Liberato Cacace of New Zealand. Photo: Jenny Chuang / www.photosport.nz
All Whites v Malaysia
International friendly
Kick-off: 7pm Monday 14 October (NZT)
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Job done. That was the overriding message from All Whites boss Darren Bazeley after they began their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over Tahiti on Friday, a welcome result in hot and humid conditions on a difficult playing surface in Vanuatu.
Now they face Malaysia in an international friendly on home soil, as they look to keep up that momentum into next month's concluding World Cup qualifying group games against Samoa and Vanuatu.
The team
Last time these two sides met in 2006, also at North Harbour Stadium, Campbell Banks and Andy Barron scored on debut to secure a 2-1 win. While there are no potential debutants on this occasion, there will still be a chance for some of the fringe players to put their mark on the squad.
It will be interesting to see if the likes of Alex Paulsen, Storm Roux and Sam Sutton are given the chance after their excellent A-League form last season, as Bazeley will no doubt be keen to assess different combinations and options.
New Zealand squad
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Oli Sail
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Sam Sutton, Storm Roux
Midfielders: Matthew Garbett, Ben Old, Cam Howieson, Marko Stamenic, Alex Rufer
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Elijah Just, Logan Rogerson, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
Potential starting XI
Paulsen; Roux, Boxall, Smith, Sutton; Rufer, Howieson, Stamenic; Garbett, Just, Wood.
All Whites preview
This will be a step up in quality that the All Whites need to continue their development under Bazeley and a chance to play in front of home fans yet again. Not much was learned from the Tahiti game, against an extremely defensive side on long grass not likely to be seen in other international theatres. This will be more of a gauge of where New Zealand are and given recent positive results against the USA, Ireland and China, one which they will expect to win.
A chance in the All Whites' 3-0 win over Tahiti in Port Vila. Photo: Christopher Malili
Meet the opponents
Malaysia is in good form following three successive friendly wins, a much-needed boost after they fell agonisingly short of reaching the latter stages of AFC World Cup qualification. A recent 1-1 draw against A-League newcomers Auckland FC in a behind-closed-doors friendly will also have given the Harimau Malaya confidence.
A recent surge in capping naturalised or heritage players has certainly strengthened the squad, with a namesake for Real Madrid wonderkid Endrick among their ranks. They are however without their captain Dion Cools and dangerous forward Faisal Halim, who continues to recover from a horrific acid attack earlier this year.
Games against sides outside of the AFC are rare for Malaysia but the last time it happened they annihilated the All Whites' OFC stablemates Papua New Guinea 10-0 last year, which will give Bazeley's boys an understanding that they should not be taken lightly.
Recent meetings
23 February 2006 New Zealand 2-1 Malaysia
19 February 2006 New Zealand 1-0 Malaysia
19 August 2000 New Zealand 2-0 Malaysia
All Whites' fullback Noah Hickey looks to take on Malaysia's Nanthakumar Lkalliappan (l) during the 2nd international friendly match between the New Zealand All Whites and Malaysia at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland on Thursday 23 February 2006. Photo: Andy Song/Photosport
Prediction
Malaysia are no pushovers but are likely to be more open at the back then the low block of Tahiti. New Zealand will hopefully be able to string some more cohesive attacking play together and continue in their quest to be more potent in front of goal against higher quality opposition than their federatio rivals. They have the players to do so and hopefully it clicks in Auckland.
New Zealand 2-1 Malaysia
