In-form Wellington Phoenix duo Alex Rufer and Kosta Barbarouses have been named in the starting line-up for New Zealand’s international against Tunisia in Cairo.
Rufer takes his place in midfield, replacing Clayton Lewis who started against Egypt last weekend, while forward Barbarouses goes into head coach Darren Bazeley’s 4-3-3 formation instead of Max Mata.
Bazeley has made four changes to his starting XI, bringing in defender Tyler Bindon (for Dane Ingham) and Tommy Smith (for Nando Pijnaker).
Main photo credit: NZ Football.
Wednesday’s match will be streamed live and free by FIFA+.
PREVIEW: Expect ‘tweaks’ to All Whites’ starting line-up against Tunisia >>>>
Fixture
Game to be played on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (NZT)
Play-off for third place
New Zealand v Tunisia
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)
Starting line-ups
New Zealand
1. Max Crocombe
18. Tyler Bindon
5. Michael Boxall
13. Liberato Cacace (captain)
15. Tommy Smith
6. Alex Rufer
10. Sarpreet Singh
8. Marko Stamenic
7. Matt Garbett
20. Callum McCowatt
17. Kosta Barbarouses
Subs
12. Alex Paulsen
98. Oli Sail
24. Dane Ingham
11. Elijah Just
3. Lukas Kelly-Heald
23. Clayton Lewis
21. Max Mata
14. Ben Old
4. Nando Pijnaker
19. Ben Waine
Tunisia
22 Bechir Ben Said
6. Dylan Bronn
15. Oussama Haddadi
13. Hamja Jlassi
2. Ali Abdi
21. Wajdi Kechrida
4. Nader Ghandri
5. M.A. Ben Romdhane
14. Aissa Laidouni (captain)
8. Hamza Rafia
7. Elias Achouri
Subs
1 Mouez Hassen
16 Aymen Dahmen
3 Amin Cherni|
20 Ghaith Zaalouni
24 Mathlouthi Hamza
18 Sayfallah Ltaief
19 Mootez Zaddem
23 Faissal Mannai
26 Alaa Ghram
9 Haythem Jouini
10 Elias Saad
11 Seifeddine Jaziri
Officials
Referee: Ahmed El Ghandour (Egypt)
Assistant referees: Heni Abdelfattah (Egypt) and Youssef Wahid Youssef Elbosaty (Egypt)
Fourth official: Ibrahim Noureddine (Egypt)