New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

Is this just yet another instance of NZF making a complete mess of things? Surely they should have nailed down permission from clubs (whether that be a yes or a no) before squad naming week. At least for all players who haven't moved in this transfer window, so everyone other than Paulsen, Stamenic and (maybe?) Old. And it would have been pretty easy to have players on standby to cover those spots. 

imanixsupporter

Is this just yet another instance of NZF making a complete mess of things? Surely they should have nailed down permission from clubs (whether that be a yes or a no) before squad naming week. At least for all players who haven't moved in this transfer window, so everyone other than Paulsen, Stamenic and (maybe?) Old. And it would have been pretty easy to have players on standby to cover those spots. 

To be fair alot of these negotiations will have fallen into Bazeley's lap and he's been away in Vanuatu for 2 weeks. 

Then with Cacace and Empoli, I imagine alot depends on where his home is for the new season will be. It could yet be another Serie A/B club, or even the Bundesliga. We are still waiting to find out. Maybe that's why Baze took both LKH & Sutton to the Nations Cup. They may yet need to be the LBs in France.

If Breda say no to Garbett being released, well there is Old, Dibley-Dias (touch wood), Herdman, Randall who can all cover him to a degree. Someone like Luis Toomey may yet be among the 4 travelling reserves. Mata as a Wood replacement.

And then lastly there is uncertainty about the o/a guys Payne, Singh & Wood. Payne a newish problem, but yes likely Bazeley has known for awhile the issues the other two would have, being available. EPL like Serie A starts it's new season 17th August, 2.5 weeks after Olywhites final pool game. With all of these o/a options (including Libby) you would try and leave it as late as possibility, in the hope at least 3 of them are available - they are key to the Olywhites having any chance of some success.

Clubs may if changed their minds too. Transfer window and all means everything is pretty fluid in the footy world.

Hope we get a warm up game like the women.

Smells like a shark show to me 

Looks like the IOC/FIFA need to have the squad lists by next Monday (8th).

https://olympics.com/en/news/pathway-to-paris-football-qualification-system-explained
8 July 2024: Deadline for sports entries for Paris 2024.

France U23s beat Paraguay U23s 4-1, overnight in a warmup. Both teams likely not a full strength with Euros & Copa America happening. Some highlights here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky2XRRdLevg

Edit - lets make that France U23s!

Looks like Paraguay finished top in CONMEBOL Olympic qualifying. Beating Brazil & drawing with Argentina. Tourney held in Venezuela.

coochiee

Looks like the IOC/FIFA need to have the squad lists by next Monday (8th).

https://olympics.com/en/news/pathway-to-paris-football-qualification-system-explained
8 July 2024: Deadline for sports entries for Paris 2024.

France U3s beat Paraguay U23s 4-1, overnight in a warmup. Both teams likely not a full strength with Euros & Copa America happening. Some highlights here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky2XRRdLevg

Looks like Paraguay finished top in CONMEBOL Olympic qualifying. Beating Brazil & drawing with Argentina. Tourney held in Venezuela.

Damn I know France are at the top of their game right now but I would not have expected a team of 3 year olds to beat Paraguay’s team of basically fully grown men.

Definitely it appears after some promising recent signs of NZ football getting their house together that they have dropped the ball completely on the Olympics which actually is a bloody big deal this year.

Not having a clear indication and communication on who is and is not available at this stage is an own goal after dropping the ball.

AucklandPhoenix

Definitely it appears after some promising recent signs of NZ football getting their house together that they have dropped the ball completely on the Olympics which actually is a bloody big deal this year.

Not having a clear indication and communication on who is and is not available at this stage is an own goal after dropping the ball.

No not all. Real Madrid say to France, no we are not releasing Mbappe, the French grudgingly accept it, knowing they have plenty of quality in the deep pool of talent. And of course he's been playing in the Euros after all.

We get a no from Forest re Wood, we keep grovelling to them right up until Monday, offering them all sorts of soluations in the hope they release the Woodsman. We have no one close to him in quality. If Bazeley has to make a multitude of pleading phone calls to European clubs over the weekend so be it. 

But whatever happens we will just have to accept it. We are a world football minnow after all, and if is no Wood well Waine gets his chance to lead the line on a biggest stage.

And yeah there may still be hope Payne is fit, so they could be leaving it right up to Sunday before making a final call on him. He's no doubt been on the physios table all week. Likely his first & only Olympics, and no gtee he'll be the AWs RB in 2 years at 2026 WC. He'll be much more gutted to miss France, than say a Libby or Chris W.

Friar Tuck

coochiee

Looks like the IOC/FIFA need to have the squad lists by next Monday (8th).

https://olympics.com/en/news/pathway-to-paris-football-qualification-system-explained
8 July 2024: Deadline for sports entries for Paris 2024.

France U3s beat Paraguay U23s 4-1, overnight in a warmup. Both teams likely not a full strength with Euros & Copa America happening. Some highlights here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky2XRRdLevg

Looks like Paraguay finished top in CONMEBOL Olympic qualifying. Beating Brazil & drawing with Argentina. Tourney held in Venezuela.

Damn I know France are at the top of their game right now but I would not have expected a team of 3 year olds to beat Paraguay’s team of basically fully grown men.

So watched the French 3 year olds against Paraguay. They did look a bit scary good. Some very quick players, lots of attacks at high speed that will really test any defence  for 90 mins. It is a game I can see Bazeley going 3 CBs. We will need to find a way to slow them down somehow.

In form Mateta (16 EPL goals with Palace last season), looks to be one of their o/a players. He's a big human, and got the first 2 goals against Paraguay (2nd a pen) before coming off early 2nd half.

I guess realistically the first 2 pool games (Guinea & USA) are the ones to target for a result. Who knows if the French already have the pool won by the time they play us, they may rest a few.


Edit - and got a tip off Tim Payne has been unfortunately ruled out.