All Whites coach Darren Bazeley has named the squad he’ll be taking to North America for New Zealand’s first World Cup in 16 years. <\/p>\n
There were no real surprises in today’s squad announcement, with a range of players plying their trade domestically and in overseas leagues. <\/p>\n
There were regular faces, including Chris Wood, who will captain the side, alongside the likes of Liberato Cacace, Kosta Barbarouses, Marko Stameni\u0107, Tim Payne, and Michael Boxall. <\/p>\n
Following the announcement, Bazeley told 1News it had been “a bit challenging” deciding on the squad, and he had had some “tough conversations” as well as some “really nice” ones. <\/p>\n
“The players we’ve left out are very good players,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But we’ve landed on this squad of 26, really talented squad, exciting squad, experienced as well.” <\/p>\n
He said he was “really comfortable” that the squad would “go and get the job done for us”. <\/p>\n
A notable inclusion was 36-year-old veteran Tommy Smith, who will be joining 2010 teammate Wood for their second World Cup. <\/p>\n
On Smith’s inclusion, Bazley said that with a squad of 26, there would always be players who don’t get game time, so his addition brought “a lot of experience”. <\/p>\n
“His leadership is great, you know, he’s going to be so important for the players, keeping everybody on track.<\/p>\n
“He’s a good player, we lean on him a lot… In effect, we do now have a leader off the pitch. That’s not to say he won’t play, but it’s going to be really important for the team that we have those players that can show that leadership.”<\/p>\n
He also described Smith as a “cultural architect” for the team. <\/p>\n
Another notable name was All Whites newcomer – Newcastle Jets winger Lachlan Bayliss – who will head to the tournament with just two international caps. <\/p>\n
The team will now head to Florida for two pre-tournament friendlies against Haiti on June 3 and June 7 (both NZT).<\/p>\n
They’ll then launch into the group stage, starting the tournament against Iran on June 16 in Los Angeles. <\/p>\n
The squad will then head to Vancouver in Canada, where they’ll play their next two Group G games against Egypt on June 22 and top-seed Belgium on June 27. <\/p>\n
The 26-man team is: <\/p>\n
1. Max Crocombe of Millwall FC (22 caps) <\/p>\n
2. Tim Payne of the Wellington Phoenix (50 caps)<\/p>\n
3. Francis de Vries of Auckland FC (18 caps)<\/p>\n
4. Tyler Bindon of Nottingham Forest (23 caps)<\/p>\n
5. Michael Boxall of Minnesota United (61 caps)<\/p>\n
6. Joe Bell of Viking FK (31 caps) <\/p>\n
7. Matt Garbett of Peterborough United (36 caps) <\/p>\n
8. Marko Stameni\u0107 of Swansea City (37 caps) <\/p>\n
9. Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest (88 caps) <\/p>\n
10. Sarpreet Singh of the Wellington Phoenix (26 caps)<\/p>\n
11. Eli Just of Motherwell FC (42 caps) <\/p>\n
12. Alex Paulsen of Lechia Gda\u0144sk (on loan) (6 caps)<\/p>\n
13. Liberato Cacace of Wrexham AFC (35 caps) <\/p>\n
14. Alex Rufer of the Wellington Phoenix (24 caps) <\/p>\n
15. Nando Pijnaker of Auckland FC (23 caps) <\/p>\n
16. Finn Surman of the Portland Timbers (17 caps) <\/p>\n
17. Kosta Barbarouses of the Western Sydney Wanderers (74 caps) <\/p>\n
18. Ben Waine of Port Vale (30 caps) <\/p>\n
19. Ben Old of Saint-\u00c9tienne (22 caps) <\/p>\n
20. Callum McCowatt of Silkeborg (30) <\/p>\n
21. Jesse Randall of Auckland FC (9 caps)<\/p>\n
22. Michael Woud of Auckland FC (6 caps) <\/p>\n
23. Ryan Thomas of PEC Zwolle (25 caps) <\/p>\n
24. Callan Elliot of Auckland FC (9 caps) <\/p>\n
25. Lachlan Bayliss of the Newcastle Jets (2 caps) <\/p>\n
26. Tommy Smith of Braintree Town (56 caps)<\/p>\n