New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley is reading little into his side’s last 5-0 win against Tahiti as the All Whites prepare to meet the same side in Friday’s FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifier game.
“They have had a bit of time to prep, we are a little bit different as a squad and they have had a couple of changes,” Bazeley said ahead of the Group B game in Vanuatu.
“The challenge for us is to produce a performance and get a result.”
In June, New Zealand despatched coach Sam Garcia’s Tahiti side 5-0 in the semi-finals of the OFC Men’s Nations Cup.
Tahiti hope to catch the Kiwis on the hop as they face the challenge of acclimatisation, especially the Europe-based players who arrived in Port Vila on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We’ve got good players, and they are used to travelling and playing in different environments, so we are not using it as an excuse,” Bazeley said.
“It’s difficult the players in Europe turning up with the travel and time differences but there’s no excuses; they are professionals.”
Tahiti’s Garcia embraces his side’s underdog tag, saying his side has nothing to lose.
“The difference is we played our qualifications for the semi-finals in Suva and then we travelled a lot to reach Port Vila, and we hadn’t played on the pitch before the semi-final in June,” he said.
“Last time, we arrived with several games players, and some players were injured and sick, and we didn’t reach our full potential then. So, we hope to be able to show up for the game to come.”
Tahiti will come up against Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, who scored his fourth goal of the English Premier League season last weekend against Chelsea.
But Tahiti’s captain Teaonui Tehau is unfazed.
“Chris Wood is a great player in Oceania but in the end, he remains a human after all, with two feet, two hands and a head and we will play against him like anyone we play football against and there is respect but no pressure,” Tehau said.
In Group B’s other opening game, Vanuatu meet Samoa on Saturday.
Vanuatu coach Juliano Schmeling is confident his side has prepared well and is stronger than when they reached the OFC Men’s Nations Cup final in June.
“We understand the pressure playing at home in the first match, but we understand Samoa want to impress, not just us but the competition. But we need to bring the pressure that can help us during the game, especially the enjoyment and it’s something we have been working on in the squad,” Schmeling said.
Talismanic captain Brian Kaltak believes the Vanuatu squad is stronger than when it reached the OFC Nations Cup final in June.
Samoa has left it late to arrive in Port Vila, on the ground less than 48 hours before kick-off, but coach Jess Ibrom is not concerned.
“Preparation has gone very well with two warm-up games against Fiji behind closed doors and Lautoka FC.”
New Zealand
Name/caps/goals/club
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (11/0) Burton Albion, England
Alex Paulsen (1/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Oli Sail (9/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Defenders
Tyler Bindon (10/0) Reading FC, England
Michael Boxall (51/0) Minnesota United, USA
Libby Cacace (27/1) Empoli FC, Italy
Tim Payne (39/2) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (21/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Storm Roux (11/0) Central Coast Mariners, Australia
Tommy Smith (56/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Sam Sutton (3/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Midfielders
Matt Garbett (24/3) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Cam Howieson (20/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Alex Rufer (15/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (23/1) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Forwards
Kosta Barbarouses (62 caps/7 goals) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Eli Just (28/2) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from AC Horsens)
Ben Old (10/1) AS Saint Etienne, France
Logan Rogerson (11/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Ben Waine (18/6) Plymouth Argyle, England
Chris Wood (76/34) Nottingham Forest, England
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Acknowledgement
We thank OFC Media for providing information for this story.
New Zealand fixtures
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)
Game to be played on Monday October 14, 2024
International friendly
New Zealand v Malaysia
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, 7pm
November
Game to be played on Friday November 15, 2024
FIFA World Cup 2026 – OFC Qualifier
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 (Samoa)
Go Media Stadium, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, 7.30pm
This story was first published on October 11, 2024.
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