FINAL
New Zealand vs 
Papua New Guinea
All Whites vs Kapuls
Can we go all the way? Or is Papua New Guinea's home advantage too much for us, especially after that poor game against New Caledonia?
How will Tzimopoulos and Prelevic's suspensions affect us?
Themi is a big loss. Luka, not so much.
Hoping for a much more positive approach with Rojas and Kosta getting 75+ min each and fielding an XI that actually feel like playing football
Guessing Hudson will put Hudson-Wihongi in for Themi and Patterson in for Prelevic.
Not wanting to be a stinking Judas traitor, but it would be kinda cool to see PNG make it through to the Confeds Cup.......
Not wanting to be a stinking Judas traitor, but it would be kinda cool to see PNG make it through to the Confeds Cup.......
And how is that? Don't you remember Tahiti loosing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0? In which way is cool to see a team loosing like that in a tournament that is supposed to have the best teams of every continent and therefore be competitive?
Not wanting to be a stinking Judas traitor, but it would be kinda cool to see PNG make it through to the Confeds Cup.......
And how is that? Don't you remember Tahiti loosing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0? In which way is cool to see a team loosing like that in a tournament that is supposed to have the best teams of every continent and therefore be competitive?
If PNG beat NZ in the final that would make them the best team in the "continent" of Oceania.
In the 2003 Confeds cup NZ lost 5-0 to France, 3-0 to Japan & 3-1 to Colombia and apart from a short spell in the Colombia game didn't really look competetive - do you think we'd do any better this time the way we have been playing?
Not wanting to be a stinking Judas traitor, but it would be kinda cool to see PNG make it through to the Confeds Cup.......
And how is that? Don't you remember Tahiti loosing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0? In which way is cool to see a team loosing like that in a tournament that is supposed to have the best teams of every continent and therefore be competitive?
I enjoyed Tahiti's games, not because they got thumped, everyone knew that would happen. What I enjoyed was the fact they actually tried to play a bit. They didnt go all defensive and lump it long. They tried to pass and create, they tried to get forward. I remember the crowds cheering them on, not in a condescending way but because the crowd recognised they were having a go.
We all knew they would lose every game, everyone on the planet knew that. It wasnt a problem.
I have no doubt everyone in Tahiti was cheering them on and that they knew they what they were up against. I bet every kid in Tahiti was playing football in the schoolyard after the tournament was over. They had a lot to be proud of in those games.
btw how come nobody on the internet can spell lose?
Not wanting to be a stinking Judas traitor, but it would be kinda cool to see PNG make it through to the Confeds Cup.......
And how is that? Don't you remember Tahiti loosing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0? In which way is cool to see a team loosing like that in a tournament that is supposed to have the best teams of every continent and therefore be competitive?
I enjoyed Tahiti's games, not because they got thumped, everyone knew that would happen. What I enjoyed was the fact they actually tried to play a bit. They didnt go all defensive and lump it long. They tried to pass and create, they tried to get forward. I remember the crowds cheering them on, not in a condescending way but because the crowd recognised they were having a go.
We all knew they would lose every game, everyone on the planet knew that. It wasnt a problem.
I have no doubt everyone in Tahiti was cheering them on and that they knew they what they were up against. I bet every kid in Tahiti was playing football in the schoolyard after the tournament was over. They had a lot to be proud of in those games.
btw how come nobody on the internet can spell lose?
we all hang lose
Not wanting to be a stinking Judas traitor, but it would be kinda cool to see PNG make it through to the Confeds Cup.......
And how is that? Don't you remember Tahiti loosing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0? In which way is cool to see a team loosing like that in a tournament that is supposed to have the best teams of every continent and therefore be competitive?
Don't you remember the 2009 Confeds Cup? We lost 0-5 to Spain in a match where the Spanish really took the foot off the accelerator - we could've lost 15-0. And the 0-2 match v South Africa, where we didn't even have a shot (not on goal, not off goal.....nothing).
Or the debacle of 2003?
We can all point to matches in the past......
So why not be happy for a minnow to go over and see what they can do? It's a good news story, and I'd rather see PNG lose 6-1 or something, than us lose 3 or 4 nil playing like this. And it'd be great for PNG footyball to grow - like it would for any other Pacific nation....
As long as NZ has a shot of getting to the WC, which we do regardless of how the final plays out, I'm more than happy for Pacific football to grow via the Confeds.
As an All Whites fan and a Kiwi I definitely want us to win and will be gutted if we don't. I also want to see us play at the Confederations Cup (even if we are awful), also because of the revenue and meaningful fixtures the Confederations Cup is a vital factor in giving us the best possibly chance of qualifying for Russia.
That said as from a footballing point of view if PNG play the way they did last night and we play the way we have for most of this tournament, you couldn't begrudge them winning. It also wouldn't be the end of the world in terms of Oceania if PNG made it through, it would show that qualification isn't just a free pass for New Zealand. and I'm s neutrals would probably buy into the PNG 'plucky underdog' story and also enjoy them having a crack at scoring rather than trying some of the negative stuff we've come up with at times.
Eh?...
Fudge me sideways with a rusty piece of barbed wire..
Are you fudgeing kidding me......
Eh?...
Wait, what?
NZF, more plot twists than Game of Thrones.
Game of throws would be more accurate.
FUDGE SAKES!
Is it actually April 1 ?
Well that's quite bad news isn't it.
Who will take our 1 shot at goal if we don't have Wood, impotent attack again.
Last night's game was a sign of things to come.
In the past, Island Nations have been strong, fast and unpredictable. Now they are strong, fast and technical - the skills on display 1 on 1 with the All Whites in both games were higher than the Kiwi players - actually I struggle to remember any 1 on 1 pieces of class by the AW over their opponents. Maybe McGlinchey's run into the box? (Thank god for our GK)
It all means that going forward - NZ are going to have to play well at future tournaments to make finals and win finals - if the OFC countries can then add tactical knowledge to their speed and skill - well - we will lose more games and it will create the conditions for a Cold War arms race - where each team in the OFC is expected to field teams that are better coached - better prepared and have a solid game plan, or they will become obsolete.
I still don't know who was in charge of the side on the field last night - no leaders - and no team pattern - wow - just a shambles.
Back to basics AW if you want to win the OFC Nations Cup - best of luck boys vs PNG. At least there will be an awesome crowd atmosphere.
Sounds like Leeds probably called them back and they're well within their rights to do so as it falls outside a proper window. (which is fudgeing stupid)
Is it just me, or is the NZF not interested in this tournament?
Last night I checked their website for the game progress (OK, so it was on my cellphone which I rarely use for serious browsing).
I could read a lot about the Football Ferns, and where I can go and play a club game as a 6 year old, but no progress score from the semi.
Sounds like Leeds probably called them back and they're well within their rights to do so as it falls outside a proper window. (which is fudgeing stupid)
Nah, A-list continental tournaments such as this are compulsory releases of players to the national team. He wouldn't be able to go back unless NZF agreed to it.
Really? He couldn't wait 3 more days?
this is bush league man
Must be getting married or engaged or something ...
So does this mean Wood has gone down the route of Smith? And more importantly, are the fans going to turn on him like we did Tommy?
Obviously it's waaay too early to say, but that's never stopped us in the past
I'd be interested to hear Wood's reason.
3 more days for a final, and the plan was always to drop him?
Unless his club put a tonne of pressure on him and so they had to "gentlemen's agree" with NZF. Still it seems a bit shark to me.
Surely must be something going on that we don't know about
Clash with Hudson over tactics?
Sorry that is evil speculation, but without any real info that's all we can do!
rumour has it that he has a family members wedding to attend
I'd be interested to hear Wood's reason.
3 more days for a final, and the plan was always to drop him?
Unless his club put a tonne of pressure on him and so they had to "gentlemen's agree" with NZF. Still it seems a bit shark to me.
It'd be hard to believe that the club are insisting on his return now, when this is basically 'holiday' time for footballers (obviously not those involved in the EUROs/Copa America, and you'd have thought the OFC Champs too!).
I'd be interested to hear Wood's reason.
3 more days for a final, and the plan was always to drop him?
Unless his club put a tonne of pressure on him and so they had to "gentlemen's agree" with NZF. Still it seems a bit shark to me.
It'd be hard to believe that the club are insisting on his return now, when this is basically 'holiday' time for footballers (obviously not those involved in the EUROs/Copa America, and you'd have thought the OFC Champs too!).
Injury issue or Player Coach / bust up?
I'd be interested to hear Wood's reason.
3 more days for a final, and the plan was always to drop him?
Unless his club put a tonne of pressure on him and so they had to "gentlemen's agree" with NZF. Still it seems a bit shark to me.
It'd be hard to believe that the club are insisting on his return now, when this is basically 'holiday' time for footballers (obviously not those involved in the EUROs/Copa America, and you'd have thought the OFC Champs too!).
Injury issue or Player Coach / bust up?
Surely if it was an injury issue they'd have just said that?
Yea an injury issue would be completely understandable for everyone, so it would be strange to not use that if its the case.
I'd be interested to hear Wood's reason.
3 more days for a final, and the plan was always to drop him?
Unless his club put a tonne of pressure on him and so they had to "gentlemen's agree" with NZF. Still it seems a bit shark to me.
It'd be hard to believe that the club are insisting on his return now, when this is basically 'holiday' time for footballers (obviously not those involved in the EUROs/Copa America, and you'd have thought the OFC Champs too!).
Injury issue or Player Coach / bust up?
Surely if it was an injury issue they'd have just said that?
Player Coach Bust up or
Leeds calling him back so he can sit beside the Leeds Canal fishing while everyone else at the club is on Holiday in Magaloof ?
rumour has it that he has a family members wedding to attend
If he is related to Smith and he's attending Smith's wedding I'll be so annoyed.
If he is related to Smith and he's attending Smith's wedding I'll be so annoyed.
Well, he is mates with Smithy so don't be surprised
The Herald also states that the final is outside of a FIFA window - surely the fact it's a continental tournament would override this?
"Saturday's Nations Cup final against Papua New Guinea falls outside the Fifa international window, during which clubs are bound to release their players if selected for their countries"
Not wanting to be a stinking Judas traitor, but it would be kinda cool to see PNG make it through to the Confeds Cup.......
And how is that? Don't you remember Tahiti loosing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0? In which way is cool to see a team loosing like that in a tournament that is supposed to have the best teams of every continent and therefore be competitive?
how would that be different to us?
"if we don't have Wood, impotent attack again."
splendid
