New Zealand
Rank outsiders living the dream
Ranked outside the top 100 — yet they led Iran 2-0 thanks to a kid nobody had heard of.
Watchability3/5
Drama4/5
Star power2/5
Title shot1/5
Team rating
67TEAM
- Attack66
- Midfield65
- Defense70
Next matches
- Next upvs EgyptBC Place, VancouverJun 21
- vs BelgiumBC Place, VancouverJun 26
The read
The All Whites live in the shadow of rugby and rank around 86th in the world, yet they led Iran 2-0 thanks to two goals from Elijah Just, a 26-year-old few outside Scotland's league had heard of. They couldn't hold the lead and drew 2-2 — but for the lowest-ranked side in the group, that's a point earned, not two dropped.
The fan’s readRanked outside the world's top 100, living in rugby's shadow, and yet they LED Iran 2-0 thanks to a kid nobody had heard of. The All Whites are the World Cup's purest story.
The cast
- Darren BazeleyEnglishman; a former Watford defender who settled in New Zealand and rose through its coaching ranks to lead the All Whites to their first World Cup in 16 yearsmanager
- Chris Wood ★New Zealand's 34-year-old captain — a Premier League striker on his last dance.ClubNottingham Forest
- Elijah JustThe overnight sensation — a kid nobody knew who scored TWICE on day one.ClubMotherwell
- Liberato CacaceNew Zealand's engine — a tireless full-back who never stops running.ClubWrexham
- Max CrocombeNew Zealand's last line — the keeper standing between the All Whites and reality.ClubMillwall
Key moments
- 1982