New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

juneof86

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. 

From memory Luna was a star at last year’s U20 WC, including the thrashing of NZ

When they have players being chased by Chelsea and Inter, we know overall they are at a different level to us. Hopefully Bazeley can pick a very close to full strength team. 

MetalLegNZ

Woman are already in France training, and the men remain unnamed.

You know the Ferns are training already?

coochiee

MetalLegNZ

Woman are already in France training, and the men remain unnamed.

You know the Ferns are training already?

There's a women's international window that started yesterday, is why. The men's assembly date was always not until later this month.

French squad is named. 
https://www.eurosport.com/football/olympic-games-paris-2024/2024/paris-olympic-games-thierry-henry-names-michael-olise-alexandre-lacazette-and-jean-philippe-mateta-in-france-squad_sto20016399/story.shtml

Thierry Henry has named his 18-strong squad for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. He has chosen Jean-Philippe Mateta, Alexandre Lacazette and Loic Bade as the three over-23 players, with Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola among those to drop out.


FRENCH PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Obed Nkambadio (Paris FC), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse)

Defenders: Loic Bade (Sevilla), Bradley Locko (Brest), Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig), Soungoutou Magassa (Monaco), Kiliann Sildillia (Freiburg), Adrien Truffert (Rennes)

Midfielders: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Joris Chotard (Montpellier), Desire Doue (Rennes), Manu Kone (Borussia Monchengladbach), Enzo Millot (Stuttgart)

Forwards: Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

Reserves: Theo De Percin (Auxerre), Andy Diouf (Lens), Chrislain Matsima (Monaco), Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea)

MetalLegNZ

Woman are already in France training, and the men remain unnamed.

And they wanted to be treated the same as the men ;-)

Careful what you wish for.

Not worried in the slightest

IMG_7079.jpeg 126.83 KB

I did not realise Olise was still only 22.
This is fine

Sometimes I think NZ football miss the day when they had lots of unattached players to pick from.

AucklandPhoenix

Sometimes I think NZ football miss the day when they had lots of unattached players to pick from.

Sometimes I think NZ Football miss the day when we didn’t have a National team 

The men's team for @Paris2024 has been confirmed 🙌🇳🇿

📖 Read in full at https://t.co/6LSNKmewFu#TheFernIsAllOfUs | @TheNZTeam | #Paris2024

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) July 9, 2024

No Wood, Cacace,Stamenic, or Tim Payne (which was kind of expected given the injury). 😬

Sarpreet Singh & Joe Bell in though.

Not many would have picked that team, but I am quietly surprised (and happy) that Joe Bell is in that squad.

Squad Named... no wonder it came out late!
Wood, Stamenic and Cacace all not released by their clubs.
Bell, Boxall and Singh the overage players brought in.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Alex Paulsen, Kees Sims

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Matt Sheridan, Finn Surman, Sam Sutton

Midfielders: Joe Bell, Fin Conchie, Matt Garbett, Jay Herdman, Ben Old, Sarpreet Singh
Forwards: Riley Bidois, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Oskar van Hattum

Beazley talking up the strength of the squd in the Stuff Article.

Travelling reserves: Lachlan Bayliss, Liam Gillion, Henry Gray, Isaac Hughes

No Stamenic either.
Great to see Singh there tho. Surely be good for him to get some game time.

So it'll be Bindon at RB most likely

Embarrassing squad

Dibly Dias an interesting omission - not released by his club. A sign he is in their first team plans maybe??

If we go three at the back, I can see Old getting a start, and I really think we need two players up fron as I don't think we have anyone who can do Wood's role as the lone striker.
                                       Paulsen
                       Surman     Boxall      Bindon

Sheridan                                                              Sutton
                             Joe Bell      Garbett
                                         Singh    
                                  Bidois       Waine                                              

Going 4 at the back I can see the following (and I think this is most likely)

                                       Paulsen
Bindon             Surman                  Boxall              Sutton

Herdman          Bell                        Garbett            Old
                                        Singh
                                        Waine

Friar Tuck

Embarrassing squad

Who would you have in there, that isn't and is available?

Where do you get embarrasing from - still a strong side comapred to many previous NZ teams.

MetalLegNZ

Friar Tuck

Embarrassing squad

Who would you have in there, that isn't and is available?

Where do you get embarrasing from - still a strong side comapred to many previous NZ teams.

They’ve picked all the right players that were available, just sucks that so many weren’t released. Makes us much weaker and doesn’t give me any hope for positive results.

Embarrassing perhaps a strong word but I’ve got no faith in that squad taking anything away from this tournament. Here’s hoping I’m proved wrong.

Who cares why Fulham didn't realise MDD, we will never see him in a NZ squad again, mark my words

imanixsupporter

Who cares why Fulham didn't realise MDD, we will never see him in a NZ squad again, mark my words

I mean, I don't even think MDD himself could say that with the same certainty. Nobody knows right now

Friar Tuck

MetalLegNZ

Friar Tuck

Embarrassing squad

Who would you have in there, that isn't and is available?

Where do you get embarrasing from - still a strong side comapred to many previous NZ teams.

They’ve picked all the right players that were available, just sucks that so many weren’t released. Makes us much weaker and doesn’t give me any hope for positive results.

Embarrassing perhaps a strong word but I’ve got no faith in that squad taking anything away from this tournament. Here’s hoping I’m proved wrong.

Hardly embarrassing mate. 

New Zealand Football have very little power in this situation, so it's about the best squad that we could have come up with. 

If you're looking to blame anyone, blame the clubs that either didn't release players, or reneged on what they had said they'd allow the players to do (of which we may hear more on down the line).

Not a terrible squad but our attacking options are very very limited. I would player 4-5-1 with Ben Waine at the top.

Let’s be honest, our attackers don’t typically contribute a whole lot either so let’s hope Singh and Ben Old can create a lot of opportunities.

Phoenix XI v USA

So now we know why it took this long to name the squad. Bazeley has done well to secure Boxall and Bell. Both at clubs in season, so they will miss actual important club games, as opposed to just pre season.

Bell's Viking in title and European contention. Boxall's Minnesota in a proper losing rut. Still Boxy has been Minny's greatest servant in their short existence, and who knows this Olympics maybe the biggest international football stage he plays on. He knows father time can be harsh, and the World Cup in 2 years when he'll nearly be 38 is no given. Robbed by his former Minny coach of being at Tokyo, kudos to his club this time.

Singh in, is also very good news.

Happy to see Lachlan Bayliss is definitely NZ eligible and in the 22. I thought once he overcame his early season injury at the Jets, he looked very promising.
Big opportunity for Riley Bidois. With hindsight the Nix may have been better to sign him last season, and leave Luke Supyk in the reserves for another 12 months.

Again I say Baze should have taken Sheridan & Hughes to Vanuatu. Even just to train with the AWs. Sheridan is only a Bindon injury away from starting games on a stage, he's never been close to before. Never been to an age group World Cup, he's really just been a Central League player until a few ALM games last season.

Defensively we should be sound, helped by Bell's experience in front of the CBs. But yeah as others say, don't see many goals sans Wood & Libby. Cacace seemed to be involved in nearly every goal the AWs scored at the Nations Cup. Hopefully Old, Garbett & Singh can conjur something.

I'd take a result verus Guinea and fighting defeats verus US and France.

Evangelos Marinakis obviously not a fan of the Olympics. Suspect that Nuno at Forest has been told anything less than mid table EPL is not acceptable, and the Olympiakos coach same re a Greek Super League tittle. Hence these coaches want all their players in now for pre season. Their big boss is watching closely, and expects fast improvements on last season.

What is the reason for Chris Woods' omission?

Crazy how Stamenic missing isn’t as big a deal as Wood&Cacace are for most on X. 

They’re obviously our 3 best all together, but this is a perfect opportunity for Waine as Wood isn’t gonna be around forever + Sutton more than capable of stepping up. 

Stamenic at 22 is by far our best midfielder and second most accomplished player already. Even with Bell there I’m still worried we will get overrun in the middle of the park. 

lthomas20

What is the reason for Chris Woods' omission?

You obviously haven't been monitoring this thread the last week or so.
Confirmed that Fulham also wouldn't release Dibley-Dias, which is very interesting to hear. Surely must mean he is in their EPL plans?

So we have our 2 EPL club GKs available, but not our 3 EPL club outfield players.

Boxall and Bell to be late arrivals in France.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350336480/three-all-whites-stars-kept-out-paris-olympics-their-clubs

All Whites stars Chris Wood, Liberato Cacace and Marko Stamenic have been prevented from playing for the Oly Whites at the Paris Olympics by their major European clubs.

Uncapped midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias has also been ruled out for the same reason, while right back Tim Payne has been denied a second Olympic appearance after suffering a hamstring injury while on All Whites duty at the Oceania Nations Cup last month.

He has now had to turn to plan B, calling on Sarpreet Singh, an attacking midfielder; Joe Bell, a central midfielder; and Michael Boxall; a centre back. Bell and Boxall are both set to play for their clubs on the weekend of July 20 before linking up with the Oly Whites in France, where their opening match against Guinea takes place on July 24 (local time) in Nice.

Backup goalkeeper Kees Sims, right back Matt Sheridan, attacking midfielder Jay Herdman and forward Riley Bidois are the four players selected who are yet to make their All Whites debuts, with Bidois and Sheridan clear beneficiaries of Wood and Payne’s absences.

Finalising who was and wasn’t available – and getting the right balance in the squad – has kept Bazeley extremely busy, going back to when he was at the Nations Cup in Vanuatu at the end of June.

“It was pretty recent that we actually got the final decisions together,” he said this week.

“When you look at it now, it's a really strong group. The overage players are through the spine. Whilst we are missing a couple of players that are strong players, when you look through the squad, it's a strong squad. It really is.”

“Every different decision opens up the door for another player,“ Bazeley added. ”It's been a real balancing act to ensure that we’ve got enough defenders, midfielders and attackers in a squad of 18, because it's a smaller squad than normal anyway.

“The good thing with this squad is when you look through it, there's a lot of flexibility with players that can play different positions – fullbacks that can play centre back, centre backs that can play fullback, midfielders that could play a bit higher, attacking midfielders that can play wide or central.

While very good, Stamenic is more replaceable than Wood or Cacace. The step down from Marko to Bell is smaller than Wood to Waine or Cacace to Sutton imo, probably the reason he's discussed less, as well as being less visible in Serbia in recent years.

With this squad I'd definitely be playing a back 3.

Bindon will be at RB. If it's a back 3/5, LK-H is the 3rd CB.

AV said a few weeks back LK-H was going to the Olympics as the 3rd CB. Payne being out just means he'll be playing alongside Surman & Boxall. Not Surman & Bindon.

coochiee

Bindon will be at RB. If it's a back 3/5, LK-H is the 3rd CB.

AV said a few weeks back LK-H was going to the Olympics as the 3rd CB. Payne being out just means he'll be playing alongside Surman & Boxall. Not Surman & Bindon.

Just because it's what they've said they'll do doesn't make it a good decision. 3 CBs and Sheridan & Sutton as wing backs suits this squad far better than jamming a square Bindon in a round RB spot, imo.

Plus Payne getting injured could easily mean those plans have changed since they were reported.

Nelfoos

coochiee

Bindon will be at RB. If it's a back 3/5, LK-H is the 3rd CB.

AV said a few weeks back LK-H was going to the Olympics as the 3rd CB. Payne being out just means he'll be playing alongside Surman & Boxall. Not Surman & Bindon.

Just because it's what they've said they'll do doesn't make it a good decision. 3 CBs and Sheridan & Sutton as wing backs suits this squad far better than jamming a square Bindon in a round RB spot, imo.

Yipe and maybe Sheridan in camp trains the house down, and they take a punt on him. But he's a very inexperienced kid who's started one ALM game, where he was dragged after 60 mins getting a tough time from Farrell and Torres.

Playing CCM at Gosford is chicken feed to taking on the best young talent from France at a packed 68,000 Marseille Velodrome.

Bindon ain't a natural RB, but he's now played alot of big match football, and he's shown great mental toughness & self belief. It's a short term band aid solution.

You can only pick 18 players, and only 3 o/a players. Bazeley could have gone for a specialist o/a RB like Roux, Ingham or Kirwan. But they are all a big drop on Boxall's skillset, defensive composure and vast experience.

But yeah if Sheridan gets a chance and performs brilliantly, that would be awesome. We are well overdue producing an excellent RB, capable of say getting into a top 5 league. He is very promising. Lets see how he goes over there.

This is a good move for Singh, it puts him in the shop window. I can see him and herdman playing well together.

A few guys at the end of that list Nix & AFC maybe looking at. More likely AFC.
Oscar Faulds not named.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/143021?newsfeedId=1275622

Alby Kelly-Heald, Scott Morris, Luis Toomey, Finn Linder, Aaryan Raj, Ronan Wynne, Zac Zoricich and Nathan Lobo have been named as non-travelling reserves. 

Wood is clearly the biggest loss - we just don't have a player capable of what he is outside of him.

Singh is a great pick up though, because he can make something happen and we will need that.

Bell and Stamenic are like for like.

Carcace is a great player (by NZ standards) but I think Sutton is also a very good player and will be a good like for like replacement. Both of them like to get forward, take on players and both have some defensive frailties.

Arguably the biggest disappointment for me, is with Stamenic and Wood, our team would have looked a lot more competative and naturally raised the levels of others around them.

The Olympics is a great shop window, and the above two players would have helped a couple others to stand out more IMO.

... school holidays.

Regardless of who plays and what formation, I just hope we try to play, are brave in possession and look to compete... aka don't pull a u20 performance against Argentina like we did at the U20 WC.

That would be embarrasing and demoralising.

“Disappointing” is definitely the word for it. I just feel deflated. Nothing we could do, of course, but wow - wasn’t expecting it to be this harsh

coochiee

lthomas20

What is the reason for Chris Woods' omission?

You obviously haven't been monitoring this thread the last week or so.
Confirmed that Fulham also wouldn't release Dibley-Dias, which is very interesting to hear. Surely must mean he is in their EPL plans?

So we have our 2 EPL club GKs available, but not our 3 EPL club outfield players.

Boxall and Bell to be late arrivals in France.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350336480/three-all-whites-stars-kept-out-paris-olympics-their-clubs

All Whites stars Chris Wood, Liberato Cacace and Marko Stamenic have been prevented from playing for the Oly Whites at the Paris Olympics by their major European clubs.

Uncapped midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias has also been ruled out for the same reason, while right back Tim Payne has been denied a second Olympic appearance after suffering a hamstring injury while on All Whites duty at the Oceania Nations Cup last month.

He has now had to turn to plan B, calling on Sarpreet Singh, an attacking midfielder; Joe Bell, a central midfielder; and Michael Boxall; a centre back. Bell and Boxall are both set to play for their clubs on the weekend of July 20 before linking up with the Oly Whites in France, where their opening match against Guinea takes place on July 24 (local time) in Nice.

Backup goalkeeper Kees Sims, right back Matt Sheridan, attacking midfielder Jay Herdman and forward Riley Bidois are the four players selected who are yet to make their All Whites debuts, with Bidois and Sheridan clear beneficiaries of Wood and Payne’s absences.

Finalising who was and wasn’t available – and getting the right balance in the squad – has kept Bazeley extremely busy, going back to when he was at the Nations Cup in Vanuatu at the end of June.

“It was pretty recent that we actually got the final decisions together,” he said this week.

“We were just trying to get confirmation from everybody and then trying to balance things and make sure that we've got the right depth.

“When you look at it now, it's a really strong group. The overage players are through the spine. Whilst we are missing a couple of players that are strong players, when you look through the squad, it's a strong squad. It really is.”

“Every different decision opens up the door for another player,“ Bazeley added. ”It's been a real balancing act to ensure that we’ve got enough defenders, midfielders and attackers in a squad of 18, because it's a smaller squad than normal anyway.

“The good thing with this squad is when you look through it, there's a lot of flexibility with players that can play different positions – fullbacks that can play centre back, centre backs that can play fullback, midfielders that could play a bit higher, attacking midfielders that can play wide or central.

“We feel like we've covered everything now.”

I meant what is Nottingham Forests' reason for not letting him play?

Forests' or Forest's?

Forest & Olympiakos are owned by a billionaire Greek shipping magnate. He doesn't have to give Baze, you, me or anyone a reason. But I'd say he's not that happy that with all his cash, Forest only just avoided relegation last season. Olympiakos got a European title, but were only 3rd in the Greek Super League

Forest's first EPL game is 18th August. Olywhites last Olympics pool game (and presumably last game) is 31st July.

Wood & his club have a pre season training camp in Spain from next week. Play Sunderland, Millwall & Spanish 2nd tier club Elche.
https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2024/june/27/forest-set-for-spain-pre-season-trip/

At the same time Olympiakos have a camp in Holland and a couple of games, including Ajax.

Forest & Olympiakos actually play each other in a friendly in Greece on 9th August. AWs matchup
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/08/world/club-friendlies/olympiakos-cfp/nottingham-forest-fc/4406659/

But basically there are loads of players not released by their clubs for the Olympics. Real Madrid & Mbappe probably the highest profile example.

Mbappe doesn't count for me - just finished playing Euro's and will need a break heading in to the next season. Wood hasn't been playing etc.