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RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Football: All Whites learning to hold their own against top opposition
Yegor Nazaryna of Ukraine and Marko Stamenic of New Zealand Photo: Kevin Sousa / The All Whites won one and lost one against higher-ranked opposition at the Canadian Shield, but coach Darren Bazeley says they now know what it is like to be in the fight. Beating Côte d'Ivoire to kick off their involvement in the inaugural four-team invitational tournament in Toronto on Sunday was not a shock to the All Whites, despite the African champions being ranked 45 places higher than them in the FIFA rankings. Not being able to back it up against the even higher ranked world number 25 Ukraine three days later was "disappointing" for Bazeley. "They know the next step is being better in possession and trying to create more goal scoring opportunities, but we lived in the game for quite a while and it was a disappointing finish," Bazeley said of the 2-1 loss. Playing teams that they had never faced at senior international level before and from different confederations was the type of preparation Bazeley and the players wanted ahead of next year's Football World Cup . "These games are great for us because we haven't been in enough fights, we haven't been in enough games like this for our team and our players to really feel that, and these last two games I feel like they've felt it. "They felt the level that's needed. They've competed pretty well across the two games and now we can move forward knowing that there's some things to get better at but there's some things that we did really well across the two games." As one of the first teams qualified for the World Cup, the All Whites have planned out what they want to achieve before the tournament co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico. Bazeley said since he first took the head coaching role on a permanent basis in mid 2023 he had seen the players improve individually and in units. New Zealand's goal-scorer against Ukraine, Marko Stamenic agreed with the team's improvement. "I think tour by tour we've slowly gotten better and evolved both as individuals and as a team, so I think we're definitely going in the right direction. "We still have time and a lot to improve on before the big stage ." The All Whites played the majority of both games at the Canadian Shield without captain and leading goal-scorer Chris Wood. Wood was on managed minutes after a long season with Nottingham Forest. "We're a better team if Wood plays longer and if he starts, but he's had a massive season and he's had a few injuries that he's still managing," Bazeley said. "He's played so much football this year, but he wants to help, he wants to be on the pitch but we were managing his minutes which is why he played a certain amount of time." Wood wanted to be at the World Cup, which would be his second pinnacle global tournament, but he knew nothing was guaranteed in football. "I think we've got to prepare for everything come the world cup time, we never know who's going to be available, who's fit, and how football is," Wood said. "So if there's a chance I'm not involved in the World Cup and things like that, for whatever reason, we need someone that's ready and capable to step up and produce and we've got more than enough players in this dressing room to do that, but it's about giving them more time and experience to be able to do that at the same time." The upcoming FIFA international windows are in September, October and November when every country can play two matches. New Zealand Football are yet to announce games for September or November but have announced a game against world number 38 Norway in Oslo on 15 October. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Zinchenko scores off the bench to help Ukraine defeat New Zealand at Canadian Shield
TORONTO - Substitute Oleksandr Zinchenko scored in the 75th minute to lift Ukraine to a 2-1 win over New Zealand on Tuesday at the Canadian Shield Tournament. The Arsenal fullback/midfielder had been on the pitch less than a minute when he acrobatically swept Oleksandr Martyniuk's cross past New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe. Zinchenko, Ukraine's Footballer of the Year in 2019, joined Arsenal from Manchester City in July 2022 in a 30-million-pound ($55.4-million) transfer. The 28-year-old has been linked to a move to AC Milan in recent days. Oleksiy Hutsuliak also scored for Ukraine. Marko Stamenic replied for New Zealand in a game that saw tempers flare as the clock wound down. New Zealand, ranked 86th in the world, upset No. 41 Ivory Coast 1-0 on Saturday. No. 25 Ukraine lost 4-2 to No. 30 Canada. The Canadians faced Ivory Coast in the late game at BMO Field. Ukraine had more of the ball but failed to take advantage Tuesday. That changed in the 54th minute when Hutsuliak, from the edge of the penalty box, beat Crocombe with a left-footed shot that went through a New Zealand defender's legs. Marko Stamenic replied in the 59th minute off a New Zealand corner. The ball came to defender Michael Boxall who headed it in front of goal to Stamenic, whose header beat Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, Thibaut Courtois' backup at Real Madrid. Ukraine began to threaten with crosses in the first half. And the six-foot-four Crocombe, who plays in England's third tier for Burton Albion, had to make a spectacular reflex save to deny Hutsuliak's header in the 15th minute. Crocombe had to be agile again in the 31st minute, stopping Oleksandr Pikhalonok from a tight angle. And the All Whites 'keeper was up to the task again in the 49th minute, blocking a shot after a pinball-like sequence following a Ukraine free kick. New Zealand brought on star forward Chris Wood, who has scored 89 goals for England's Nottingham Forest, in the 80th minute. The Toronto tournament is the first action for New Zealand since punching its ticket to the World Cup with a 3-0 win over No. 151 New Caledonia in the Oceania Football Confederation qualifying final in March at Auckland's Eden Park. New Zealand previously took part in the 1982 and 2010 World Cups, failing to get out of the group stage on both occasions. The famous win over New Caledonia came some 33 months after New Zealand lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in an intercontinental playoff in Doha, Qatar, for the final berth at the 2022 World Cup. Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov made nine changes to the starting lineup that lost to Canada. New Zealand made three changes with Boxall among those slotting in. As they did Saturday, the Ukrainian players came out with the Ukraine flag draped over their shoulders. Many of their supporters also brought flags. The Ukraine players, who have not played an international match at home since Russia invaded in February 2022, did a lap around the stadium after the final whistle to applaud their fans. 'Last night, Kyiv endured one of the most brutal attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In just a few days between two matches, Ukraine was hit 1,088 times by airstrikes,' the Ukrainian Association of Football said in a social media post during the first half. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
All Whites end Canadian Shield with a loss to Ukraine
Marko Stamenic of New Zealand heads the ball at goal. Photo: Kevin Sousa / The All Whites have been beaten 2-1 by Ukraine in their second game at the Canadian Shield four-nations tournament in Toronto. The result means the New Zealanders finish with a win and a loss after their first up 1-0 victory over Cōte d'Ivoire on Sunday. The 25th ranked Ukrainians completely dominated the first half and should have been ahead if it wasn't for a couple of fine saves from All Whites keeper Max Crocombe. Ukraine had the first scoring opportunity in the 15th minute when a header from a cross forced a finger-tip save from Crocombe who was again called upon in the 30th minute to keep the Ukrainians out. The New Zealanders were able to get back into the game after half time, but it was Ukraine who opened the scoring in the 54th minute when a strike from Oleksiy Hutsuliak just inside the penalty area beat Crocombe at the near post. New Zealand replied five minutes later when Marko Stamenic headed home from a corner. Liberato Cacace's corner was headed back across the goal by Michael Boxall allowing Stamenic to flick the ball into the goal. Arsenal midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko then put Ukraine in front in the 74th when he was left unmarked in the box and powered home a cross. All Whites goalkeeper Max Crocombe is forced into a save against Ukraine during the Canadian Shield men's football tournament in Toronto. Photo: Kevin Sousa / Coach Darren Bazeley made three changes from the side that beat Cōte d'Ivoire with Michael Boxall starting at right-back, Matt Garbett on the left wing and Ben Waine up front. Callum McGowatt was left out of the side while Bill Tuiloma and Kosta Barbarouses were on the bench along with Chris Wood. Ukraine made nine changes from the side that lost 4-2 to Canada in their opening game. Ukraine took a young side to the tournament, including a half a dozen players that play domestically in Ukraine, while the rest came from other parts of Europe. There are just two games each in the Canadian Shield tournament with the team with most points winning the title. Canada play Cōte d'Ivoire later on Wednesday.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Zinchenko scores off the bench to help Ukraine defeat New Zealand at Canadian Shield
TORONTO – Substitute Oleksandr Zinchenko scored in the 75th minute to lift Ukraine to a 2-1 win over New Zealand on Tuesday at the Canadian Shield Tournament. The Arsenal fullback/midfielder had been on the pitch less than a minute when he acrobatically swept Oleksandr Martyniuk's cross past New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe. Zinchenko, Ukraine's Footballer of the Year in 2019, joined Arsenal from Manchester City in July 2022 in a 30-million-pound ($55.4-million) transfer. The 28-year-old has been linked to a move to AC Milan in recent days. Oleksiy Hutsuliak also scored for Ukraine. Marko Stamenic replied for New Zealand in a game that saw tempers flare as the clock wound down. New Zealand, ranked 86th in the world, upset No. 41 Ivory Coast 1-0 on Saturday. No. 25 Ukraine lost 4-2 to No. 30 Canada. The Canadians faced Ivory Coast in the late game at BMO Field. Ukraine had more of the ball but failed to take advantage Tuesday. That changed in the 54th minute when Hutsuliak, from the edge of the penalty box, beat Crocombe with a left-footed shot that went through a New Zealand defender's legs. Marko Stamenic replied in the 59th minute off a New Zealand corner. The ball came to defender Michael Boxall who headed it in front of goal to Stamenic, whose header beat Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, Thibaut Courtois' backup at Real Madrid. Ukraine began to threaten with crosses in the first half. And the six-foot-four Crocombe, who plays in England's third tier for Burton Albion, had to make a spectacular reflex save to deny Hutsuliak's header in the 15th minute. Crocombe had to be agile again in the 31st minute, stopping Oleksandr Pikhalonok from a tight angle. And the All Whites 'keeper was up to the task again in the 49th minute, blocking a shot after a pinball-like sequence following a Ukraine free kick. New Zealand brought on star forward Chris Wood, who has scored 89 goals for England's Nottingham Forest, in the 80th minute. The Toronto tournament is the first action for New Zealand since punching its ticket to the World Cup with a 3-0 win over No. 151 New Caledonia in the Oceania Football Confederation qualifying final in March at Auckland's Eden Park. New Zealand previously took part in the 1982 and 2010 World Cups, failing to get out of the group stage on both occasions. The famous win over New Caledonia came some 33 months after New Zealand lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in an intercontinental playoff in Doha, Qatar, for the final berth at the 2022 World Cup. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov made nine changes to the starting lineup that lost to Canada. New Zealand made three changes with Boxall among those slotting in. As they did Saturday, the Ukrainian players came out with the Ukraine flag draped over their shoulders. Many of their supporters also brought flags. The Ukraine players, who have not played an international match at home since Russia invaded in February 2022, did a lap around the stadium after the final whistle to applaud their fans. 'Last night, Kyiv endured one of the most brutal attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In just a few days between two matches, Ukraine was hit 1,088 times by airstrikes,' the Ukrainian Association of Football said in a social media post during the first half. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
