The All Whites are “raring to go” for their international friendlies against Mexico and the United States, head coach Darren Bazeley says.
Bazeley said the squad had prepared well at their training camp in California despite having to make injury-forced changes to the squad in the lead-up to Sunday’s game against Mexico.
Withdrawals from the squad were midfielder Sarpreet Singh (minor injury), defender Tyler Bindon (concussion) and full back Dalton Wilkins (injury).
Brought into the squad were Auckland FC striker Logan Rogerson, Charlotte defender Bill Tuiloma and Wellington Phoenix fullback Sam Sutton.
“It’s always disappointing to lose players in the build-up to the camp,” Bazeley said.
“Obviously, we lost Sarpreet and Tyler, you know, just before coming here.
“And, also, Dalton picked up that injury yesterday so that’s disappointing to lose (them) but we’ve replaced them with good players.
“What we have now, we have good depth in lots of positions so now it’s an opportunity for those players (coming in).”
Bazeley said the side’s main priority was to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but the games against Mexico and United States would provide a measure of the All Whites’ progress.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to test ourselves … make sure that we see where we’re at, … how close are we to getting ready to beat one of these bigger teams.
“So it’s a good challenge, one we’re ready for.”
New Zealand have selected a squad that is considered one of the strongest ever, including players attached to clubs in the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and France’s LIgue 1.
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Squads
New Zealand
Name/caps/goals/club
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (9/0) Burton Albion, England
Alex Paulsen (1/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Oli Sail (9/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Defenders
Bill Tuiloma (40/4) Charlotte, United States
Michael Boxall (49/0) Minnesota United, United States
Liberato Cacace (25/1) Empoli FC, Italy
Tim Payne (37/2) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (19/0) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland
Tommy Smith (55/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Finn Surman (5/1) Portland Timbers, United States
Sam Sutton (3/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Midfielders
Joe Bell (18/1) Viking FK, Norway
Matthew Garbett (22/3) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Ben Old (8/1) AS Saint Etienne, France
Alex Rufer (13/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (21/1) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Forwards
Kosta Barbarouses (60/7) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Elijah Just (26/2) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from AC Horsens)
Logan Rogerson (9/1), Auckland FC, New Zealand
Ben Waine (16/5) Plymouth Argyle, England
Chris Wood (74/34) Nottingham Forest, England
Head coach: Darren Bazeley
Mexico
Name/caps/goals/club
Goalkeepers
Luis Malagon (4/0) Club América, Mexico
Raul Rangel (1/0) C.D. Guadalajara, Mexico
Alex Padilla (0/0) Athletic Bilbao, Spain
Defenders
Julian Araujo (13/0) AFC Bournemouth, England
Israel Reyes (16/2) Club América, Mexico
Alan Mozo (2/0) C.D. Guadalajara, Mexico
Cesar Montes (47/1) Almeria, Spain
Johan Vasquez (26/1) Genoa, Italy
Victor Guzman (4/0) Monterrey, Mexico
Jesus Angulo (14/0) Tigres, Mexico
Jesus Gallardo (98/2) Toluca, Mexico
Midfielders
Luis Romo (49/3) Cruz Azul, Mexico
Fidel Ambriz (1/0) Monterrey, Mexico
Erik Lira (4/0) Cruz Azul, Mexico
Carlos Rodriguez (52/0) Cruz Azul, Mexico
Luis Chavez (34/4) Dynamo Moscow, Russia
Sebastian Cordova (17/3) Tigres, Mexico
Orbelin Pineda (73/10) AEK Athens, Greece
Forwards
Diego Lainez (26/3) Tigres, Mexico
Julián Quiñones (8/2) Al-Qadisiyah, Saudi Arabia
Roberto Alvarado (45/5) C.D. Guadalajara, Mexico
Marcelo Flores (3/0) Tigres, Mexico
Cesar Huerta (10/1) Pumas UNAM, Mexico
Guillermo Martinez (6/2) Pumas UNAM, Mexico
Santiago Gimenez (30/4) Feyenoord, Netherlands
Henry Martin (43/9) Club América, Mexico
Head coach: Javier Aguirre
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)
This story was first published on September 8, 2024.
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