All Whites lack clinical touch in World Cup warm-up defeat by Haiti
Thursday, 4 June 2026
ANALYSIS: Clinical. It’s likely to be Darren Bazeley’s buzzword throughout the next month.
On Wednesday, its importance was prevalent as the All Whites coach watched his charges lose their World Cup warm-up match 4-0 to Haiti in a steamy Fort Lauderdale.
Alarm bells shouldn’t ring yet - the most important thing to emerge from pre-tournament games now is the lack of injuries, and no New Zealand player left the field in Florida with any obvious knock.
And while there were distinct moments of promise when going forward, they were unable to convert any of them into goals, as their opponents netted four times from not many more obvious chances.
Goalscoring has long been the All Whites’ Achilles heel at the highest level. They got two against Scotland on World Cup debut in 1982, before drawing blanks against the USSR and Brazil. In South Africa 28 years on, they netted versus Slovakia and Cup holders Italy, but couldn’t find the goal they needed against Paraguay to advance to the next round.
There will be a lot of pressure on Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood when New Zealand play their opening game against Iran in Los Angeles on June 16 (NZ time), to be followed by matches versus Belgium and Egypt in Group G.
For now, there was some encouragement. The amount of chances NZ carved out will have delighted Haiti’s Group C opponents Brazil, Morocco and even Scotland, with goalkeeper Johny Placide an unconvincing figure.
But mistakes marred the defensive display of the All Whites. Ruben Providence netted the opener when he got goalside of internet sensation Tim Payne, and shimmied Finn Surman out of his boots before providing an ice-cold finish over Alex Paulsen.
They conceded a sloppy second, when there was a lack of urgency from substitutes Michael Boxall and Francis de Vries, while Surman was guilty of ball-watching for the third goal.
On the plus side, there was a positive reaction to going behind in the first half, with shots at goal from Randall and Wood, while Payne had a penalty claim that would have been more closely examined had VAR been available.
Bazeley and his coaching staff look to have borrowed from the bulging manuscript of Arsenal set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover, and were dangerous from free-kicks out wide and corners.
They looked to press swiftly when Haiti had the ball from goal-kicks playing short; but it does make them vulnerable to pacy counter-attacks if broken quickly.
The last chance to impress for the 26-man squad will come against England in Tampa on Sunday morning (8am NZ time).
Who improved their chances of starting against Iran?
Left-sided attacker Jesse Randall continued the sharpness which made him such a major factor in Auckland FC’s A-League title win. Working off Wood, he twice came close to finding the net.
Marko Stamenic would have entered the encounter likely knowing only injury would sideline him from the start of the tournament, but he penned his name on the teamsheet for Iran with a quality display on and off the ball.
Matt Garbett was one of the second-half substitution barrage, and looked lively as an attacking midfielder.
Who needs a better showing against England?
Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen may have just conceded once, but he looked short on confidence, both with the gloves and ball at feet.
Liberato Cacace hasn’t played much football this year, and it showed. The left-wing back is unlikely to be challenged for a starting place, but he and Bazeley will seek much more versus Thomas Tuchel’s troops.
De Vries failed to fare better, and opened the door to the outside possibility that Ben Old’s attacking ability could yet be utilised in that position.
Sarpreet Singh was a peripheral figure, and after he missed the last months of the Wellington Phoenix’s season due to a left-knee injury, has catch-up work to do at a late stage.
At Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Haiti 4 (Ruben Providence 12’, Lenny Joseph 51’, Frantzdy Pierrot 62’, Duke Lacroix 87’) All Whites 0. HT: 1-0.