‘Telepathy’ and connection behind All Whites World Cup result, coach Darren Bazeley says

All Whites coach Darren Bazeley has called it “our best performance ever”.

A draw to kick off New Zealand’s Football World Cup campaign against Iran in Los Angeles on Tuesday put midfielder Eli Just’s name in lights when he netted a brace.

It was not the win that it could have been, but the secret to how the lowest ranked side at the World Cup pushed the world no.20 team, and put Group G on notice, Bazeley believes comes down to “telepathy” and connection.

“We’ve maybe taken a few people by surprise in showing who we are and the football that we can play,” Bazeley said.

“For us to put on our best performance in four years here at the opening game for us at the World Cup is outstanding from the players to play under pressure, big atmosphere against a very good team, full credit to the players to go and produce that performance.”

A core group of Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, Sapreet Singh, Callum McCowatt and Just were on the field when New Zealand kicked off their biggest game in 16 years in the most expensive sports stadium in the world.

“These guys grew up together, playing club football, school, playing under 17s, under 20s.

“They’ve known each other for so long that there’s just this telepathy that they just combine and connect with each other and it’s lovely to watch, it really is.

“We have the makings of a very good team, still [room] to improve, but I think every game we go into now we go in to win.”

Bazeley was not surprised it was Just who popped up to put away two of New Zealand’s eight shots on target.

Just is coming off a good season with club side Motherwell where has been picking up awards.

“He’s had an outstanding season in Scotland and he brought that with him and showed the world how dangerous he can be.

“He is slightly built, but he gets into pockets, gets turned and he’s quick, and he’s great with the ball, very intelligent, links with [Chris Wood] really well.

“I think a lot of people [are] probably watching that today and saying he’s a very good player, and he’s building his career and this is probably going to help him a lot.”

For midfielder Ryan Thomas, who came into the tournament under an injury cloud but got 22 minutes off the bench against Iran, the first result of the tournament felt a bit like a missed opportunity.

“Maybe this was the one we could have got the three points in, but saying that the boys worked very hard to make sure we got a point out of the game, they did really well to make sure we didn’t lose the match.

“There’s a couple of things we need to improve on but going forward it’s looking good.”

Bazeley agreed that the All Whites were heading in the right direction for their two remaining group games in Vancouver against Egypt on Monday and Belgium on 27 June and he saw an opportunity for his side to cause an upset against the higher ranked teams.

“I actually think now in world football it’s levelling, the big teams have still got great players but every team here at the World Cup has threats and they’re going to have moments.

“And football literally is about moments and it doesn’t matter how much possession and how many chances you have to take a moment to score a goal, and that’s the challenge we set our players to today or over the last few years.

“Somebody has to have a moment on the world stage for us to go and win a game of football.

“Eli just had two in a game, scored two great goals and that’s going to live forever for him and for the All Whites.

“And if we can get that next one and win a game, then we make history and then we can move forward in a great space.”

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