The All Whites are a big fish in the Oceania pond and a third World Cup appearance in 16 years requires a change of mindset. They have adopted a more defensive approach in recent friendlies, having dominated possession against smaller teams from Oceania, and while they recognize their limitations, they still look dangerous on the counter-attack.
Their re-fit captain Chris Wood is likely to play a pivotal role. Wood is one of the two experienced players in this team.
Strengths and weaknesses of New Zealand
New Zealand’s regular 2-3-1-4 formation is literally the team’s strength, allowing Chris Wood to lead the attack. The All Whites’ top scorer netted nine times in five qualifying games and his 92 Premier League goals prove he can be a challenge for any backline. Because they are on the other side of the world, it is difficult to gather the best players for international friendlies. New Zealand’s starting eleven looks good on paper, but may take time to adjust. There is also a question mark about their defense, which was rarely tested in the preliminaries.
Which players should we pay attention to?
Right-back Tim Paine shot to social media fame when an Argentinian influencer decided to call him the most unknown soccer player at this World Cup and asked people to support him. Within days, Pin’s Instagram account gained five million followers.
Chris Wood only has 163k followers, but their top goalscorer is a threat to any defence. The Nottingham Forest striker underwent knee surgery in December and his fitness will be carefully managed.
Winger Elijah Just has lit up the Scottish Premiership this season with Motherwell and has been nominated for the PFA Scottish Premiership Player of the Year award. His form has led to transfer rumours, but he says he will not be swayed by outside noise.
Who is the head coach of New Zealand?
Englishman Darren Bezley has been a popular figure since taking over the team in 2023. The former Watford defender finished his playing career in New Zealand, where he became famous as a coach of the national teams. This will be his first World Cup. The All Whites secured the only automatic place for the Oceania nations, winning all five of their qualifying matches in Oceania, scoring 29 goals and conceding just one.
New Zealand in previous World Cups
The All Whites failed to advance from the group stage or win a match in their previous two appearances. They lost all three games in 1982 and drew all three in 2010, yet they were the tournament’s only unbeaten team during that period!
