All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley says competition for places has helped bring together what’s close to the strongest possible squad for upcoming games against Mexico and the United States.
“It’s a really strong squad,” Bazeley told NewstalkZB broadcaster Jason Pine.
“Now there’s competition for places and, you know, they all know that the level of the players that are potentially in front of them, and they know what they’ve got to do to get back into that selection.”
Bazeley said the options inevitably meant tough decisions in leaving out players such as Max Mata, Alex Greive and Bill Tuiloma.
Despite being unavailable for September’s squad, midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias was still keen to play for New Zealand.
The Fulham player had been loaned to English Football League club Northampton Town and needed to settle there, Bazeley said.
In the September international window, New Zealand play Mexico (FIFA rank 17) and the USA (FIFA rank 16), the two nations that will co-host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Listen to Darren Bazeley’s interview
Click on the following link to hear the full 11-minute interview:
New Zealand squad
The following squad has been named for the September friendlies:
Name/caps/goals/club
Kosta Barbarouses (60/7) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Joe Bell (18/1) Viking FK, Norway
Tyler Bindon (10/0) Reading, England
Matthew Garbett (22/3) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Michael Boxall (49/0) Minnesota United, United States
Liberato Cacace (25/1) Empoli FC, Italy
Max Crocombe (9/0) Burton Albion, England
Elijah Just (26/2) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from AC Horsens)
Ben Old (8/1) AS Saint Etienne, France
Alex Paulsen (1/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Tim Payne (37/2) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (19/0) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland
Alex Rufer (13/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Oli Sail (9/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Sarpreet Singh (14/1), Unattached
Tommy Smith (55/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (21/1) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Finn Surman (5/1) Portland Timbers, United States
Ben Waine (16/5) Plymouth Argyle, England
Dalton Wilkins (3/0) Sønderjyske Fodbold, Denmark
Chris Wood (74/34) Nottingham Forest, England
September fixtures
Game to be played Sunday September 8, 2024 (NZT)
Mexico v New Zealand
Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, 1pm (NZT)
Game to be played Wednesday September 11, 2024 (NZT)
United States v New Zealand
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio, 11am (NZT)
October fixture
Game to be played on Friday October 11, 2024
FIFA World Cup 2026 – OFC Qualifier
New Zealand v Tahiti
VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 3pm (NZT)
November fixtures
Game to be played on Friday November 15, 2024
FIFA World Cup 2026 – OFC Qualifiers
New Zealand v Vanuatu
FMG Stadium Waikato, Kirikiriroa Hamilton, 7.30pm
Game to be played on Monday November 18, 2024
New Zealand v OFC Qualifier Round One Winner
Stadium to be announced, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
This story was first published on August 26, 2024.
More football stories
