Oko in 2021

go to still be around, but should remain to add experience to the squad.

Likewise, a 33-year-old Michael Boxall would add experience and cover at centre back.

The likes of Max Crocombe, Kip Colvey, Dane Ingham, Tom Doyle, Sam Brotherton, Clayton Lewis, James Musa and Monty Patterson can all still be part of the team, but will need to be playing regular, high-level firstteam football to stave off the challenge of the next generation coming through.

The unknowns who might make the 23-man squad: Attackers Max Mata and Elijah Just were the two sensations of the under-17s campaign this year have a lot of people around the game quite excited. They’re in good hands in terms of their development and should be fringe All Whites in four years as they enter their early 20s. Goalkeeper Michael Woud should be competing with Marinovic for the No 1 shirt after making his first senior team camp for the October friendly against Japan.

There could also be some kid playing for the Sweden or Scotland under-17s who has a Kiwi passport and switches allegiance, ala Winston Reid in 2009. Or one of the many Kiwis in the United States college system kicks on.

The retirees/departures: The 34+ gang of Andrew Durante, Rory Fallon, Glen Moss and Shane Smeltz will all retire soon and won’t be back in four years.

Themi Tzimopoulos and Jeremy Brockie will be on the outer given they were fringe players this year and will be 35 and 34 by then.