All Whites v Iran player ratings: How the Kiwis performed in World Cup opener
How New Zealand players rated in their 2-2 World Cup opener against Iran at SoFI Stadium in Los Angeles.
1. Max Crocombe – 7
After doing enough against England to hold the gloves in the challenge of Alex Paulsen, the Kiwi keeper was mostly calm and strong in the face of hectic Iranian attacks. There was one moment of panic in the 27th minute: Crocombe got himself into a tangle when leaving his six-yard box and delaying on the ball. The following mis-hit Iranian long shot spared his blushes. Otherwise, he distributed well and came forward to punch the ball clear through heavy traffic.
2. Tim Payne – 5
With his Instagram following seemingly plateaued at 5.7 million at kickoff, Payne seemed a little rushed in early exchanges, scuffing the ball out under no pressure on his first touch. But he grew into the game defensively, typified by a beaut of a sliding tackle to defuse a fast Iranian break in the 47th minute. By the time he trucked off in the 77th minute, the 2-2 scoreline was set and he’d hit the 5.8 million mark – get in!
14. Finn Surman – 4
The All Whites centre-backs were busy on an afternoon of pinball-passing and dashing. Surman’s partnership with Boxall left a few gaps on a hot busy day, and he was ball-watching on the second Iranian goal. He got forward well to get on the end of what could have been a decisive late cross, only to have Iran’s giant keeper Alireza Beiranvand snot him one in the air.
5. Michael Boxall – 4
Key man in the All Whites’ defence had some fault in both opposition goals: he needed to track back with Ramin Rezaeian on Iran’s first equaliser and was unable to close the space on Mohammad Mohebbi when the midfielder nutted in their second.
There were plenty of other moments of stout and sensible defence from Boxall, but those two moments will bug him.
During a frantic shift, Boxall sometimes looked leaden when going forward with the ball and was caught in possession a couple of times. Coach Darren Bazeley will likely stick with his man for Egypt next week.
13. Liberato Cacace – 4
The left-back was playing well forward, a sign of the All Whites’ ambitious intent, but it left gaps behind and Cacace wasn’t covering. Many of Iran’s early advances came down his flank, and he was uninvolved when the build-up to the first equaliser started on his sideline. Connected well with teammates around the Iranian box, without ever looking like opening the game up. Defence looked stronger when he went off in the 68th minute.
6. Joe Bell – 6
Couldn’t clear the ball with a swipe at the top of the All Whites’ box in the build-up to Iran’s first goal. Was fine in running the middle of the field, though did lose a few one-on-ones. Brought plenty of physicality.
8. Marko Stamenic – 7
Needed to be there when Mehdi Taremi made a 50m, unchecked run to shoot at goal in the 24th minute. But Stamenic’s 92-minute shift was full of energy and hustle. The pace was wild and he kept up with it. Big engine.
10. Sarpreet Singh – 4
Looked flustered when he fluffed a half-chance off his favoured left foot in the 11th minute. Some inaccurate crosses in efforts to find his skipper’s head.
10. Elijah Just – 9
In the tunnel before the game, Just looked like a nervous kid waiting outside the principal’s office. He’s a big boy now. The Kiwi attacker struck the opening goal with the coolness of a seasoned pro. His second goal was even better – perhaps the All Whites’ best at a World Cup.
He was slow to move when tracking back to cover the build-up to Iran’s first goal. But this was otherwise a superlative display – aside from his goals, there was plenty of slick interplay in partnership with skipper Wood.
20. Callum McCowatt – 7
His lavish attempt at a bicycle shot almost became a perfect assist for Wood on the 14-minute mark. When McCowatt lost the ball hot on attack in the 22nd minute, it led to a fast-break chance with Mehdi Taremi hitting the All Whites’ woodwork. Set himself up for a decent shot at range in the 45th minute. Linked up well with Wood in the early going.
9. Chris Wood – 9
The All Whites’ big man is more noted for a direct approach, but found time and space against an Iranian defence that seemed a tad too deferential. Wood showed sublime footwork to set up Just’s glorious opening strike and was influential throughout.
A defender’s late touch meant he was robbed of a bread-and-butter chance at a dead-set open goal on 14 minutes. And it was an odd option for him to take the 44th-minute free-kick.
Wood was an absolute handful for the Iranian defenders throughout; this was perhaps the best example of his attributes gelling with the talent and the needs of the young All Whites players around him. The skipper put on a fend that would do Frank Bunce proud to set up his 46th-minute heave at goal.
Substitutes
4. Tyler Bindon – n/a
Barely sighted in a three-minute run. Perhaps Bazeley should have got Bindon out there sooner given the moments of slackness at the back and the pace of the match.
24. Callan Elliot – 5
Came on in the 77th minute to continue the shutdown, chasing efforts we saw from him in Auckland FC’s playoffs run.
19. Ben Old – 5
Looked great against England and scrambled well in the late frantic defence against Iran where he added energy and organisation.
23. Ryan Thomas – 6
His terrific late goalmouth clearance prevented the All Whites from going pointless.
21. Jesse Randall – n/a
On in the 90th minute for Singh and would have been good to see him running earlier. Got in a decent cross for Wood’s final effort but it was saved.
Unused players: 1. Alex Paulsen, 22. Michael Woud, 26. Tommy Smith, 18. Ben Waine, 14. Alex Rufer, 25. Lachlan Bayliss, 17. Kosta Barbarouses, 3. Francis de Vries, 15. Nando Pijnaker
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