Robust Rojas in line to return to the All Whites fold
All Whites veteran Marco Rojas is in line to return to the fold, for the upcoming three-game series which culminates in the Doha duel with Costa Rica next month.
Rojas hasn’t played for the national team since November 2019 but is expected to be included when the squad is named on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has been in sparkling form for Melbourne Victory, with six goals in 14 games since the beginning of March (along with seven assists across the season).
Rojas also offers experience; he has part of the All Whites environment for a decade (41 caps).
Rojas was meant to be part of the recent Oceania World Cup qualifying tournament, but his release was blocked by Melbourne Victory due to their heavy schedule at the time.
Coach Danny Hay’s New Zealand squad will be one of the toughest to pick in recent memory, due to the plethora of choices.
It wasn’t so long ago that almost every overseas-based player was included in New Zealand senior teams but next week more than 20 professionals will miss the cut.
Hay is expected to name up to 26 players, to provide extra cover for injuries and Covid contingency, before the squad is trimmed to 23 for the Costa Rica match.
That will mean a prolonged audition for some players, especially the attacking midfielders, strikers and wingers, where there is the most intense positional competition, as they strive to make the final cut for the intercontinental playoff on June 15.
● The draw for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup will be in Auckland.
It was confirmed yesterday the glitzy event, which will reveal the fixtures and opponents for the 32 competing teams at the co-hosted tournament, will be held at the Aotea Centre on October 22.
Around 500 people are expected to travel to New Zealand for the event. As well as representatives from all the teams and international media, there will also be numerous dignitaries (including Fifa president Gianni Infantino) and some Fifa legends, the famous ex-players brought in to add pizzazz to such an occasion, which is televised across the globe.
From a New Zealand perspective, interest will centre around the three nations the Football Ferns will face in group A.
The draw will also reveal which countries will be based in New Zealand for their pool matches, with tournament organisers on this side of the Tasman hoping for some heavyweight nations, along with teams that traditionally attract significant travelling support.
Thirty-two countries will compete in the 2023 event, up from 24 in France in 2019.
Nine nations (China, Japan, Korea Republic, Philippines and Vietnam from Asia, and France, Spain, Sweden and Denmark from Europe) have already qualified, joining hosts Australia and New Zealand.
Another 18 spots will be finalised between July and October, with confederation tournaments in Africa, Central and North America and South America.
The final three places will be decided early next year, with 10 teams from across the world competing in a tournament to allocate the last three golden tickets.