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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To be fair, Payne did play 90 all three games back in London 2012 (loss versus Belarus, draw versus Egypt and loss against Brazil). Not that bad a team either.
Everyone should be prepared for a really weak squad to be named. This is like when Bazeley became the All Whites coach but it took NZF like 8 months to confirm it because they were too embarassed because they were talking big about doing a worldwide search and getting the best coach they possibly could and then turned around and gave the guy down the hall the job.
Similarly, they've probably left this squad naming to the last second because they know how disappointing it is going to be.
A couple of your o/a players aren’t available, you replace them with a couple of others. Replacements can probably play football too. Couple of u23 not available, you step up a couple of others. We’ve got 5 u23s that are going to their second Olympics (albeit some were ‘travelling reserves’). Did everyone bemoan the fact some players weren’t available last time round.
A couple of your o/a players aren’t available, you replace them with a couple of others. Replacements can probably play football too. Couple of u23 not available, you step up a couple of others. We’ve got 5 u23s that are going to their second Olympics (albeit some were ‘travelling reserves’). Did everyone bemoan the fact some players weren’t available last time round.
Can’t have everyone, be happy with who you get.
I think with Tokyo only Singh and Boxall were unavailable. Though that was in the midst of Covid, and some club seasons may have delayed start dates etc
But yeah it’s a battle all countries face with Olympics not in a FIFA window. See zero fault on NZF here. They are at the beggar’s table.
If more players are unavailable this time, that just reflects we now have more players at bigger clubs, who put minimal credence on the Olympics for player development
The team may not be announced yet but late additions will have been on standby for awhile, and be ready as best they can be.
If Stamenic is doubtful then looking more likely now that Rufer will be one of the O/A players. Good that he got the run at OFC champs.
Olympiakos are going to Rotterdam later this month for a camp and pre season friendlies verus Ajax and NEC. Greek Super League starts 17th August. Obviously Stamenic is a completely new player, and they may be insisting he goes to Holland.
And of course they have the same Greek billionaire owner as Wood's Forest. It maybe just that whatever Evangelos Marinakis wishes to happen, just does.
I believe Sheridan is a travelling reserve now for Payne.
I said before that I believe Bazeley should have taken Issac Hughes to Vanuatu even if he didn't play much. Sheridan possibly another. Just to get a feel for international football, the coaches and other players. It was a skiny 21 man squad at the Nations Cup after all.
NZF had signalled to Voerman and Piney that the squad would be announced on Tuesday, but then have said nothing since. It is amateurish and frustrating.
It doesn't look like the French have announced their team either yet. So why should we expect our team already named.
Bazeley would have had a very busy week. Arriving from Vanuatu Monday, with a tourney debrief required to Pragnell and GM High Performance – Keir Hansen. Then straight into prep for the Olympics.
Medicals on Payne, and once he'd been ruled out what mix of a/a players he wants. Dealing with club managers of some of his Euro based players - negotiating what can we do to have Wood, Garbett, Stamenic or whoever available. If it's initially a No, what compromises can we make to make it a Yes. Dealing with time zone windows, and staff at overseas clubs who may not always be availble for a chat. If some of these players are not available does that change the mix of o/a players blah blah blah.
Then trying to sort out pre Olympics friendly(ies). It would be all go.
NZF had signalled to Voerman and Piney that the squad would be announced on Tuesday, but then have said nothing since. It is amateurish and frustrating.
There is no real value in NZF explaining anything further.
Burgess publishes a story in The Herald, that Bazeley is struggling to get Wood & Stamenic released, some Greek sensationalist tabloid in the quiet football silly season grabs that off Reuters and turns it into a "Evangelos Marinakisstops Kiwi footballers going to Olympics" headline.
As we saw recently with the Greek football owner who came onto the pitch with a gun!, egotistical football owners/managers can take offence easily.
You keep the negotiations quiet behind closed doors. NZF may have been cuaght off guard by a last minute about turn by one of more clubs. Wood was going to be available, then suddenly he's not. Who knows, who cares. The team will be named tomorrow.
NZF had signalled to Voerman and Piney that the squad would be announced on Tuesday, but then have said nothing since. It is amateurish and frustrating.
From NZ Football – who, in fairness, never announced last Tuesday as being anything – last Wednesday: The Men’s Olympic Team will be announced at a later date. Due to the tournament happening outside of an official FIFA window, conversations are still ongoing with clubs regarding player availability for Paris 2024.
And Piney also tweeted that he believed the squad would be announced Tuesday too. So somebody must have been communicating this to them. Seems like they probably got ahead of themselves slightly.
And Piney also tweeted that he believed the squad would be announced Tuesday too. So somebody must have been communicating this to them. Seems like they probably got ahead of themselves slightly.
No worries, I had reported it (and the Ferns) would be named Tuesday too. That was certainly the indication, but for a range of factors both announcements were delayed. Might still be a couple of days yet before it's announced and we'll see who's there then.
U.S. men’s Olympic soccer team roster GOALKEEPERS (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea) DEFENDERS (6): Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Furth), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) MIDFIELDERS (5): Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia) FORWARDS (5): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt), Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Griffin Yow (KVC Westerlo) ALTERNATES (4): Josh Atencio (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders FC), Jacob Davis (Defender, Sporting Kansas City), Johan Gomez (Forward, Eintracht Braunschweig), John Pulskamp (Goalkeeper, Sporting Kansas City)
I think most Americans are pretty disappointed in this squad. It certainly isn’t what it could have been. I thought they would pick two overage central defenders and they did, which will help this group. And it doesn’t hurt that Zimmerman and Robinson were paired together for much of World Cup qualifying in 2021.
But they left out Diego Luna, who is third in assists in MLS and is a tricky, creative player. He responded to the snub by scoring a goal and setting up three more on Saturday. I like Mihailovic and after struggling in the Netherlands he’s back in form in MLS, but he’s very similar to Luna and feels like a waste of an overage slot.
Reports are that forwards Haji Wright (Coventry), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), and Brandon Vasquez (Monterrey) weren’t released by their clubs. So the U.S. were trying to use an overage slot there, but it didn't work out (Pepi is still a U23) That leaves only Duncan McGuire as a true centre forward in the squad.
I didn’t expect any of the U.S. players that went to Copa would be involved, but out of Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tillman and Johnny Cardoso, only Musah started a single match and none of them featured that much. Miles Robinson was also on the Copa roster but didn’t play, so he is doing both, but I felt like the U.S. could have prioritized the Olympics a little more and had a significantly better Olympic side.
If they can find goals, it’s still not a bad side. Tessman is heavily rumoured to be off to Inter, Chelsea are after Caleb Wiley, Cremaschi has played well with Messi in Miami and is only 19. But the Americans had 8 U23s on their Copa America roster and none of them are going to the Olympics.
Oh well, the coach has had a busy schedule recently for the first time in months
Oh and did you know we are at the bottom of the world and there are nasty things called time zones that may mean he can’t knock off at 4.30pm a few times a year?