skills. But now it just comes back to can
we mentally hold on to this game if we take
(08:12):
the lead and be strong enough to just keep working
through the systems and the process, but being able to
dig a little bit deeper, and if they can do that,
then you know the result might go their way, we.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Hope, so, Ben, Thanks so much for your time. Great
to have your expertise on the show this morning and
enjoy the game at three this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
No worries for more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk Said Be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
And let's chat the Football World Cup as more teams
cement places in the round of thirty two. An incredibly
tough job for our All Whites today, needing to take
on world number ten ranked Belgium. It's pretty simple. If
the All Whites are going to make the round of
thirty two, they have to have a win against a
(00:32):
team ranked so far ahead of them. Let's preview the
game now. Former All Whites who is part of the
twenty ten World Cup campaign and longtime professional footballer in
New Zealand, Ben sigmund Is with us. Ben, morning to you,
Thanks for your time. Now, we all know this is
such a tough game for the All Whites as we
count down to kick off today. How do you assess
what lies ahead? And I guess also rate their chances.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, it also makes it pretty difficult when Belgium, of god,
I think they pretty much got a win as well,
so you know, both teams have begune at it rather
than thinking, you know, maybe Belgium won't play their best
team or they can rest some players. Well, they obviously
got to you know, finished strong as well, and it
only adds to the pressure. But at the end of
(01:17):
the day, that's what we are, well, that's what the
leads play for, and they've put themselves in this position
and they've proven that they can play and compete at
this level, so you know, I'm sure they'll give it
their best crack.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We know, of course, the all Whites have had decent
patches of showing some pretty good form, especially at the
start of games. They've scored early as well. Will that
be giving them encouragement knowing that if they can prolong
some of that early dominance that they could be in
with a better chance later today.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
And I heard people say, oh, did Darren Baisley sort
of make subs too soon and or not soon enough
and all those types of things. But at the end
of the day, like those those boys are pros, and
you know they used to playing ninety minutes or ninety
five minutes, and you know, so I just don't think
there's an excuse there to say, oh, well, we you know,
we we could have made subs or whatever. I sort
(02:08):
of feel like it was like they played well for
forty five minutes and then we just kind of shut
down for the next forty five and as we all know,
you know, it's a ninety minute game, and you know,
they've just got to dig a bit deeper and you know,
work a bit harder and just keep those stands that
they kept. You know that they brought in that first
forty five minutes because they didn't look out at place
at all. They were so on top of Egypt that
(02:31):
wasn't funny. So it was rather disappointing and I guess
from everyone's point of view, just everyone was gutted to
see because they put themselves in such a good position
to go on and win that game.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah. Indeed, in Belgium themselves, a team ranked inside the
top ten at this tournament, can New Zealand play on
the fact that they themselves haven't had a tournament they
would have wanted so far?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, I reckon Belgium. When you look at it now,
you probably think Belgium probably more beatable than Egypt, even
you know, after seeing the games and you know, results
and what have you. And then the other is I
think Belgium have God is maybe their players are a
but aging and you know, getting a bit older, and
(03:13):
maybe they're a bit slower around the field. I don't
really know, and you know, so you know, maybe that's
a point where we've got to look at it and go, well,
we are a young team that can get around the
field and it's mobile, and maybe that's how we capitalize
on them, and you know, just keep taking it to them.
And you know, unfortunately, that's probably a little bit of
mental strength involved with the boys to go, hey, look,
(03:36):
we've been working hard for forty five minutes, but we've
got to keep going and keep it at that level
for the next forty five minutes. And then when those
subs do come on and they keep it at that
level and just keep pushing and pushing. But there is
an element of just mental strength, and I felt like
they kind of let themselves down a little bit in
that area in that second half against Egypt.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Ben give us the perspective from your experience at the
tournament in South Africa in twenty ten. The All Whites
haven't had to travel between these last few games, saving
you as the Egypt game Vancouver today, how easy is
it at the World's Cup to shut out all the
noise around them at the tournament friends and family there
as well soaking up all the action and festivities, all
the expectations on these players. How easy is it to
(04:20):
just focus on the game coming up, especially when you've
got all that downtime.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, it's it is crazy, Like it's there is not
so much distractions but the buzz of the actual World Cup.
And I just remember we were just treated like royalty,
you know, like your food. We just had abundance of food.
Like you were just driven everywhere. There was security, there
was like so you're you're not in reality. It's like
(04:45):
you're in a different world while you're in the World
Cup bubble. But in saying that though, like I just
remember being there and like all that I was focused
on was playing for my country, doing well and playing
for the best of our ability, right, And so those
players will be doing exactly the same thing, and you know,
I'm sure they'll be hurting from the game. You know,
I think games where they could have maybe got something,
(05:08):
so they'll be at least wanting to get something from this,
and you know, if they do, then you know they
could create history and obviously win a game. But also
I would like to think they'll go through as well.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
You've been a long time Phoenix follower and involved in
the club in various capacities since you're playing days, so
I'm sure you would have had some pride seeing Finn
Sermon and his impact at this tournament, particularly that thundering
head of goal against Egypt.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yeah. Yeah, and it's it's just great for any of
these young kids growing up in New Zealand to go
in and play pro, you know, not just for the
Phoenix but around the world and some big clubs, and
then to play for New Zealand and score a goal.
And Finn's just growing and growing and like, who knows,
like after the World Cup, like we might find that
he's in a bigger league in the Premier League or
(05:55):
Championship or Scottish leagues. Who knows where he'll be and
man like his will to his oyster and he's still young,
so excited about his future and you know what's next
for him because I'm pretty sure there's a few clubs
chasing him.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And that's the thing with this team, hasn't it been?
Many of them are on the right side of the
scale when it comes to youth on their side and
signs of longevity at this top level. I guess much
like Chris Wood and Tommy Smith now who are back
sixteen years on from their first appearance at a World Cup.
It does bode well for the future, doesn't it, regardless
of the results today.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, and especially if we keep qualifying for the World Cup,
because our rankings go up, so then more clubs are
going to start looking at our players, which then gives
them more opportunity. There's more money comes into the game
for the Pew Zealand football which then gives us more
development for a pathway and the grassroots of clubs and academies.
So it's pretty exciting and I just can't help but
(06:53):
think where I was growing up, not having a pathway
or an academy or anything. It was just play for
your club. And then it was like, oh, who's got
an opportunity? Does anyone know anyone to go overseas for
a trial over an England? Nor do you know anyone
that can help you know. So the pathway and the
opportunities now for these young kids is huge and from
(07:13):
where it was when I was a young fellow that,
you know, it's great to see. You know, what I
worked so hard for was to make sure that we
could create and find opportunities for these young kids so
they can play. You know, come from New Zealand knowing
that you know, I can be a footballer and make
a living from it because you know, growing up here
it was always just the rugby and you know, if
you weren't any good at rugby, there was no real
(07:35):
opportunity in the football sense. So you know, to see
where this game has come and how far it's growing
is like football's taking over in this country, which is
great to see.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
And your final thoughts on today, Ben, before you go,
one thing you're looking for from the All Whites to
hopefully achieve out there on the field today.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Yeah, for me, as I said earlier, it would be
that mental strength. You know, like I've always sort of said,
these kids or these players are way more talented than
the twenty ten boys. You know, they they've got technically
the skills. But now it just comes back to can
we mentally hold on to this game if we take
(08:12):
the lead and be strong enough to just keep working
through the systems and the process, but being able to
dig a little bit deeper, and if they can do that,
then you know the result might go their way, we.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Hope, so, Ben, Thanks so much for your time. Great
to have your expertise on the show this morning and
enjoy the game at three this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
No worries for more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk Said Be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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