June 25, 2026 • 7 mins
For Friday Sports Kick-off, Jason Pine beams into the show from Vancouver from the FIFA World Cup.
It's the eve of the All Whites vs Belgium game, which they must win to progress into the knockout stage.
Although Belgium are the clear favourites, Pine says they haven't played as well as expected this tournament.
So, Pine chats with Nick about our chances and the vibes in Canada with the hype around the football.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We're lucky enough to go to Jason Pine and Vancouver
again thanks to Quantas Jason.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Good morning, Hello Nick. Great to be with you again
the day before a pre big game of football here
in Vancouver.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Now I can feel that pressure in your voice, because
last time, a couple of week a couple of a
few days ago, we spoke at Europe and buzzing and ready,
the pressure is on.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
The pressure is on. Nick. You know what the pressure
of elite level sport is like, and that is what
is facing the All Whites. It's basically a win or
go home scenario for them tomorrow. Nothing else will do,
not a drawer, not a narrow defeat, nothing like that.
The only way they can stay in the World Cup
is by beating the world number ten side Belgium tomorrow.
(00:56):
Just for context, Nick, New Zealand eighty fifth in the world.
So this is shaping as a bit of a David v. Goliath.
But if there's any lactivity to be taken, it's that
we've already seen at this World Cup much lower ranked
nations beating teams who are much higher up the becking order.
So that'll be the That'll be the attitude that New
(01:18):
Zealand go in with. In many ways, n it actually
takes a few of the variables out of it. If
you know that a draw might be enugh for or
you know something like that, you might sit, you might
play for the drawer. All New Zealand can do is
go out and win, and I think that makes the
makes the approach to the game a little bit more straightforward.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
You would have had a really good look at belgim
what are you thinking.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, they're normally a very good sight and I say
normally because at this World Cup they've been anything but impressive.
In fact, they too need to win tomorrow to ensure
that they will go through to the next round. They
had a one old draw with Egypt in their first
game and a little old draw with a Run in
their second. So defensively they've been okay, only conceding one
(02:05):
goal in those two games. But on attack, a team
which is renowned for its attacking firepower has only scored
the one goal in the two games, and that nick
was an own goal. So you know, nobody in the
Belgian team yet has found the back of the net.
So look, they'll be they'll be supremely motivated. Think about
(02:27):
what it would be like if the All Blacks were
eliminated in paul play at a Rugby World Cup. And
that is what the Belgian fans would be like if
their team was eliminated in group play at a football
World Cup. They are one of world football's superpowers, and
they will be supremely motivated tomorrow to beat New Zealand
and to go through to the knockout stages themselves.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Okay, you've given us that analogy, so give us the
analogy in rugby in a quarterfinal? Who's who are the
All Blacks playing? When all whites? But you know, when
you look at it this game?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
So yeah, okay, so how did the always take it? Look,
it's a difficult one to answer, but.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Would it be someone like or less than that?
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Next? Probably about Yeah, that's actually not I was thinking
of a Pacific island side. Actually, next somebody who who
you know the All Blacks really should beat but could
cause them a few problems. So yeah, probably a somewha,
a Tonga, a Fiji. That's the sort of analogy we're
talking about here. So if you put if you put
the All Whites into the shoes of a of a
rugby team like that, and then and then think about
(03:27):
that team playing the All Blacks. That's kind of close
to what the All Whites are facing tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Can you can you enlighten our listeners a bit about
the vibe, the place, the tournament, the stadiums. Can you
give us a little bit of Jason pine Res of.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Course, always happy to do that. Nick. Look, Vancouver, it's
not hard to find positive things to say about the city.
For anybody who has visited Vancouver, they'll know exactly what
I'm talking about when I say it's it's a very
pretty city. You know, it's on the water, and then
you look across to the to the mountains, the Rockies,
and you know it's very picturesque. And then in town
(04:07):
the vibe here because it's a World Cup city and
there are games played here. Every corner you go around, there's,
you know, a sign of the World Cup, whether it's
posters or flags or people wearing colors. Yesterday Canada played
Switzerland and it felt to me because though the whole
of Vancouver took the day off, the city was absolutely
packed with people. The game kicked off at midday, but
(04:30):
even afterwards, like even into the sort of the early
evening and late evening last night. I sort of wandered
back through the city at about ten o'clock last night.
It was still light, you know, when I'd finished my
radio responsibilities, and there were hundreds and hundreds of people
still out and about enjoying themselves, and not just Canadian's neck.
There were Brazilian fans because they played yesterday. There were
(04:53):
some Scottish fans, a lot of Swiss fans as well,
but also because New Zealand are playing. There's always an
all white shirt somewhere in Vancouver, but the city is
embracing this World Cup. Canadian people are so friendly, so
generous with their time, you know, just just lovely, lovely people.
(05:14):
The coffee is good, which is handy as well. So yeah,
I don't have a bad word to say about the place.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Really, except we need a win tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Imagine how much more of a great place it will
be if the All Whites win tomorrow. Look, there's no
getting away from it. They're not favorites. They're absolutely not
favorites to win this game. But they do have a chance.
They have an opportunity to make history tomorrow at BC
Place in Vancouver. Wonderful stadium. You asked me about that,
and I didn't answer the question. The stadium is amazing.
(05:44):
Fifty three thousand people at holds when it's absolutely full,
and it will be full again tomorrow. Wonderful. Wonderful stadium.
Easy to get to, you know, walkable from the CBD.
There's a stadium Manufacturers in New Zealand and yeah, just
a great place to watch a game.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Have you walked down the street anywhere and if someone
yelled out, hey, buy me ah.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I actually had someone the other day do that, but
it was a Kiwi so it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Like yeah, but I'm still say. It's still amazing when
you're overseas like that at a environment somebody yells your day,
won't it?
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Well, I mean and you feel like, oh, that's a
bit weird. But yeah. A lot of Kiwis in town
actually had the chance to catch up with the Flying
Kiwi's yesterday. They're the official supporters group over here. There's
a hardcore of about thirty or forty of them who
have come over and man, they have a hell of
the time. They've enjoyed themselves no end, so it was
(06:36):
good to catch up with them yesterday and they are
absolutely fizzed ahead of this game. Now.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I know you're really, really busy and you've got lots on,
so I'll let you go, but one last word of
what has to happen tomorrow to give us any chance?
What are we got to do differently?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I just think we have to be defensively solid. We've
let five goals in our two games. That won't do tomorrow.
You know, I feel as though, I mean, you only
have to win the game one Milne. You don't have
to go out and win it two or three Nils.
You just have to be tight defensively and then take
your opportunities at the other end. So Belgium will come
out us tomorrow. We've got to be tight from the
start and then when those opportunities come at the other end,
(07:11):
we have to take one of them.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Always a pleasure, Jason, You're a bit like the tea.
You lose tomorrow and you go home.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Right, that's I want to stay on. So I'm sending
all my hopes to the New Zealand team to prolong
my stay.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Oh God, you do that team? Whence you stay team Blues,
you go, Piety always a pleasure to have a safe
enjoy the game, bring us home a when and enjoy
you stay over there.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Good on you, Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Jason Pie and Vancouver and he comes to us courtesy
of Quantus.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We're lucky enough to go to Jason Pine and Vancouver
again thanks to Quantas Jason.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Good morning, Hello Nick. Great to be with you again
the day before a pre big game of football here
in Vancouver.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Now I can feel that pressure in your voice, because
last time, a couple of week a couple of a
few days ago, we spoke at Europe and buzzing and ready,
the pressure is on.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
The pressure is on. Nick. You know what the pressure
of elite level sport is like, and that is what
is facing the All Whites. It's basically a win or
go home scenario for them tomorrow. Nothing else will do,
not a drawer, not a narrow defeat, nothing like that.
The only way they can stay in the World Cup
is by beating the world number ten side Belgium tomorrow.
(00:56):
Just for context, Nick, New Zealand eighty fifth in the world.
So this is shaping as a bit of a David v. Goliath.
But if there's any lactivity to be taken, it's that
we've already seen at this World Cup much lower ranked
nations beating teams who are much higher up the becking order.
So that'll be the That'll be the attitude that New
(01:18):
Zealand go in with. In many ways, n it actually
takes a few of the variables out of it. If
you know that a draw might be enugh for or
you know something like that, you might sit, you might
play for the drawer. All New Zealand can do is
go out and win, and I think that makes the
makes the approach to the game a little bit more straightforward.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
You would have had a really good look at belgim
what are you thinking.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, they're normally a very good sight and I say
normally because at this World Cup they've been anything but impressive.
In fact, they too need to win tomorrow to ensure
that they will go through to the next round. They
had a one old draw with Egypt in their first
game and a little old draw with a Run in
their second. So defensively they've been okay, only conceding one
(02:05):
goal in those two games. But on attack, a team
which is renowned for its attacking firepower has only scored
the one goal in the two games, and that nick
was an own goal. So you know, nobody in the
Belgian team yet has found the back of the net.
So look, they'll be they'll be supremely motivated. Think about
(02:27):
what it would be like if the All Blacks were
eliminated in paul play at a Rugby World Cup. And
that is what the Belgian fans would be like if
their team was eliminated in group play at a football
World Cup. They are one of world football's superpowers, and
they will be supremely motivated tomorrow to beat New Zealand
and to go through to the knockout stages themselves.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Okay, you've given us that analogy, so give us the
analogy in rugby in a quarterfinal? Who's who are the
All Blacks playing? When all whites? But you know, when
you look at it this game?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
So yeah, okay, so how did the always take it? Look,
it's a difficult one to answer, but.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Would it be someone like or less than that?
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Next? Probably about Yeah, that's actually not I was thinking
of a Pacific island side. Actually, next somebody who who
you know the All Blacks really should beat but could
cause them a few problems. So yeah, probably a somewha,
a Tonga, a Fiji. That's the sort of analogy we're
talking about here. So if you put if you put
the All Whites into the shoes of a of a
rugby team like that, and then and then think about
(03:27):
that team playing the All Blacks. That's kind of close
to what the All Whites are facing tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Can you can you enlighten our listeners a bit about
the vibe, the place, the tournament, the stadiums. Can you
give us a little bit of Jason pine Res of.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Course, always happy to do that. Nick. Look, Vancouver, it's
not hard to find positive things to say about the city.
For anybody who has visited Vancouver, they'll know exactly what
I'm talking about when I say it's it's a very
pretty city. You know, it's on the water, and then
you look across to the to the mountains, the Rockies,
and you know it's very picturesque. And then in town
(04:07):
the vibe here because it's a World Cup city and
there are games played here. Every corner you go around, there's,
you know, a sign of the World Cup, whether it's
posters or flags or people wearing colors. Yesterday Canada played
Switzerland and it felt to me because though the whole
of Vancouver took the day off, the city was absolutely
packed with people. The game kicked off at midday, but
(04:30):
even afterwards, like even into the sort of the early
evening and late evening last night. I sort of wandered
back through the city at about ten o'clock last night.
It was still light, you know, when I'd finished my
radio responsibilities, and there were hundreds and hundreds of people
still out and about enjoying themselves, and not just Canadian's neck.
There were Brazilian fans because they played yesterday. There were
(04:53):
some Scottish fans, a lot of Swiss fans as well,
but also because New Zealand are playing. There's always an
all white shirt somewhere in Vancouver, but the city is
embracing this World Cup. Canadian people are so friendly, so
generous with their time, you know, just just lovely, lovely people.
(05:14):
The coffee is good, which is handy as well. So yeah,
I don't have a bad word to say about the place.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Really, except we need a win tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Imagine how much more of a great place it will
be if the All Whites win tomorrow. Look, there's no
getting away from it. They're not favorites. They're absolutely not
favorites to win this game. But they do have a chance.
They have an opportunity to make history tomorrow at BC
Place in Vancouver. Wonderful stadium. You asked me about that,
and I didn't answer the question. The stadium is amazing.
(05:44):
Fifty three thousand people at holds when it's absolutely full,
and it will be full again tomorrow. Wonderful. Wonderful stadium.
Easy to get to, you know, walkable from the CBD.
There's a stadium Manufacturers in New Zealand and yeah, just
a great place to watch a game.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Have you walked down the street anywhere and if someone
yelled out, hey, buy me ah.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I actually had someone the other day do that, but
it was a Kiwi so it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Like yeah, but I'm still say. It's still amazing when
you're overseas like that at a environment somebody yells your day,
won't it?
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Well, I mean and you feel like, oh, that's a
bit weird. But yeah. A lot of Kiwis in town
actually had the chance to catch up with the Flying
Kiwi's yesterday. They're the official supporters group over here. There's
a hardcore of about thirty or forty of them who
have come over and man, they have a hell of
the time. They've enjoyed themselves no end, so it was
(06:36):
good to catch up with them yesterday and they are
absolutely fizzed ahead of this game. Now.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I know you're really, really busy and you've got lots on,
so I'll let you go, but one last word of
what has to happen tomorrow to give us any chance?
What are we got to do differently?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I just think we have to be defensively solid. We've
let five goals in our two games. That won't do tomorrow.
You know, I feel as though, I mean, you only
have to win the game one Milne. You don't have
to go out and win it two or three Nils.
You just have to be tight defensively and then take
your opportunities at the other end. So Belgium will come
out us tomorrow. We've got to be tight from the
start and then when those opportunities come at the other end,
(07:11):
we have to take one of them.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Always a pleasure, Jason, You're a bit like the tea.
You lose tomorrow and you go home.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Right, that's I want to stay on. So I'm sending
all my hopes to the New Zealand team to prolong
my stay.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Oh God, you do that team? Whence you stay team Blues,
you go, Piety always a pleasure to have a safe
enjoy the game, bring us home a when and enjoy
you stay over there.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Good on you, Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Jason Pie and Vancouver and he comes to us courtesy
of Quantus.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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