Analysis: Playing South American opposition could be seen as an ideal test in a World Cup year, writes 1News Sport Reporter Zion Dayal.
Fifty-second ranked Chile await the All Whites tonight in their last game before June’s World Cup camp.
Fortunately, there’s a tight turn around between playing Finland on Friday and Chile this evening. The All Whites need to put a flat performance behind them, not only for confidence in the camp but for their fans too.
Players are taking ownership for an uncharacteristic performance against Finland. But Chile pose an even bigger threat.
Ranked 22 places higher than Finland, there’s always an edge when it comes to South American teams – likely to push the laws of the game, physical on and off the ball - emphasis on ‘off’ - and play with plenty of passion.
Not to mention their sold out "away area" at Eden Park.
They're a young group who are starting their World Cup cycle having not qualified for this year's finals, and come off a 4-2 win over World Cup-bound Cape Verde.
But this is a test the All Whites need, it’s similar quality opposition to what they’ll face at the World Cup. However, the All Whites are yet to show a dominant or winning performance against teams ranked higher. Their last was a 1-1 draw with 31st ranked Norway in October last year.
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“This group is showing that they have a lot of potential, it’s not linear – there’s going to be moments where we get it wrong and then we have a responsibility to have robust conversations to get it as good as we possibly can before we go into the June [World Cup] camp,” assistant coach Simon Elliiot said.
Tonight’s clash is also the last time these players can prove themselves in national colours before the World Cup squad gathers, and we can expect to see some of those who didn’t get a run against Finland see game time tonight.
It’s fair to say Darren Bazeley has his ideal starting XI in mind – but there’s still plenty of football to play between now and June. And, while some players may not be in Bazeley's final 26-man for the World Cup, injuries and possibly even form could see some fringe players play their way in.
What these two games have provided – with the absence of a number of key players – is an opportunity for those on the fringes to push their case for selection in June.
Attacker Andre de Jong was one of those.
“To be called back in and make the last three tours has been really proud for me and a nice honour and hopefully get on the pitch on Monday,” De Jong said.
Tonight is also the last chance for Kiwi fans to see the All Whites in action before the World Cup. At the back end of last year they didn’t know whether they’d be home before FIFA’s pinnacle event.
The occasion is also momentous for the players who get a rare chance to play in front of their families – and for fans to say goodbye and good luck.
“As soon as these games got announced at home as a send off before the World Cup... all the guys have spent a lot of time seeing their friends and family, and they will all come out to the games and just to play in front of a home crowd and your family – it doesn’t get much bigger than that,” De Jong said.
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