Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB Weekend IT.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Two twenty five. The All Whites will take on the
Soccer US this September over two games, one in Australia
one here in New Zealand. The two nations have both
qualified for next year's World Cup. They will play in
Canberra on Friday, September the fifth, before the return match
at go Media Stadium in Auckland on Tuesday September. The
ninth All Whites coach Darren Baisley is with us. This
(00:37):
doesn't have been very often, Bays. The All Whites have
played Australia just five times since two thousand and six,
only one of those in New Zealand. So how much
you're looking forward to these two games?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Oh? These are great games, you know any I think
I keep saying it about any New Zealand Australia sporting event,
and you're in any in any code is excited and
it's going to be competitive. So yeah, big games, great
games for us.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
You look at the current fee for rankings and I
know they only tell some of the story, but Australia
currently twenty sixth in the world New Zealand eighty sixth.
Do you feel though, as no, you're in a position
where you can push them, even beat them in one
or both of these games.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, definitely. You know obviously the ranking to what they are,
but when you actually dig into the rankings and how
you climb, it's actually really difficult for us to climb
the rankings. With the games that we have, the sort
of competition games that we have, we feel like we're
you know, we're ranked a lot higher than where we
where we should where we are, you know, we should
be ranked a lot higher, and we gradually climb in
(01:36):
You will probably get some more points from that last window.
But I think we were starting to show you that
we can compete with these teams around the sort of
thirty forty to fifty era. You know, when we look
at obviously Coke Divoire recently that were ranked forty one,
and Tunisia we're in the forties, Republic of Blindberg the
thirties when we played them. You know, USA were ranked
sixteen when we played them, and you we've sort of
(01:57):
didn't get beaten. So we're starting to feel like we
can definitely compete with these teams that have got these
rankings and you know, as a pretty highly ranked you know,
have done well over the last few years and they've
got some good players. But great game for us, and
we're excited.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
You're just back, of course from Canada where you took
on Ivory Coast a win there and Ukraine a narrow loss.
With the benefit of some time to reflect on that
particular window, how do you evaluate those two matches.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yeah, I think it was a really good step for us.
You know, we'd come off the back of playing a
lot of games against OFC opposition, you know, where we
were the highly ranked team and sort of the favorites
for those games, and you know, we did our jobs,
but there were different games to what we were you know,
what we're going to face coming for the rest of
the year, and for those two Ivory Coast and Ukraine games.
So it was I was really interested going into it
(02:46):
to see where we were at, you know, because we've
won a lot of games, and winning does become a habit.
You know, it doesn't really matter who you're playing against
at times. But yeah, we always felt like they were
different games. It was like a start of a new chapter,
you know, as we build to the world Cup. So
it was exciting to see that we you know, we
took our recent winning form and took that into a
game against the better opposition and one a game which
(03:08):
was great. And I think that'll add real belief to
the players that, you know, because we've got a really
good group of players, and I just feel like they
just needed that little bit of belief in themselves and
each other that you know, we can play these teams
and win, and now we've sort of done that, hopefully
we can move forward. You know. The Ukraine game, I
thought it was a pretty good performance. You know, but
(03:30):
even after the coach of Voi win, we didn't get
too carried away, didn't get too excited, you know, the
players didn't because I know they think that there's a
lot more from us to come. You know, we're still
working on a lot of things, things we can do better.
So we didn't get too carried away with that. But
I think it definitely instilled some belief moving.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Forward inside the playing group during that window. Did you
sense a lift and intensity with World Cup qualification now
secure in places on the plane to the World Cup
now up for grabs, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I mean that, as you know, they are a great
group of lads anyway, and they they turn up for
every window with that mindset. But yeah, I felt like
there was definitely a sort of step change. We are
staff felt like it was the start of a new chapter,
and we talked about that a bit. You know, we
were going from being the sort of hunted team to
(04:22):
the hunters, you know, going from being the favorites to
to you know, the lesser ranked team. And whilst the
players don't like the tag underdog, you know, you know,
other teams I think still sort of regard us that
way a little bit because of our rankings. So it's
fine for other teams to think that, you know, we
don't see ourselves as underdogs anymore. You know, we see
that we can compete with these teams and give them
(04:45):
a good game.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
As these players, you know, look to press their claims
to be part of your squad for the World Cup
next year, what sort of messaging are you giving to
them both when you're together in camp and during the
times when they are with their clubs.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah, I mean it's it's no real different message to
any other time that you know, all White coaches give players,
you know, get yourself in the best environment get yourself
as good as you can. Need to be playing regularly,
you know, and if you're not, you need to look
at options to secure playing time, you know, and then
when you get opportunities within the windows, grab that opportunity perform,
(05:22):
you know, because when we come to select a squad,
it's it's there's so many different considerations that we look at.
You know, how how players have done with us, how
much time they've spent with us in our environment, and
how they've performed with us. But then what are they
doing in their club environments and how are they progressing there,
what level are they playing at, the form, the fitness,
(05:43):
the partnerships, the positional flexibility, you know, all these sort
of things going to selecting squads. So what sort of
sided players is you know, every day is an opportunity.
You know, what you do at your club and in
your own environment can help. What you do when you
come in with us can help. And then we sort
of put all that in the mix and pick the squads.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
There's a couple of pliers who have been regular as
in your squads in the last couple of years as
we speak today without a club, Matt Garbett, Ben Wayne,
how important is it that those two in particular find
a new home sometime soon.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, it's very important. You know, these these two in particular,
they've done very well with us, and they've done very
well at previous sort of club environments, you know, over
the last few years. So you know, the last couple
of squads so much and June, you know, we we
kept them. We kept selecting them, you know, based on
what they've done with us, based on what they've done
previously at at clubs. Whilst we knew they weren't getting
(06:39):
as much game time recent game time as we wanted
or they wanted, we sort of gave them that the
benefit for that. That's not something that could carry on,
you know, for a long time. You know, they now
know that they need to get back playing regularly at clubs.
So yeah, I'm excited to see where those two land
(07:01):
and some of the players who are in the process
of potentially moving as well. You know, we've just seen
the maxicro A move, which is awesome, and there's Secured
club as well, which is great, and I think there'll
be a few other sort of movements and it is
a big year. Players sort of know that and they
all determined to put themselves in the best environment that
it can be to be selected. That's great to hear
(07:22):
and it's great for us.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Another player I'll ask about is Ryan Thomas. He hasn't
played for New Zealand since the back end of twenty
nineteen with a really unfortunate run of injuries. He is
now back playing regularly in the Netherlands. Will you look
at bringing him in for these matches against Australia.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I mean, he's definitely a player where we talked to
regularly and really interested in. He's a top, top player.
So can you imagine bringing Ryan Thomas back into the group.
It'll be like a new sign in that he's He's
always said to me, like I've always felt that we'll
see him in an a white shirt again, and he's
always said to me he just needed to have a
good six months with no injury setbacks, you know, and
(08:01):
just get back playing before he would contemplate taking on
any extra loading. He ended up last season, you know,
played the last three months this season, you know pretty
consistently feels good, you know, his injury free, and then
the season stopped. So at this stage he sort of said,
let me, let me go through pre season with the club.
Let me see how the season starts, and hopefully everything's
(08:22):
in a really good place and we'll just keep talking
and we'll keep looking at it. You know, weather september's
too early, but you know we've got October and November
has really good windows as well, which which could be opportunities.
But I think we would all jump at the chance
of bringing Ryan in. But it's it's really got to
be on his terms.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
When is Alex Poulson going to get another game and goal?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
He's been really well Alex. You know, he's very young still.
You know, he's sort of only had his two years
really as as a professional playing. I had two great
seasons and he's pushing Max now. You know Max. Max
is a very good goalkeeper. You know, he's just secured
and moved to the Championship, which is you know, a
really high level which is going to test him and
(09:06):
never really put any anything wrong when he's been with us.
So it's really difficult for goalkeepers to because they're not
sort of that position where you take somebody off and
give someonem twenty minutes and you know, like atlefielders get
so so it's hard for goalkeepers. We keep talking to
Alex every time he comes in. He's he's really good
on toy. He pushes Max, he's real professional. I think
(09:29):
Max can feel him pushing as well. It's probably has
pushed Max to a new height, as we saw in
the last tour. Yeah, I mean, I think it's competitive
in that position, and I'm sure Alex will get an
opportunity soon, you know. We we now need to see
what happens with him. He's going back to Bournemouth. Will
he stay there, will he go out and loan? You
(09:49):
know where he'll end up. Well, we'll have an impact
as well on us. So we'll wait and see how
he goes. But yeah, he's doing great. I'm not I
don't think we should be too worried right now that
he's not getting game time with us. He's so young.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
All right. Well, you've got these two games in September,
our game confirmed in the October window against world number
thirty eight Norway, in reports of another game in that
window against another European nation. Then there's windows in November
and another one in March. Do you feel confident you'll
get two matches in each of those two windows as well?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Yeah, we'll definitely get we'll definitely get the full amount
of games. We're still trying to confirm opposition, but we're
again with those with those ones for October and November.
We're really close to securing those extra three fixtures. I've
got no doubt in my head that will definitely get
the games. It's just just confirming the level of opposition
and potentially they're all going to be top thirty teams
(10:45):
in the world, which would be amazing against sort of
different confederations as well. So if it all goes to plan,
hopefully we'll get some release of those fixtures soon and yeah,
they'll be exciting games.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Good good to hear. And I guess because you don't
know who you're going to play at the World Capital December,
and there's only one window left after that, so it's
not like you can tailor your your build up over
the next twelve months too who are going to be
playing because you don't know you But is there a
certain type of opponent that you're looking for as you
hit towards the World Cup or is it more where
they are ranked that is important?
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Well, I mean right now we've sort of said when
we started planning the year ahead early January February and
looking towards qualification, we said for the rest of the year,
we just wanted to be able to play against different
oppositions from different confederations, so that you know, come the draw,
you know we'll have had experience against African teams, against
(11:38):
European teams, against Asian teams, and you know, conquer CAF commobile.
So I think we're hopefully in a great place where
you know, we'll get to the draw and we will
have had experience against most types of teams and then
whatever the draw throws up, you know, it gives us
the March window to try and get something similar for
(11:59):
that window in the pre World Cups. Yes, it's an
exciting time. You know. The draw in December is going
to be an amazing and that's where we find out
who the who the positions are and we start planning looking.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Forward to a full house at go Media on Tuesday,
the ninth of September when the soccer Who's come to town.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah, it'd be amazing. I think it's great. You know,
we played at Eden Park in March and that was great,
but you know, to take this game to go Media
you know at the home of Workman and the fans
that they've been getting. The capacities there have been amazing,
the atmosphere has been amazing, So I mean hopefully the
port will come out and support us like they do
(12:40):
Auckland and create the same sort of atmosphere that I'm
sure Australia are going to love coming into, which would
be pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Absolutely great to have these games locked and looking forward
to us seing Hey you go against the soccer who's
in September. Always love catching up Boes. Thanks for taking
the time.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Now anytime paining great catch up me No for
Speaker 1 (12:58):
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