So who will he go with?<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper<\/p>\n
This has been a straight duel between Max Crocombe and Alex Paulsen over the past few years. Crocombe was the incumbent<\/a> \u2013 and had been a fixture since November 2023 \u2013 before Paulsen seemed to come to the fore with a late run. <\/p>\n It felt like he was the favourite after the March international window, with a strong match in the 4-1 win over Chile in Auckland. <\/p>\n But he has had some struggles at club level in Poland and the fact that Crocombe played 83 minutes in the final hit-out against England<\/a> was surely telling.<\/p>\n Prediction: Max Crocombe<\/p>\n Back four<\/p>\n Libby Cacace is a certainty at left back \u2013 always one of the first picked \u2013 despite his injury struggles this season at Wrexham. Finn Surman is moving into that category, after a series of impressive displays for club and country. <\/p>\n That leaves either Tyler Bindon<\/a> or Michael Boxall<\/a>. Bindon seemed headed for greatness \u2013 last year he joined Chris Wood at English Premier League club Nottingham Forest<\/a> \u2013 while Boxall brings leadership and experience. <\/p>\n Tim Payne hasn\u2019t always been totally convincing<\/a> at right back across this cycle, an assertion that could shock his millions of new Instagram followers. He can be vulnerable defensively, though had his best game in years against Chile in March. That was probably enough to win selection here, though there is a chance for Bindon \u2013 if he missed out on a central position \u2013 given his defensive prowess and overall composure.<\/p>\n Prediction: Tim Payne, Finn Surman, Michael Boxall and Libby Cacace<\/p>\n Midfield<\/p>\n Joe Bell and Marko Stamenic are certainties in the middle of the park, bringing an all-round skillset few others possess. They have a different style, with complementary attributes. <\/p>\n The key question is who is used in front of them, with Sarpreet Singh, Elijah Just<\/a>, Callum McCowatt and Matt Garbett (before his injury)<\/a> all possibilities in that part of the field. <\/p>\n Bazeley has been loyal to Singh<\/a> and sees him as the creative influence needed. He is still struggling for match fitness after the injury that ruined his Wellington Phoenix loan and his form in North America has been mixed, with Just or McCowatt offering a more compelling recent body of work. But if the England game was played by a shadow XI, then Singh is likely to get the nod, which will divide the fanbase. <\/p>\n Prediction: Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic and Sarpreet Singh<\/p>\n Wingers<\/p>\n These are the most competitive positions in the squad. Elijah Just has seemingly locked down the right-hand side<\/a> \u2013 especially after his head-turning campaign in Scotland with Motherwell. <\/p>\n Garbett was favoured on the left \u2013 given he started against England \u2013 but is now in major doubt due to a hamstring strain. That means McCowatt, Ben Old and Jesse Randall<\/a> are the options on the left, though Singh could also be used there. It\u2019s a difficult call. <\/p>\n Randall is raw but brings express pace<\/a>, Old has similar velocity and the experience of the top level in French football while McCowatt is the best technician and has been in this environment since 2019. <\/p>\n The need to get to the byline \u2013 and provide crosses \u2013 might give Old the edge, though Bazeley might be tempted to use Randall and save Old as an impact option and back up for Cacace. Francis de Vries<\/a> could also be used in an advanced role on the left late in the match, given his unsurpassed delivery from open play and set pieces.<\/p>\n Prediction: Ben Old and Elijah Just<\/p>\n Striker<\/p>\n There is no debate here, as Chris Wood will wear the No 9 jersey and lead the line. The interesting subplot will be how Ben Waine and Kosta Barbarouses are used off the bench, especially if the All Whites are chasing a goal. Waine is the more direct option \u2013 who can also play out wide \u2013 while Barbarouses offers a point of difference with his quick feet and movement in the penalty area. <\/p>\n Prediction: Chris Wood<\/p>\n Michael Burgess<\/a> has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America\u2019s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Sarpreet Singh is a creative midfielder for the All Whites. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
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