They included games with Colombia (2003), Chile (two matches in 2006), Brazil (2006) and Venezuela (2007). There were a couple of clashes with Paraguay in 2010, including one at the Fifa World Cup, while probably the most memorable were the home and away ties with Peru in the Intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup in 2017. The All Whites faced \u201cLa Bicolor\u201d again in 2022 in Barcelona.<\/p>\n
South America is one of the hotbeds of world football, only behind Europe in terms of status, pedigree and results. South American teams bring special challenges, shown by New Zealand\u2019s record, with no wins, four draws and 13 defeats in the 17 matches. Although styles vary across the continent, South American teams generally value the technical side of the game and individual skills, with an ability to increase and decrease the tempo as required.<\/p>\n
Colombia have former Liverpool star and current Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz, along with luminaries like James Rodriguez, D\u00e1vinson S\u00e1nchez and Jefferson Lerma, while Ecuador can call on Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, who cost around \u00a3100 million ($231m) when he moved from Brighton to Stamford Bridge in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely going to be a tough challenge, but one that we\u2019re excited about,\u201d said All Whites coach Darren Bazeley. \u201cThese are the games that you always want to play; against top teams, top players and a chance to really test ourselves. Come the World Cup, these are the type of teams that are going to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Zealand faced Peru in a two-legged contest in 2017. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
South American sides are also clever and skilled with gamesmanship, using every trick to get an advantage or unsettle the opposition, something the team was aware of.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got this reputation, I suppose, of knowing the dark arts a little bit and playing on the edge at times,\u201d said Bazeley. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about it and it\u2019s something that we probably need to keep developing ourselves. My memories of the Peru games back in [2017] and Costa Rica [2022], those type of teams, they\u2019ve got this real football understanding of certain ways of playing, street knowledge, game intelligence at times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Veteran defender Michael Boxall has a good perspective, given his international experiences and long career in the MLS (Major League), and he concurs.<\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of those things where you can give advice but in the heat of the moment you find players who could be crafty and get under your skin,\u201d said Boxall. \u201cIt will be a good learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n But the main challenge for the 85th-ranked All Whites is nothing new: retaining enough possession to take the pressure off defensively and creating opportunities in the final third. The absence of injured captain Chris Wood will be keenly felt, with Kosta Barbarouses expected to start. <\/p>\n Bazeley confirmed the formation and shape would be unchanged, though there would be \u201ctweaks\u201d to the game style. Ben Waine and Andre de Jong are the other striking options, with the versatile Jesse Randall also a possibility.<\/p>\n \u201cWe won\u2019t change too much about how we play, but obviously Woodsy brings different strengths,\u201d said Bazeley. \u201cIf we\u2019re playing one of the other three, there are differences in the final ball in to them or the final cross that the team need to adjust to.\u201d<\/p>\n The All Whites will also miss the thrust, pace and defensive nous of Libby Cacace, along with the all-round skillset of Ryan Thomas, who is among several frontline players out with injury.<\/p>\n The defensive unit will have the toughest test, given the Colombian side\u2019s pace and movement.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf we\u2019re anything but at our best, we\u2019re going to create problems for ourselves,\u201d said Boxall. <\/p>\n \u201cAgainst top players like these, it\u2019s never an individual performance, it\u2019s the whole collective. So not just the back four and goalkeeper, it\u2019s the 11 guys, keeping things as compact as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n November International window<\/p>\n Sunday, November 16<\/p>\n Colombia v New Zealand, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1.30pm NZT<\/p>\n Wednesday, November 19<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Ecuador v New Zealand, Harrison, New Jersey, 1.30pm NZT<\/p>\n