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.

coochiee

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.

 Any tip off of when the squad will be announced?

From what I can see by FIFA or IOC rules it has to be by Monday 8th July (presumably European time zone)

coochiee

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.

 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. 

From a good sauce - player availability is the issue. Late changes to what was agreed that NZF are trying to negotiate through.

And lets be honest, only bigger clubs would pull that, so it means our better players.

Not 100% on this, but Stamenic is one said rumour.

Happens every Olympics.

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.

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.

ClubOranje

Happens every Olympics.

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.

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. 

I believe Sheridan is a travelling reserve now for Payne.

Should we expect the squad to be named today then?

Ranix

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.

MetalLegNZ

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.