All Whites attacking player Sarpreet Singh.
Photo: www.photosport.nz
All Whites v Ecuador
Kickoff 2.30pm, Wednesday, 19 November
Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey.
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
The All Whites will play their final game of 2025 against unfamiliar opposition in an unfamiliar venue.
World No. 85 New Zealand have never played the world No. 23 Ecuador.
While the South Americans will feel at home in Sports Illustrated Stadium, after playing there 11 times before, the NZ squad will played for the first time at the venue that hosts Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.
Both teams have already qualified for next year’s Football World Cup and come into this game after playing friendlies last week – the All Whites faced Colombia and Ecuador took on Canada.
Form
Ecuador are on a hot streak of form.
Unbeaten in their last 14 games, Ecuador’s defence has been largely impenetrable. The South Americans regularly record scoreless draws, with seven during that run, including against Canada.
The All Whites kicked off the year with a 7-0 win over Fiji, followed by a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in March that booked their World Cup berth, but since then have not scored more than one goal in a game.
After three wins to begin 2025, including victory over the Ivory Coast in June, the All Whites then lost four in row and drew against Norway, before Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Colombia.
Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie playing against Canada.
Photo: INDRAWAN KUMALA/AFP
What they are saying
All Whites coach Darren Bazeley said his understrength squad were feeling the effects of the first game in the November international window before the Ecuador clash.
“Everybody’s got little bit of fatigue and a few knocks, but nothing too serious that would rule them out of the game,” he said. “We’ll make a couple of changes to freshen it up, and give ourselves some extra energy and legs, but we’ll balance that with consistency as well.”
Bazeley was looking for an improvement on the Colombia game.
“The challenge is that we go again and we become consistent, while improving as well in an attacking sense and defending, and keep building.
“Every game we’ve played in the last three windows, we’ve created chances. It’s something we’ve been trying to work on through the year… I think, at some stage, we are going to get three or four in a game.”
Attacking player Sarpreet Singh has returned to play regularly for the All Whites, after a long time out injured, and helped set up New Zealand’s goal on Sunday, but he has high standards for himself and the team.
“I’m pleased with how it’s going on the pitch. I still know that I can give a lot more and do a lot better.”
Squads
All Whites: Max Crocombe, Kees Sims, Nik Tzanev, Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Francis de Vries, James McGarry, Storm Roux, Tommy Smith, George Stanger, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Owen Parker-Price, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenić, Kosta Barbarouses, Andre de Jong, Eli Just, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine.
Ecuador: Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez, Cristhian Loor, Angelo Preciado, Piero Hincapie, Felix Torres, Willian Pacho, Cristian Ramirez, Joel Ordonez, Jhoanner Chavez, Leonardo Realpe, Moises Caicedo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Plata, Kendry Paez, Alan Minda, John Yeboah, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcivar, Yaimar Medina, Denil Castillo, Patrik Mercado, Enner Valencia, Kevin Rodriguez, Leonardo Campana, Nilson Angulo, John Mercado, Jeremy Arevalo.
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