January 3, 2025 • 15 mins
The All Whites continue their Oceania World Cup qualifying.
The team face two more matches in their efforts to gain direct entry into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Oceania gaining a direct qualification slot for the first time.
All Whites Head Coach Darren Bazeley joins Piney to discuss the excitement of what lies ahead in the first few months of 2025.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
An exciting year ahead for New Zealand football fans.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Bell nice touch from Garbet garbic.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh, yes, that's super. That separate scene has cut on
the school barn. What beautiful lead up work from Matt Garbin.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Here.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The All Whites continue Oceannya World Cup qualifying. Two more matches,
a semi final and then if they win that a final,
if they beat Fiji on Friday, the twenty first of
March in Wellington, they will then play the winner of
the other semi final, which is also on Wellington that
same day. In Wellington. That same day, New Caledonia plays
(00:51):
the winner of the Fiji New Zealand game three nights
later at Eden Park in Auckland. The winner earns direct
entry to the twenty twenty six feet of World Cup.
Oceanny are getting direct entry for the very first time.
Coach of the All Whites is Darren Baisley, who joined
just now. Darren, thanks for your time. Twenty twenty five
has arrived to be new year. How exciting a prospect
(01:13):
is what lies ahead for you in just two or
three months time.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Hey planey, have you new year to everybody? I mean, yeah,
it's really exciting and obviously the big games coming up.
We know the job we've got to do, we know
the rewards that are there for us as well, so yeah,
it's exciting times. We've just got to get there now
to march and get this job done.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You should win these two games. How do you avoid complacency?
How do you prepare for these two matches?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean you're right when you look at the opposition,
you know the games we should win. We know that,
but it's also football and that brings slightly different challenges.
So you know, we've we've been pretty safe through all
of these games against the Oceana opposition. We're going to
these games slightly differently mindset to when we're playing Mexico
(02:02):
a USA, where you know, we just need to be
safe and just do our jobs. You know, we need
to make sure that we've got super discipline because you know,
we know if we stay in the games and nothing
nothing happens untoward within these games, we're going to get
chances to score goals and you know, ultimately we'll get
a chance to win the game. So yeah, well, we'll
take every opposition the same. We'll do all the analysis
(02:25):
and make sure that we're prepared and we know what
we're coming up against, and we're just yeah, we treat
every game the same. But knowing that you know these games,
we need to we need to just get this job done.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So last time you were together was mid November, so
by the time these roll around, it'll be four months
apart from the team. How much contact do you have
with your players and will you over the next couple
of months.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, I mean in contact with them pretty regularly. You know,
we watch with technology nowadays and we're able to watch
most of the games that they play in around the
world wherever they are. We get the highlights, we get
all their actions, so yeah, we can keep in touch
with what they're doing, how they're playing, how many minutes
they're playing, how fit they are, and then just keeping
regular contact with them and just make sure that we're
all connected. It's a it's a major part of us,
(03:11):
our culture and our connection. You know, we're a real
cohesive squad when we get together. The players sort of
you know, I've known each other for a long time.
Some of them, you know, grew up together. Some played
together when they were sort of growing up in different clubs,
So yeah, coming together the culture and the environment is key,
just bringing them bringing them back together. So it'll be
(03:32):
a bit of a gap from from November, but you know,
I just know when the boys get together that they'll
be ready for these games.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Do you uperate buys with a leadership group? Is there
a leadership group within your playing squad? Yeah, we do.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
We have a kaitiaki which are our guardians, guardians of
our environment and guardians of the connection, which is the
same as our leadership group with players. So yeah, they're key,
you know some and it's a mix in that group
of age and experience and different sort of people within
that group. But yeah, we're lucky. We've got such a
big squad now of really experience, good players that we
(04:08):
can call upon, you know, options in every position now,
which is which is great. We're in a really lucky
position at the moment.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And a challenging one for you as a coach because
you're in the position now where you have more good
players then you can fit into your squads. So what
informs your selection decisions? How do you go about those
those decision making processes.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, it's getting tougher, you know. Some You've got some
players like Woodsy and Libby and that that you just know,
you know, automatic selections at the moment with what they're
doing in their personal careers. And we've got other players
that are you know, having having really successful moments within
their with their CAREERSMA. But you know, we check on
form fitness, you know, what they did with us the
last time, how they fit in the balance of the team,
(04:51):
you know, what we need to do in each game.
So there's lots go into the selections. And obviously I've
got myself and Simon Elliott, Tony Reddings, you know, Paul
Gothard that you know, we always have different opinions to
be fair as well on who we think should should
be starting in each position. And the good thing for
us as well is not only do we have lots
of good options and players, but we have lots of
(05:12):
players that are pretty flexible positionally, you know, that could
play in different positions. So yeah, making those decisions on
starting elevens sometimes is a bit of a process.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
You and I've spoken before about the whiteboard in your office.
I'm not sure if it's an extra white boarder with
it's a spreadsheet on your laptop, but it's kind of
the depth chart. I guess for New Zealand footballers playing
around the world. How many names, Rick, can you get
up there?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Well, we've got about fifty eight at the moment. And yeah,
it actually is a whiteboard. It's a spreadsheet as well.
There's numerous spreadsheets. But yeah, I like in the office
to have the visual of the of the names and
the whiteboards so that we can see the balances and
know what we've got underneath each player. You know, we
know we've got certain players, but when you you know,
even for someone like Libby, when you look underneath Libby
(05:56):
and there's there's this five or six of players that
are underneath him competing to challenge or competing to be
that number two spot for the left back position, is
it is great to see and then it sort of
helps us just keep an eye on everybody really around
the world what they're doing. You know, you've got in
the left back position, you've got Dalton some Suddon, You've
(06:16):
got James McGarry playing over there. You know, Lucas Galli
Hill coming through. There's loads and loads of options. Francis
very sorry, I'm misus, Francis. There so loads of options
underneath Libby, and we get in there in almost every
position now, which is great for us.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, you haven't center back too, haven't you? Because I
look at Michael box All, who's been around forever but
still seems to be about twenty three years old. I
know he's not Nando Pintiker, who's naturally left sided. Then
Finn Sermon Tyler Binden, who's just turning heads everywhere he goes.
You must look at that whiteboard and think to yourself,
we're probably in as good a position as we have
(06:53):
ever been.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Definitely. Yeah, it's a really strong, wider squad now, and
it is. It's getting to the stage now where every
squad name, we're leaving good players out. You know. The
last few squads left players out like Alex Greeve and
Max Matter and you know, and people of other players
of miss squads, you know, Callum's miss squads, so our
preaks miss squads, you know. But whoever we choose comes
(07:16):
in and does a great job. So I think that's
great for us. Now. The players know they're competing, they're challenging,
and they have to perform within their club environments and
when they come into us as well, and the rewards
are so big now, you know, obviously we've got these
two games that we need to do our job on,
you know, but the reward for that is going to
a World Cup in twenty twenty six, which every footballer
(07:38):
dreams of. And they all sort of now competing with
each other as well as you know, other teams to perform.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
That's the most important thing for you base that they
are playing regularly at club level.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, I mean, that's key that they're playing. It's not
always as easy as that. We've got some players in
pretty high level environments, like a Marco Staminich at the
moment that's obviously a very very good player. It isn't
getting as many minutes as they'd want. But you know,
we know that he's he's fine, he'll be he'll be great,
He's going to have a great career. He's just in
(08:13):
a club at the moment. The competition for him is
really tough in his position and within that squad. So
I think it's a mix of you know, we want
players to be playing because we know they'll come in,
you know, not ready to play, but also you know,
we know the levels of the players around around the
world and who they are and what they've done with
us previously, So there's a lot of considerations taken into
(08:35):
place when we when we select squads.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yeah, you talk about high level environments and then you
talk about the Premier League. How much are you enjoying
watching Chris Wood in Korea beast form at the moment?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
It's amazing. You know, I'm not sure we'll ever get
another player that's doing what he's doing right now. You know,
he's he's, you know, the second in the Premier League.
He is one of the top scorers in the Premier League.
He's Yeah, he's literally on fire. So you know, for me,
my job of watching Premier League football and watching Woods
he performance is great. I spend a lot of time
(09:08):
watching football of different levels around the world, and then
suddenly you get to like, I'll say, scout, we don't
need to Scout would see, but we're definitely monitoring him
and we're watching Premier League football while we're doing it,
which is which is amazing.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Is starting goalkeeper still a live discussion?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
It is? You know, again, we've got great options. You know,
obviously Max Crocom's been the number one for the last
few years really, and he's doing very well. He's playing
at a high levels, playing every week in a tough
environment in League One, and you know his club are
struggling at the bottom of the table, which means he
gets a lot of action. But again he's doing very well.
But then you've got Alex Poulson, who's you know, he's
(09:47):
a younger player, you know, he's still that potential player,
is in his sort of second year of professional playing now,
but has had this run at the Phoenix last year
and got his big move and now had this run
of clean sheets at Auckland and again playing with a
lot of confidence and doing very well. So he's definitely
the future. He's the younger one obviously and he's pushing.
(10:09):
But behind him, you know, you've got your early sales
and Nick Zanev who's playing again at Northampton over in
England at the moment, and a load of younger players,
younger goal killers Henry Gray in case sims that are
professionals now in pretty good levels. If it's another position
where we've got decisions to make, and tough, tough decisions
(10:30):
for not only the squads but for the start and
eleven and.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
One guy is not playing at the moment for injury
is being Old. I know his home over the Christmas break,
continuing his reheab. Have you got any idea on on
whether being Old might be available for you in March?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well, it's it is a tough spot for him, you know,
he's he's picked up this injury at a bad time.
You know, he was just really getting himself going in
the in lot of Liga and doing so well with
us and with me, So yeah, that's tough. He's I
think March is probably touch and go. I think he'll
be back, just back playing around those sort of dates.
(11:06):
But whether leaving his club, you know, having just recovered
from injury and coming to international football is the right
thing for him at the club, we're not sure. So
at the moment we're just monitoring him. It's an injury
that you know, it could be could be quicker, but
it's also an injury where they may just take a
bit of time just to make sure that it recovers
(11:26):
properly before they throw him back into football. So in
the ladder case would mean he'd probably miss out in March.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Did you know that Tyler Bunden one of your center
backs had the overhead kick goal and as locker.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
I wasn't sure he had that, But yeah, he's I mean,
Tyler can do almost anything. You know, he's nineteen years old.
He's playing so much football. He's got caps now, he's
got goals for New Zealand and for Reading. He's going
to get a big move in the next few weeks,
which will be the next step for him. Whether he
gets a big, big move, I'm not sure, but I
(11:59):
think right now, I think just having that next step
for him is great. You know, moving up a level,
you know, and keep playing is probably key for him. Yeah,
he's nineteen years old and he's got a wonderful career
ahead of him, certainly.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Orright, let's circle back to these World Cup games to finish.
If you qualify for the World Cup, if all goes well,
you win these two games and you qualify, there's a
long time between March and June of next year when
the World Cup takes place, So ideally, how many games
would you like to play in that time?
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Yeah, I mean we would be you know, if everything
goes to plan, we would be the first team in
the world to qualify for the World Cup apart from
the hosts, you know, which puts us in a really
good position of you know, being able to get some
really good games in the build ups. So I will
play every window, you know, losing football Andrew Pregnant said
that now we're going to play every window, and I
(12:50):
think having if we are, that team that's qualified for
the World Cup will be wanted by a lot of countries.
You know, everybody wants to play against potential teams that
are at the World Cup. So I think we'll be
in a really good position to pick up some really
good games. The hard thing is a lot of the windows.
You know, there's obviously the five FIFA windows throughout the year.
(13:11):
The hard thing would then be that actually a lot
of those windows were aready used up for other teams,
you know, in their World Cup qualifiers, which would obviously
mean that they wouldn't be available for us to play against.
So it's a good position, but it's also a challenging
and a little bit tricky finding countries that I've got
three windows and that are able to play against us.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
All right, well, let's get March out of the way first.
An exciting few months ahead of you, Your players in
New Zealand Football Fans Base. Thanks for updating us so
early in the year. We'll catch up again.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Soon, chess by any, catch up soon, cheers.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Cheers there are Darren. Darren basically they're the coach of
the All Whites. Yeah so yeah. It is an exciting time.
Never before has New Zealand had the opportunity to qualify
for a World Cup automatically out of Oceany. The previous
two times back in nineteen eighty two it was Asia
Oceania qualifying went through a whole bunch of games, fifteen
games that New Zealand team had to play to reach
(14:02):
the World Cup in Spain in nineteen eighty two, and then,
of course in twenty ten, when New Zealand made it
to South Africa. That was off the back of a
two legged intercontinental playoff, the second leg of which they
famously won one Nill against Bahrain and Wellington and November
of two thousand and nine, and off to the World
Cup they went. That's been the route for the last
(14:23):
few and New Zealand hasn't been able to get there.
They weren't able to get past Mexico for the twenty
fourteen World Cup weren't able to get past Peru for
the twenty eighteen World Cup. In a one off game
against Costa Rica to qualify for the World Cup in
twenty twenty two in Qatar, they were beaten one nill
in that game as well. So the days of intercontinental
(14:45):
playoffs certainly for the winner of Oceania are gone because
the other part of this is that whoever makes the
final and is the losing finalist in Oceania goes into
an intercontinental playoffs, so there is a second chance for
that team. New Zealand obviously will be hoping and I
think most people would be expecting that they would win
(15:06):
and the final and make their way directly into the
World Cup next year. Exciting times.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
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You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
An exciting year ahead for New Zealand football fans.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Bell nice touch from Garbet garbic.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh, yes, that's super. That separate scene has cut on
the school barn. What beautiful lead up work from Matt Garbin.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Here.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The All Whites continue Oceannya World Cup qualifying. Two more matches,
a semi final and then if they win that a final,
if they beat Fiji on Friday, the twenty first of
March in Wellington, they will then play the winner of
the other semi final, which is also on Wellington that
same day. In Wellington. That same day, New Caledonia plays
(00:51):
the winner of the Fiji New Zealand game three nights
later at Eden Park in Auckland. The winner earns direct
entry to the twenty twenty six feet of World Cup.
Oceanny are getting direct entry for the very first time.
Coach of the All Whites is Darren Baisley, who joined
just now. Darren, thanks for your time. Twenty twenty five
has arrived to be new year. How exciting a prospect
(01:13):
is what lies ahead for you in just two or
three months time.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Hey planey, have you new year to everybody? I mean, yeah,
it's really exciting and obviously the big games coming up.
We know the job we've got to do, we know
the rewards that are there for us as well, so yeah,
it's exciting times. We've just got to get there now
to march and get this job done.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You should win these two games. How do you avoid complacency?
How do you prepare for these two matches?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean you're right when you look at the opposition,
you know the games we should win. We know that,
but it's also football and that brings slightly different challenges.
So you know, we've we've been pretty safe through all
of these games against the Oceana opposition. We're going to
these games slightly differently mindset to when we're playing Mexico
(02:02):
a USA, where you know, we just need to be
safe and just do our jobs. You know, we need
to make sure that we've got super discipline because you know,
we know if we stay in the games and nothing
nothing happens untoward within these games, we're going to get
chances to score goals and you know, ultimately we'll get
a chance to win the game. So yeah, well, we'll
take every opposition the same. We'll do all the analysis
(02:25):
and make sure that we're prepared and we know what
we're coming up against, and we're just yeah, we treat
every game the same. But knowing that you know these games,
we need to we need to just get this job done.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So last time you were together was mid November, so
by the time these roll around, it'll be four months
apart from the team. How much contact do you have
with your players and will you over the next couple
of months.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, I mean in contact with them pretty regularly. You know,
we watch with technology nowadays and we're able to watch
most of the games that they play in around the
world wherever they are. We get the highlights, we get
all their actions, so yeah, we can keep in touch
with what they're doing, how they're playing, how many minutes
they're playing, how fit they are, and then just keeping
regular contact with them and just make sure that we're
all connected. It's a it's a major part of us,
(03:11):
our culture and our connection. You know, we're a real
cohesive squad when we get together. The players sort of
you know, I've known each other for a long time.
Some of them, you know, grew up together. Some played
together when they were sort of growing up in different clubs,
So yeah, coming together the culture and the environment is key,
just bringing them bringing them back together. So it'll be
(03:32):
a bit of a gap from from November, but you know,
I just know when the boys get together that they'll
be ready for these games.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Do you uperate buys with a leadership group? Is there
a leadership group within your playing squad? Yeah, we do.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
We have a kaitiaki which are our guardians, guardians of
our environment and guardians of the connection, which is the
same as our leadership group with players. So yeah, they're key,
you know some and it's a mix in that group
of age and experience and different sort of people within
that group. But yeah, we're lucky. We've got such a
big squad now of really experience, good players that we
(04:08):
can call upon, you know, options in every position now,
which is which is great. We're in a really lucky
position at the moment.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And a challenging one for you as a coach because
you're in the position now where you have more good
players then you can fit into your squads. So what
informs your selection decisions? How do you go about those
those decision making processes.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, it's getting tougher, you know. Some You've got some
players like Woodsy and Libby and that that you just know,
you know, automatic selections at the moment with what they're
doing in their personal careers. And we've got other players
that are you know, having having really successful moments within
their with their CAREERSMA. But you know, we check on
form fitness, you know, what they did with us the
last time, how they fit in the balance of the team,
(04:51):
you know, what we need to do in each game.
So there's lots go into the selections. And obviously I've
got myself and Simon Elliott, Tony Reddings, you know, Paul
Gothard that you know, we always have different opinions to
be fair as well on who we think should should
be starting in each position. And the good thing for
us as well is not only do we have lots
of good options and players, but we have lots of
(05:12):
players that are pretty flexible positionally, you know, that could
play in different positions. So yeah, making those decisions on
starting elevens sometimes is a bit of a process.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
You and I've spoken before about the whiteboard in your office.
I'm not sure if it's an extra white boarder with
it's a spreadsheet on your laptop, but it's kind of
the depth chart. I guess for New Zealand footballers playing
around the world. How many names, Rick, can you get
up there?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Well, we've got about fifty eight at the moment. And yeah,
it actually is a whiteboard. It's a spreadsheet as well.
There's numerous spreadsheets. But yeah, I like in the office
to have the visual of the of the names and
the whiteboards so that we can see the balances and
know what we've got underneath each player. You know, we
know we've got certain players, but when you you know,
even for someone like Libby, when you look underneath Libby
(05:56):
and there's there's this five or six of players that
are underneath him competing to challenge or competing to be
that number two spot for the left back position, is
it is great to see and then it sort of
helps us just keep an eye on everybody really around
the world what they're doing. You know, you've got in
the left back position, you've got Dalton some Suddon, You've
(06:16):
got James McGarry playing over there. You know, Lucas Galli
Hill coming through. There's loads and loads of options. Francis
very sorry, I'm misus, Francis. There so loads of options
underneath Libby, and we get in there in almost every
position now, which is great for us.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, you haven't center back too, haven't you? Because I
look at Michael box All, who's been around forever but
still seems to be about twenty three years old. I
know he's not Nando Pintiker, who's naturally left sided. Then
Finn Sermon Tyler Binden, who's just turning heads everywhere he goes.
You must look at that whiteboard and think to yourself,
we're probably in as good a position as we have
(06:53):
ever been.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Definitely. Yeah, it's a really strong, wider squad now, and
it is. It's getting to the stage now where every
squad name, we're leaving good players out. You know. The
last few squads left players out like Alex Greeve and
Max Matter and you know, and people of other players
of miss squads, you know, Callum's miss squads, so our
preaks miss squads, you know. But whoever we choose comes
(07:16):
in and does a great job. So I think that's
great for us. Now. The players know they're competing, they're challenging,
and they have to perform within their club environments and
when they come into us as well, and the rewards
are so big now, you know, obviously we've got these
two games that we need to do our job on,
you know, but the reward for that is going to
a World Cup in twenty twenty six, which every footballer
(07:38):
dreams of. And they all sort of now competing with
each other as well as you know, other teams to perform.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
That's the most important thing for you base that they
are playing regularly at club level.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, I mean, that's key that they're playing. It's not
always as easy as that. We've got some players in
pretty high level environments, like a Marco Staminich at the
moment that's obviously a very very good player. It isn't
getting as many minutes as they'd want. But you know,
we know that he's he's fine, he'll be he'll be great,
He's going to have a great career. He's just in
(08:13):
a club at the moment. The competition for him is
really tough in his position and within that squad. So
I think it's a mix of you know, we want
players to be playing because we know they'll come in,
you know, not ready to play, but also you know,
we know the levels of the players around around the
world and who they are and what they've done with
us previously, So there's a lot of considerations taken into
(08:35):
place when we when we select squads.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yeah, you talk about high level environments and then you
talk about the Premier League. How much are you enjoying
watching Chris Wood in Korea beast form at the moment?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
It's amazing. You know, I'm not sure we'll ever get
another player that's doing what he's doing right now. You know,
he's he's, you know, the second in the Premier League.
He is one of the top scorers in the Premier League.
He's Yeah, he's literally on fire. So you know, for me,
my job of watching Premier League football and watching Woods
he performance is great. I spend a lot of time
(09:08):
watching football of different levels around the world, and then
suddenly you get to like, I'll say, scout, we don't
need to Scout would see, but we're definitely monitoring him
and we're watching Premier League football while we're doing it,
which is which is amazing.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Is starting goalkeeper still a live discussion?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
It is? You know, again, we've got great options. You know,
obviously Max Crocom's been the number one for the last
few years really, and he's doing very well. He's playing
at a high levels, playing every week in a tough
environment in League One, and you know his club are
struggling at the bottom of the table, which means he
gets a lot of action. But again he's doing very well.
But then you've got Alex Poulson, who's you know, he's
(09:47):
a younger player, you know, he's still that potential player,
is in his sort of second year of professional playing now,
but has had this run at the Phoenix last year
and got his big move and now had this run
of clean sheets at Auckland and again playing with a
lot of confidence and doing very well. So he's definitely
the future. He's the younger one obviously and he's pushing.
(10:09):
But behind him, you know, you've got your early sales
and Nick Zanev who's playing again at Northampton over in
England at the moment, and a load of younger players,
younger goal killers Henry Gray in case sims that are
professionals now in pretty good levels. If it's another position
where we've got decisions to make, and tough, tough decisions
(10:30):
for not only the squads but for the start and
eleven and.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
One guy is not playing at the moment for injury
is being Old. I know his home over the Christmas break,
continuing his reheab. Have you got any idea on on
whether being Old might be available for you in March?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well, it's it is a tough spot for him, you know,
he's he's picked up this injury at a bad time.
You know, he was just really getting himself going in
the in lot of Liga and doing so well with
us and with me, So yeah, that's tough. He's I
think March is probably touch and go. I think he'll
be back, just back playing around those sort of dates.
(11:06):
But whether leaving his club, you know, having just recovered
from injury and coming to international football is the right
thing for him at the club, we're not sure. So
at the moment we're just monitoring him. It's an injury
that you know, it could be could be quicker, but
it's also an injury where they may just take a
bit of time just to make sure that it recovers
(11:26):
properly before they throw him back into football. So in
the ladder case would mean he'd probably miss out in March.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Did you know that Tyler Bunden one of your center
backs had the overhead kick goal and as locker.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
I wasn't sure he had that, But yeah, he's I mean,
Tyler can do almost anything. You know, he's nineteen years old.
He's playing so much football. He's got caps now, he's
got goals for New Zealand and for Reading. He's going
to get a big move in the next few weeks,
which will be the next step for him. Whether he
gets a big, big move, I'm not sure, but I
(11:59):
think right now, I think just having that next step
for him is great. You know, moving up a level,
you know, and keep playing is probably key for him. Yeah,
he's nineteen years old and he's got a wonderful career
ahead of him, certainly.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Orright, let's circle back to these World Cup games to finish.
If you qualify for the World Cup, if all goes well,
you win these two games and you qualify, there's a
long time between March and June of next year when
the World Cup takes place, So ideally, how many games
would you like to play in that time?
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Yeah, I mean we would be you know, if everything
goes to plan, we would be the first team in
the world to qualify for the World Cup apart from
the hosts, you know, which puts us in a really
good position of you know, being able to get some
really good games in the build ups. So I will
play every window, you know, losing football Andrew Pregnant said
that now we're going to play every window, and I
(12:50):
think having if we are, that team that's qualified for
the World Cup will be wanted by a lot of countries.
You know, everybody wants to play against potential teams that
are at the World Cup. So I think we'll be
in a really good position to pick up some really
good games. The hard thing is a lot of the windows.
You know, there's obviously the five FIFA windows throughout the year.
(13:11):
The hard thing would then be that actually a lot
of those windows were aready used up for other teams,
you know, in their World Cup qualifiers, which would obviously
mean that they wouldn't be available for us to play against.
So it's a good position, but it's also a challenging
and a little bit tricky finding countries that I've got
three windows and that are able to play against us.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
All right, well, let's get March out of the way first.
An exciting few months ahead of you, Your players in
New Zealand Football Fans Base. Thanks for updating us so
early in the year. We'll catch up again.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Soon, chess by any, catch up soon, cheers.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Cheers there are Darren. Darren basically they're the coach of
the All Whites. Yeah so yeah. It is an exciting time.
Never before has New Zealand had the opportunity to qualify
for a World Cup automatically out of Oceany. The previous
two times back in nineteen eighty two it was Asia
Oceania qualifying went through a whole bunch of games, fifteen
games that New Zealand team had to play to reach
(14:02):
the World Cup in Spain in nineteen eighty two, and then,
of course in twenty ten, when New Zealand made it
to South Africa. That was off the back of a
two legged intercontinental playoff, the second leg of which they
famously won one Nill against Bahrain and Wellington and November
of two thousand and nine, and off to the World
Cup they went. That's been the route for the last
(14:23):
few and New Zealand hasn't been able to get there.
They weren't able to get past Mexico for the twenty
fourteen World Cup weren't able to get past Peru for
the twenty eighteen World Cup. In a one off game
against Costa Rica to qualify for the World Cup in
twenty twenty two in Qatar, they were beaten one nill
in that game as well. So the days of intercontinental
(14:45):
playoffs certainly for the winner of Oceania are gone because
the other part of this is that whoever makes the
final and is the losing finalist in Oceania goes into
an intercontinental playoffs, so there is a second chance for
that team. New Zealand obviously will be hoping and I
think most people would be expecting that they would win
(15:06):
and the final and make their way directly into the
World Cup next year. Exciting times.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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