Selection dilemma facing All Whites for must-win World Cup game

All Whites coach Darren Bazeley faces a selection dilemma for the final must-win group game at the Football World Cup.

By Felicity Reid of RNZ

Bazeley has a conundrum of "continuity over freshness", as he considers what it will take to create history against Belgium in Vancouver.

"We've performed really well, we don't need to throw that all away... but potentially, we do need a bit of freshness," he said before the clash against the world No.10 side.

New Zealand needs to take the initiative against the 'Red Devils', as both teams are chasing their first win of the tournament.

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After a draw against Iran and a loss against Egypt, the All Whites can not sit back and be happy with a draw at BC Place, but Bazeley said they would not change their approach, and he wanted to replicate the early goals they had scored in the first two games.

"We've got this type of footballers that enjoy playing a certain way and are very good at playing a certain way, like you've seen against Iran and the first half against Egypt.

"We have to ensure that the way we went in the second half against Egypt doesn't happen, where we end up sagging into too much of a block and becoming a little bit passive, and not being able to get out and attack, or have moments in possession off the ball.

"We'll have a plan to start the game, but we'll definitely have a plan to how do we finish this game. Whether we're winning or losing, we'll have a plan to chase the game or to close the game."

All Whites captain, most-capped player and striker Chris Wood is yet to find the scoresheet at the World Cup.

Before the tournament, he was seen as the team's most likely goalscoring outlet. Instead, he turned provider for Eli Just in the opening game against Iran.

"This World Cup is littered with the top players in the world scoring goals," Bazeley said.

"It's hard for Woodsy, he does so much hard work for us and leads the line. We haven't really given him the perfect service and got him the chances, because we know, when he gets a chance, he's going to score.

"We haven't been able to really give him enough moments for him to have those chances. They've fallen to other players, and we've had players that have taken their moments, but we need to feed Woodsy, and get him into those areas where we know he can go and score goals for us."

Whatever starting line-up Bazeley and his coaching team settle on against Belgium will not be based on sentiment or getting players World Cup caps - they can not afford for it to be.

So far, goalkeepers Alex Paulsen and Michael Woud have not played. Tommy Smith, Alex Rufer, Nando Pijnaker, Kosta Barbarouses, Ben Waine and Lachlan Bayliss have also not had game time.

"All the players came here wanting to play, as I'm sure every country has gone through the same and quite a few of them are not going to play at a World Cup, and that's difficult for them, but they're a great set of lads, very supportive of the guys that are playing."

Belgium are a top-10 side and Bazeley said that, before the tournament kicking off, he was pleased to have the top-ranked team in the group as their last game.

He thought Belgium might rest players against New Zealand, but after the way the tournament has played out for the Belgians, he knows that will not be the case.

"When you look at teamsheets and line-ups, the names are there, they're great names. De Bruyne and Lukaku haven't played as much football this season as they wanted, but they're great players, world-class players, then you've got Doku and Trossard and Tielemans.

"The squad is littered with quality. I'm not sure why it hasn't clicked for them.

"You would expect them to have won games and performed really well, but in football, the gaps are closing between the different-ranked teams.

"At some stage, they're going to play really well and hopefully it's not [Saturday]."

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