VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) 鈥� There are several teams ranked higher than New Zealand entering their final group-stage matches without any hope of advancing to the round of 32.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not us,鈥� New Zealand coach said Thursday ahead of his team’s match against Belgium on Friday. 鈥淲e鈥檙e now in a game where we win, we go through.鈥�
That scenario seemed unthinkable when the All Whites, among the lowest-ranked teams in the this year’s World Cup, were drawn into Group G with Belgium, Egypt and Iran.
But thanks to the expanded 48-team format and a group that has veered off script, New Zealand is one win away from advancing out of the group stage for the first time.
鈥淚t never works out like you expect it to,鈥� Bazeley said. 鈥淔ootball doesn鈥檛.鈥�
A win against Belgium could push New Zealand into second place in Group G 鈥� and therefore the knockout rounds 鈥� if Egypt and Iran play to a draw in a match that will be played simultaneously on Friday.
Anything less than a win for New Zealand against Belgium would strip the All Whites of a shot at advancing out of the group stage.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty black and white for us now, which is quite a nice thing,鈥� Bazeley said.
New Zealand, currently 84th in FIFA rankings, has one point from its opening . The All Whites led No. 27
鈥淲hat we did with Egypt in the first half,鈥� Bazeley said, 鈥淚 think has shown some people that maybe the rankings don鈥檛 necessarily count.鈥�
Getting a win against No. 10-ranked Belgium will not be easy, despite that Belgium drew against both Egypt and Iran. Belgium has one of the sport鈥檚 most potent players, veteran midfielder , and other young stars such as winger , who will be making his return after missing the Iran match for the birth of his first child.
鈥淚n this game, we need to be flawless,鈥� Bazeley said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 make a mistake. There are too many world-class players on the pitch.鈥�
In New Zealand鈥檚 last World Cup appearance in 2010, the All Whites played to a draw in all of its group-stage matches. They were the only team to go undefeated at that World Cup to not advance to the knockout rounds.
Belgium has not missed a World Cup tournament during New Zealand鈥檚 16-year absence, finishing third overall in 2018.
鈥淭he goal was to get out of the group,鈥� Bazeley said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 still the goal. We still believe that鈥檚 possible and that we鈥檝e created this opportunity.鈥�
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Drew Renner is a student in the University of Georgia鈥檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute
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