World Cup Qual. OFC
๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฝ ๐ค๐๐ฎ๐น.
last year - 10/8/2024 3:43 AM GMT-3
New Caledonia come into Round Two of the FIFA World Cup 26โข Oceania Qualifiers perhaps a little undercooked compared to their group stage opponents.
Due to civil unrest in the country, the team were unable to participate in the OFC Menโs Nations Cup earlier this year in Fiji, meaning their last competitive action was back at the Pacific Games in Honiara in November 2023.
That did however prove to be a positive campaign, with New Caledonia beating hosts Solomon Islands in the final on penalties to secure the gold medal โ giving Coach Johann Sidaner some positivity to build upon as his side look to hit the ground running on match day three.
Two of their three Group A opponents were sides New Caledonia also faced in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 202โข and theyโll be looking for a better outcome than two years ago, when they lost all three matches, finishing bottom of their section in Qatar.
Itโs been a positive tenure thus far for Johann Sidaner since the Frenchman took charge in August 2022, with seven victories in eleven matches despite the numerous challenge they have faced.
A lack of time together for his squad, however, has proven to be a frustration for the coach.
โWe had a hard time getting everyone together. But roughly speaking, we have up to about 90% of the squad that we could have asked for who are present and who will be able to show up for the qualifiers,โ Sidaner said.
First up for New Caledonia is Papua New Guinea, with both sides desperate to make a positive start with the margins for error so small.
โFirst, we will take the matches one by one, as we usually do to gauge ourselves. First, it is Papua New Guinea that is offered to us. It is already be a match with stakes, since over three matches, we know that we do not have much room for error.
โThis first match is important. Getting into the competition is really important and starting it well. We will also closely watch the match between Solomon Islands and Fiji after our fixture,โ he continued.
New Caledonia fixtures
FIFA World Cup 26โข Oceania Qualifiers
(kick-off times local)
Thursday, October 10
v Papua New Guinea, 4:00pm, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Thursday, November 14
v Solomon Islands, 1:00pm, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Sunday, November 17
v New Caledonia, 1:00pm, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Visit ofcfootball.com for more details.
Due to civil unrest in the country, the team were unable to participate in the OFC Menโs Nations Cup earlier this year in Fiji, meaning their last competitive action was back at the Pacific Games in Honiara in November 2023.
That did however prove to be a positive campaign, with New Caledonia beating hosts Solomon Islands in the final on penalties to secure the gold medal โ giving Coach Johann Sidaner some positivity to build upon as his side look to hit the ground running on match day three.
Two of their three Group A opponents were sides New Caledonia also faced in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 202โข and theyโll be looking for a better outcome than two years ago, when they lost all three matches, finishing bottom of their section in Qatar.
Itโs been a positive tenure thus far for Johann Sidaner since the Frenchman took charge in August 2022, with seven victories in eleven matches despite the numerous challenge they have faced.
A lack of time together for his squad, however, has proven to be a frustration for the coach.
โWe had a hard time getting everyone together. But roughly speaking, we have up to about 90% of the squad that we could have asked for who are present and who will be able to show up for the qualifiers,โ Sidaner said.
First up for New Caledonia is Papua New Guinea, with both sides desperate to make a positive start with the margins for error so small.
โFirst, we will take the matches one by one, as we usually do to gauge ourselves. First, it is Papua New Guinea that is offered to us. It is already be a match with stakes, since over three matches, we know that we do not have much room for error.
โThis first match is important. Getting into the competition is really important and starting it well. We will also closely watch the match between Solomon Islands and Fiji after our fixture,โ he continued.
New Caledonia fixtures
FIFA World Cup 26โข Oceania Qualifiers
(kick-off times local)
Thursday, October 10
v Papua New Guinea, 4:00pm, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Thursday, November 14
v Solomon Islands, 1:00pm, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Sunday, November 17
v New Caledonia, 1:00pm, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Visit ofcfootball.com for more details.
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