All Whites vs China: Squad Yarns & Preview
It’s been a while since we last saw the All Whites in action, not since September have the lads graced a football pitch together. That was at Eden Park and they lost 2-0 to Australia in Winston Reid’s final international appearance (and probably his last professional game of football given he’s now reach a year and a half without a club). The Football Ferns have played eight times in those intervening months... although admittedly they’re at the end of a World Cup cycle whereas the All Whites are at the start of a new one.
Here’s a question: Who scored the most recent goal for the All Whites and for the Football Ferns?
For the Fernies, whose attacking deficiencies in recent times have come under a lot of focus, it was Liv Chance against South Korea in a 1-1 draw back in November 2022. Since then they’ve played five times and hit the back of the net in none of them (disallowed goals excluded, of course). For the All Whites it was Matthew Garbett in a 5-0 win over the Solomon Islands in the Oceania WCQ final. That was on 30 March 2022. More than eleven months ago. The All Whites have played five times since and also scored none. Both of NZ’s senior international teams are nursing five-game goalless droughts.
The yarns surrounding the All Whites since that last Aussie game have all been stumbling ones. Danny Hay’s contract ran out and he chose not to reapply. Ironically the way things have gone he might have gotten the gig back had he swallowed his pride... but then it sounds like performances weren’t the only issue. Hay wasn’t much of a team player when it came to the wider NZ Football organisation and even if he felt he was justified with that it’s still not going to get him rehired, especially when factoring in the goalless (and winless) streak during which his team missed out on a great opportunity to qualify for another World Cup.
Applications came in for Hay’s replacement. Meanwhile senior players kicked up a fuss over the lack of fixtures between September and this March window, particularly around the Men’s World Cup (which, admittedly, would not have been within a FIFA window – and also had we simply qualified then this wouldn’t have been a drama). It was hoped a new head coach would be locked in by Christmas but that date got pushed back and then it got pushed back again.
Then, finally, it was reported that John Herdman was on the brink of returning to Aotearoa to take the job... only for the Englishman to put out a statement through Canada Soccer the next day reaffirming his commitment to that lot. It was a proper shambles and the only thing that’s changed since then is the passage of time. NZF’s latest press statement claimed that they remain in “positive dialogue” with their preferred and other candidates. Exact same thing they were saying before Herdman ghosted them. Who even knows?
Anyway, Darren Bazeley, Hay’s old assistant (and one of the five shortlisted candidates to replace him), is taking charge of these two matches against a visiting China team (one game in Auckland, one in Wellington) and he’s scooped up a trio of 2010 World Cup squadies for his staff: Rory Fallon, Glen Moss, and Simon Elliott. All three have been doing plenty of coaching lately. Fallon has already been an All Whites assistant for several years and is now with the Wellington Phoenix Academy. Moss is goalie coach at Macarthur FC. Elliott is currently working as Boys Director of Coaching with Davis Legacy Soccer Club in America, which mostly seems to be an elite academy style organisation but they do have a team in USL League Two (fourth tier of American footy). More importantly, Elliott was Director of Football and then Head Coach of Sacramento Republic in the USL Championship for two seasons in 2018 and 2019 so he’s also been the main man before as well.
This is a common tactic that’s used when you’re in between permanent coaches. Get the old boys in to help hit the reset button by hyping up the value of the badge and all that. And these three are all clever blokes with prior coaching experience and immense All Whites mana so can’t complain.
Luckily the All Whites don’t need a reset in terms of players. They already did that coming out of the pandemic when Danny Hay brought through a bunch of extremely talented younger dudes – although that was less to refresh things and more just that they were the best available players all picked on merit. Danny Hay gave debuts to the likes of Joe Bell, Elijah Just, Marko Stamenic, Nando Pijnaker, Matt Garbett, Alex Greive, Ben Waine, etc. Fellas like Sarpreet Singh and Libby Cacace had been blooded earlier in that World Cup cycle. There remain some extremely valuable older lads and there’s always room for further emerging heroes... but the core of the team should be pretty stable for the next four years and beyond. No dramas there.
However this is the start of a new cycle and there’s an interim boss in charge so we’re not exactly talking about the most important tour in the world here. All games are valuable. It’s worthwhile to play as often as possible. But this is one of those ones where nobody’s gonna bother arguing with clubs over availabilities.
Hence no Ryan Thomas. That was expected. No Ben Waine and Bill Tuiloma as they settle into their new teams. And no Sarpreet Singh. It’s the Sarpreet one that’s the biggest shame. Nobody does what Singh does and he’s currently languishing at the bottom of the German second tier with a rubbish Jahn Regenseburg team. He’s their best hope of avoiding relegation, always one of their best performers. They’ve only bagged two goals in six games since the winter break and Singh scored one of those and assisted the other. This was a chance for him to play some different footy but so it goes. Officially the reasoning is that they don’t want to overwork him so soon after he missed almost the entirety of 2022 with that pelvic injury. In the long term... that’s fair enough.
Not sure what to expect from the visiting Chinese team either. They’ve recently hired a new head coach (feeling jealous rn) in Serbian gaffer Aleksandar Jankovic. A guy who has worked his way up through the age grade teams to become an interim with the senior team to finally being appointed full-time about two weeks ago. Darren Bazeley Aspirational Areas. Jankovic is a career coach who previously spent a lot of time within the Red Star Belgrade organisation – the club that Marko Stamenic is joining next season.
China’s focus is on the upcoming Asian Cup as well as eventually cracking through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers (with the expanded format giving them a much better chance than ever before – same deal with New Zealand to be fair). While they have been busy with training camps lately, these games will be China’s first since July 2022 and they’ve named what’s considered a very strong squad, albeit almost entirely of domestic players.
Some quick research suggests that Chinese football is in a very strange place. It’s wild to think that a nation as populous as that has only ever qualified for the Men’s World Cup on one occasion and that was back in 2002. The All Whites have somehow achieved that feat more often and more recently than China. And, look, whatever you may think about the sloppiness of New Zealand Football recently, at least we haven’t had a head coach arrested on suspicion of serious corruption nor had the president later get caught up in the same investigation. Add that to a run of 2 wins from their last 13 games (against Vietnam and Hong Kong) as well as headlines like this...
... and you can’t say that paints a pretty picture. It’s a wonder these two FA’s have been able to organise this tour at all amidst the messiness. Let’s look at this All Whites squad now.
GOALKEEPERS
Stefan Marinovic – Unattached (30 caps/0 goals)
Oli Sail – Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (6/0)
There are two uncapped players in the squad who can change this incoming fact but, as it stands, the most recently capped player in the team is Oli Sail. Jamie Searle, Ben Waine, and Ben Old were all capped after him but aren’t in this selection. Yet Oli Sail is also the number one goalkeeper. That’s a telling point within a group that is quickly gaining experience however still only has 7 of 24 players with 30+ caps.
Sail has announced he’s gapping it from the Welly Nix after this season although some inconsistent form over the last twelve months (including a howler against Peru for the AWs) has caused links to the English leagues to fizzle away. Instead he’s destined for Perth Glory having signed a three-year contract to swap over to the other end of the Distance Derby. A lateral move but potentially a healthy change in scenery after a long stint at the Phoenix. Hopefully a pay rise too. It is what it is.
Meanwhile the bloke he replaced in Wellington is looking for a new gig. Stefan Marinovic was released by Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel after getting replaced in the January transfer window. Haven’t heard anything from him since so for now he gets to follow in Winston Reid’s footsteps as a clubless wonder. No club conflicts when you don’t have a club, right? Marinovic wasn’t included in the squad to face Aussie so this is also a recall for the fella.
And a recall at a curious time because there is no shortage of solid goalkeepers from Aotearoa these days... even if there also isn’t a standout banger. But the rest of them all have clubs and many of those clubs have games through the international window. Michael Woud has been left out as he seeks to boost his stocks at Kyoto Sanga were he’s currently third choice. If you’re not playing, it’s hard to make a case for selection. Similar things for Jamie Searle who has been enjoying a nice stint as the backup for Brentford thanks to injuries but he’s very much a young dude on the rise rather than an immediate international option, same deal with Alex Paulsen at the Welly Nix (though he is in the concurrent U23s squad).
The two guys who are playing heaps - and playing very well - are Max Crocombe (Grimsby Town) and Nik Tzanev (AFC Wimbledon). Crocombe’s gotten more headlines due to GTFC’s incredible FA Cup run though Tzanev has actually been playing better, with a couple of tasty clean sheet streaks in his recent mahi. But those guys are in England’s League Two which doesn’t break for the window. Not only that but Crocombe’s FA Cup quarter-final (away to Brighton) is only three days before the first All Whites vs China match. Each have expressed desires to continue their international careers but this just isn’t the right time to be flying halfway around the globe to sit on the bench. Refer again to that earlier theme of this being a tour where the conflicts of interest are being allowed to fall in favour of the clubs.
And anyway they’ve only picked two goalkeepers. It’s a 24-man squad but only two of them are glovemen and the reason for that is there’s this U23 series taking place between the two nations as curtain-raisers (technically U22 for NZ, U24 for China due to future tournament considerations) and the third choice goalies “will join the matchday squad from the U22 side for each All Whites game”. The three goalies in the youth squad are: Kees Sims, Alex Paulsen, and Scott Morris. There’s a bit of a write-up about that U23 group in our most recent Substack mailer.
Paulsen has been with All Whites squads before while Sims is the outstanding choice to start at the U20 World Cup that’s coming up soon. However Sims hasn’t played for NZ before at any level so it had been a thought as to whether he might get a sneaky call-up here just for experience’s sake. Well, yeah, he might do exactly that. The wording making it sound like there’ll be a different dude for each game so Paulsen should get to hang about too. Fair play to Scott Morris but there’s only two games and he’s not quite on that same pro level (though he was a very tidy starter for Christchurch United last Natty League season).
Paulsen is poised as the potential next starter for the Welly Nix after Sail leaves while Sims is in lower-tier Swedish footy at the moment but has already won starter’s status there and spent his recent offseason on a personal development mission by trialling with the likes of Lilleström, Leicester City, Coventry, and Nottm Forest.
That pair are the absolute top tier goalkeeping prospects in the kiwi game at the moment... although there’s plenty more talent beneath them too. That U20 squad is going to be fascinating with Kees Sims, Henry Gray, Alby Kelly-Heald, Oscar Mason, Joseph Knowles, and Matt Foord all in consideration for three spots. Might just chuck the name Lawton Green in there too if you fancy a google search.
DEFENDERS
Kyle Adams – San Diego Loyal, USA (0/0)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United, USA (40/0)
Liberato Cacace – Empoli, ITA (12/1)
Callan Elliot – Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (0/0)
Dane Ingham – Newcastle Jets, AUS (11/0)
Tim Payne – Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (30/2)
Nando Pijnaker – Sligo Rovers, IRE (11/0)
Tommy Smith – Colchester United, ENG (49/2)
Deklan Wynne – Charleston Battery, USA (16/0)
Okay then, onwards with the defenders where the only major retirement since the last cycle has occurred: au revoir Winston Reid. There’s also no Bill Tuiloma who’d be first choice otherwise – unless Bazeley reverts to a back four (the reason for no Billy T is that MLS doesn’t stop for this window either and Charlotte, unlike Michael Boxall’s Minnesota Utd, don’t have much defensive depth). But there are always plenty of defensive options in any New Zealand team so nothing to panic about there. Michael Boxall and Tommy Smith offer heaps of experience – in fact Smithy’s on the brink of his 50th cap. He’ll be the 19th All White to reach that milestone, should it come to pass.
They’re joined by Nando Pijnaker who has looked very good for Sligo Rovers early in his season, including wearing the captain’s armband in some part of every match so far (including once from the start). Tim Payne as well, busy doing his bit for an improving Phoenix backline. That’s an impressive enough quartet even without Reid or Tuiloma.
Plus Kyle Adams has retained his spot. Adams was with the squad for the Aussie games but didn’t play. He’s fast becoming a veteran of the second-tier USL in America which is an inconsistent league but at least Adams has been one of the better defenders there for several years (including getting to the periphery of MLS, albeit no further). He’s still in preseason so gotta think this call-up is more about what he did in the previous All Whites camp.
There are comparable defenders who’ve missed out. Nikko Boxall at the Welly Nix. Maybe Adam Mitchell of Auckland City or Sam Brotherton and James Musa who are both playing in the USA these days. But Bazeley hasn’t done much with this squad that wasn’t enforced. Reid goes out but Smith is fit again. He’s picked an extra midfielder at the expense of a defender, with Tuiloma not there. There are a couple of subjective calls elsewhere but in defence he’s playing it safe and consistent in flowing on from last time.
The only other defensive alteration was a swap on the right edge with Callan Elliot called up for the first time and Storm Roux being left out. Elliot’s Phoenix form absolutely earned him this nod. Good to see that rewarded, particularly when most of the fullbacks/wingbacks are fellow A-Leaguers whom he’s playing better than at the moment. Sweet as. Roux is unlucky to be the one to miss out rather than Dane Ingham, whom Roux has arguably outperformed lately, but then that might simply be a tip-off as to a back three with wing-backs. Ingham is better suited to that gig than Roux, despite Roux being the superior player overall. And you’re only gonna keep one specialist backup in that position.
Same thing on the left with Libby Cacace the starter and Deklan Wynne the reserve. Wynne holds off the likes of Sam Sutton and James McGarry, probably because he’s the incumbent from last time as much as anything (Wynne had a ripper of a season last year at USL level). Keep in mind that Niko Kirwan and Francis De Vries remain out long-term after knee injuries. Seems pretty easy to pick a back five of: Elliot, Payne, Boxall, Pijnaker, Cacace. Okily dokily.
MIDFIELDERS
Joe Bell – Brøndby, DEN (12/1)
Matthew Garbett – NAC Breda, NED (12/1)
Cameron Howieson – Auckland City, NZ (16/0)
Clayton Lewis – Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (21/1)
Alex Rufer – Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (7/0)
Marko Stamenic – FC København, DEN (11/0)
Usually there are only about four midfielders in an All Whites squad but you can see that Bazeley’s made a point of filling things out even with Ryan Thomas still unavailable. Hopefully Thommo does feature for the All Whites again. He has opted out a few times in the past to focus on his club stuff but this one’s entirely legitimate, returning from a 461-day injury absence recently and already having had two further (minor) injury scares since then. Probably not ideal to fly halfway around the world for more games when he’s still not yet lasted 70 minutes in a game since his comeback began. Bazeley did suggest in his presser that Thommo could feature later in the year.
Joe Bell’s gotten his starting spot back at BIF and is going alright. Marko Stamenic has lost his and has started tallying up DNP’s since announcing he’s leaving Copenhagen at the end of the season so he’ll be keen on the minutes. Bro had never even played Champions League the last time this squad assembled... can you believe that? Matt Garbett’s had a bright enough start to his loan stint in the Dutch second tier. There’s your top options there... granted the longer travel may cause those three to be limited in the first fixture given the short turnaround Thursday night kickoff.
Apparently Clayton Lewis is going to be fit enough to partake despite not having played for the Welly Nix since 22 January. They have gone with a 24-man group though, effectively keeping Lewis on as a bonus bro so if he doesn’t recover in time then there’s no major drama. His club captain Alex Rufer has also been recalled. Good reward for a tidy injury return of his own. Roof’s most recent cap was in November 2019 against Lithuania in Danny Hay’s second match in charge. Plus there’s some Cam Howieson goodness as the lone sub-professional in the group. Lewis and Rufer are the two who weren’t there last time, both because of fitness. Again, nothing drastic from the interim gaffer.
FORWARDS
Kosta Barbarouses – Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (52/4)
Alex Greive – St Mirren, SCO (7/2)
Elijah Just – AC Horsens, DEN (13/1)
Max Mata – Sligo Rovers, IRE (1/0)
Callum McCowatt – FC Helsingør, DEN (10/1)
Marco Rojas – Colo-Colo, CHI (43/5)
Chris Wood – Nottingham Forest, ENG (70/33)
But there are a few changes amongst the attackers. Not necessarily because of the lack of goals, more because a few veterans are available again. Kosta Barbarouses was suspended last time due to his red card against Costa Rica – it’s still hilarious that he was able to serve that ban in friendly games. He’s back... and there shouldn’t be any VAR involved this time to his extreme relief. Marco Rojas is also back having skipped out on the last one in the wake of his transfer to Chile. Rojas is in and out for Colo-Colo, bit annoying, but he usually makes things happen when he does play. He’s only 31 years old. Still got plenty to offer the national team. Kinda wondering if there might be a resurgent phase incoming with his national team career.
On top of that there’s been a recall for Max Mata. Sligo Rovers sold their top scorer from last season and with that Mata’s now the senior man up front for the Irish club... responding with a hat-trick a couple of games ago. Two were penalties but they were well-taken penalties and healthy reward for a fine work-rate. He moves well and he holds the ball up even better. A bloke on Sligo Twitter the other day claimed that Mata could’ve held up the Titanic. He’ll get the chance to add to his lone cap, also in that Lithuania game (Mata and Pijnaker debuted in the same match, and have been club teammates at both GC Zurich and Sligo Rovers).
Who drops out to make room? Ben Waine is one of them. He got going with a hiss and a roar at Plymouth Argyle but was probably promoted too soon and a tough match against Sheffield Wednesday saw him hooked at the break and he hasn’t played since, sometimes named on the bench and sometimes not. League One does break for the internationals but Argyle are playing a catch-up game then plus the first game afterwards is the EFL Trophy final and Waine’s first taste of the Wembley Stadium experience (so long as he makes the squad). This one’s like Rojas last time. A new club in a new country and it takes some time to settle in. These games aren’t that important.
Also dropping out are Ben Old and Andre De Jong. For ADJ it’s a case of Mata simply outperforming him recently. For Old it’s more about more senior options being available again. All goods.
As always Chris Wood will be amongst it. More goals on offer, more caps on offer. He’s always greedy for them things. Alex Greive has returned to fitness just in time for this squad. Eli Just and Callum McCowatt are regulars. Just is trying to nail down a starting gig for Danish top flight club Horsens while McCowatt is contributing goals a division down... although with Just already having left and Liam Jordan now moving to Sweden it’ll be funky to see how much longer McCowatt stays there. FCH probably ain’t getting promoted this term. But then if he leaves it’s gotta be for something bigger and better. See how it goes.
Anyone else in the mix? Logan Rogerson and Ollie Whyte at FC Haka in Finland would have to be close. Fellas like Moses Dyer and Elliot Collier are going to need to be amazing to get picked out of the USL. There are some useful players in that U23 side who’ll be in close proximity over this tour and there’s always more pushing through. Though if we’re talking about the top tier then beyond Waine, Old, ADJ, and maybe Rogerson... no, not really. Not yet.
But guys like Greive and Mata have shown that if you put up performances at the professional level then opportunities do arise. The All Whites are still getting used to this weird thing where they have genuine depth available to them. They don’t need to pick on potential. Established pros are missing out each time. You’ve gotta force your way into this group... a task that’ll soon become even tougher if these fellas actually bang a few goals away against China.
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