Schmid adopts cautious approach with first squad
Fritz Schmid has cast the net wide in naming his first All Whites squad, as expected.
He named 24 players yesterday for a friendly against Canada next week, including 14 who weren’t in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Peru last November, and eight who are yet to win a cap.
Four have been called up for the first time - defender Nikko Boxall, midfielder Niko Kirwan, the son of All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan, midfielder Sarpreet Singh, and forward Andre de Jong, the son of former All White Fred de Jong.
Kirwan is probably the biggest bolter of the lot, averaging 38 minutes per game at AC Mestre in Serie C, the Italian third tier, after one season in the New Zealand national league with Team Wellington, where he averaged 42 minutes per game.
Schmid has taken a softly, softly approach to his first selection, recognising he can’t yet rule with an iron fist, and that he stands to gain from letting established players stay with their clubs.
Absent, but acknowledged by the coach as in his plans, are six players from Major League Soccer in the United States - Kip Colvey, Stefan Marinovic, Jake Gleeson, Tommy Smith, Bill Tuiloma, Deklan Wynne - Kosta Barbarouses, who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-league, and Burnley’s Chris Wood. James Musa and Winston Reid weren’t considered due to injury.
All of those missing bar Wood would miss games by joining up with the All Whites, and Schmid had already hinted he would let the country’s star striker miss the trip, given he has just returned from a lengthy absence with injury. ❚ Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Nik Tzanev, Michael Woud.
❚ Defenders: Michael Boxall, Nikko Boxall, Sam Brotherton, Tom Doyle, Dane Ingham, Adam Mitchell, Storm Roux, Themi Tzimopoulos.
❚ Midfielders: Cam Howieson, Niko Kirwan, Clayton Lewis, Michael Mcglinchey, Tim Payne, Matt Ridenton, Ryan Thomas, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh.
❚ Forwards: Myer Bevan, Jeremy Brockie, Andre de Jong, Marco Rojas
❚ On standby: Jesse Edge, Te Atawhai Hudson-wihongi, Justin Gulley, Jai Ingham, Monty Patterson
‘‘I understand that sometimes our windows won’t always correspond to the responsibilities and the duties of such players in the various leagues,‘‘ said Schmid.
‘‘On the other hand, it’s also an opportunity. We know what [the missing] players have to offer, and especially when you come in as a new coach, and you want to get an idea about the pool of players who are waiting to get their chances, I think that’s where you make the best out of it, and you offer these boys a good platform to show that they can step up.’’
With 24 named in the squad, five named on standby, eight not selected but still acknowledged, and two unavailable injured, Schmid already has a pool of 39 players, which will only grow as he gets to grips with his other role, as national under-23 coach - five players included here are eligible for the Tokyo Olympics (Myer Bevan, Dane Ingham, Clayton Lewis, Sarpreet Singh and Michael Woud).
Schmid said he had been in touch with more than 50 players since being appointed three weeks ago.
‘‘The first contact was reaching out to them, getting a solid, confidential conversation, and understanding where they stand in terms of career planning and their ambitions.
‘‘I’m actually very glad to have an opportunity now to see them in action and work with them on the pitch, because that’s really where you get to know them, if you work face to face in everyday practice, that’s where you learn what they have to offer.’’
The friendly against Canada next Sunday (4am NZ time) is being played behind closed doors at Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar on Spain’s southeastern coast.