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00:00They're very real for both sets of players today as they continue to acclimatize and prepare for what lies ahead.
00:06The World Cup finals are only five days away now with the opening game in Mexico City on Thursday between
00:12Mexico and South Africa.
00:14But for both England and New Zealand, their opening engagements come just a few days after that.
00:20New Zealand play their opening match on Tuesday week.
00:23That's the 16th of June against Iran over on the West Coast in Los Angeles.
00:28And a day later on Wednesday, the 17th, England's first game brings them up against Croatia in Dallas.
00:34So those fans who've gathered there for the match today will have a little holiday time before the group matches
00:41get underway for their team.
00:44Thomas Tuchel and his squad have been in West Palm Beach since arriving in America last Monday.
00:50They've been in town for a few days now.
00:52This is the first of two final runouts before the real action starts.
00:57They've also got a friendly with Costa Rica.
00:59That's in Orlando on Wednesday.
01:02As much as anything, these games to keep the players ticking over, get some minutes in their legs in the
01:08prevailing conditions and get them more used to the heat they can expect over the next month or so.
01:14Same goes for the fans as well, I suppose.
01:16There'll be a few pink-faced English supporters over the next week or so or next month or so, maybe.
01:23Who knows?
01:24Not a great deal of history in this fixture.
01:27England and New Zealand have gone head-to-head just twice before both of those meetings took place within less
01:33than a week of each other over three decades ago.
01:36Gary Lineker scored the only goal in the first of them.
01:40That was in June of 1991.
01:42And a few days later, it was 2-0 to England.
01:46Stuart Pearce and David Hurst, the goal scorers in that one.
01:52What about New Zealand then?
01:54Well, they're the lowest-ranked team at the 2026 World Cup Finals, but they cruised through qualifying, beating New Caledonia,
02:01who were ranked 151st in the world, 3-0 in the Oceania Finals.
02:07So, there's no doubt the all-whites are very much a big fish in a small pond in their part
02:12of the world, and a shift of mindset is required for their first World Cup Finals in 16 years.
02:19Having dominated possession against Oceania's minnows, they've adopted a more defensive approach in recent friendlies, though did come unstuck spectacularly
02:28the other day, losing 4-0 to Haiti.
02:31You know, there has been some talk about the pitch in the build-up to the game, and it does
02:37look a little like a patchwork quilt visually from above, as it's not been in place for long, having been
02:43recently laid.
02:44But it is a natural grass surface for the occasion in this NFL stadium.
02:48We've heard Thomas Ducal talking about it ahead of the game.
02:51He's played it down since arriving at the stadium, of course, the regular home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers here.
02:58We hear that the pitch plays better than it looks and is perfectly OK.
03:01It's stitched together OK.
03:03New Zealand have trained on it prior to today.
03:07But friendly or not, it looks a pretty daunting match for the Kiwis, particularly in the light of their most
03:14recent game the other day.
03:15As the lowest-ranked side at this tournament, they're hoping to defy expectations, but that 4-0 warm-up defeat
03:22to Haiti,
03:22who are just three places above them in the world rankings at 83, suggests it could be a tall order,
03:29a defeat that certainly left them feeling rather shell-shocked.
03:33England's players there wandering through.
03:35Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rodgers and Marcus Rashford bringing up the rear.
03:39There's the number nine, the captain of New Zealand, Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest.
03:44James Trafford there, one of the England reserve goalkeepers, just wandering across our picture.
03:50Plenty of England fans inside the stadium.
03:56Dean Henderson there on the left of your picture, the Crystal Palace goalkeeper, who's just won the Conference League, of
04:02course.
04:03Jude Bellingham there as well.
04:07We'll expect to see all of these players in the second half.
04:10Thomas Ducal's going to make wholesale changes.
04:12He'll change the whole team at half-time.
04:15That's certainly the plan, anyway, from his point of view.
04:19So, expecting a round, we think, 17,000 inside the stadium today, in a stadium that holds about 68.
04:30And away we go.
04:33In Tampa.
04:36It's England against New Zealand.
04:38England in the red shirts, kicking from left to right in the first half.
04:41First touch there for Jordan Henderson.
04:46Rashford chasing after it.
04:47And Tim Payne gets the deflection.
04:51So, it will be a goal kick for New Zealand.
04:57That's Crocombe there.
04:59Goalkeeper leaving it for Michael Boxall.
05:01Boxall is very much on the home territory, really, being in the United States this month, having spent the best
05:08part of a decade with Minnesota United in the MLS.
05:12That's Rogers.
05:23And then, just past Ollie Watkins, who's made the run ahead of Harry Kane.
05:32And there's Kakache.
05:33He's had a really frustrating first season in Wales with Wrexham in the Championship.
05:41Kakache there.
05:42Relieved to see that one go behind.
05:44Injury ruled him out for much of the season.
05:45He's only made 13 appearances for them.
05:49But another player who's returned to fitness in time for this trip to North America in the World Cup Finals.
06:00Marcus Rashford with the first corner of the match in the second minute.
06:06That's John Stones going for it.
06:08It'll be collected here by Henderson.
06:14And who, by the way, turns 36 on the day of the opening game against Croatia.
06:18And could become the fourth Englishman to play in four different World Cups.
06:29A little too much on that throw there from Max Crocombe.
06:37Here's Mark Gay, who's settled into life seamlessly with Manchester City during the season.
06:44Stones, who didn't have too many outings in his final campaign at the Etihad.
06:52Every minute will be important to him between now and the opening game against Croatia.
07:03Here's Kane.
07:05Just dragging it away from Singh.
07:10Konsa winning his second cap today.
07:13He'll try and get on the end of that short little pass from Morgan Rodgers.
07:16And he's managed it as well, drilling that one in.
07:18Boxall was there originally.
07:20Comes out towards Just.
07:24And New Zealand survived.
07:25They've won one match from the last ten they've played New Zealand.
07:28That was back in March.
07:30Good win for them.
07:304-1 against Chile.
07:33Here's Watkins.
07:35Konsa finding Henderson.
07:46A lot of experience in the England squad at these finals.
07:49It's England's most experienced ever squad in terms of World Cup appearances.
07:5322 of the 26 players named in the squad by Thomas Tuchel have won a trophy in the last couple
07:59of seasons as well.
08:02And their talismanic captain, Harry Kane, has had the most prolific campaign of his season.
08:0913th match in charge for Thomas Tuchel has won a trophy in the last couple of seasons as well.
08:1213th match in charge for Thomas Tuchel, with two defeats so far.
08:149 victories.
08:17Here's Gaye.
08:25Rashford's delivery.
08:27Met by Finn Sermon.
08:30Here come England once again.
08:33Busy-looking figure of Rashford, the little layoff.
08:35Henderson with the shot.
08:37Striking Morgan Rodgers.
08:45And just out of play off the chest of the New Zealand captain.
08:48There's Darren Baisley, the head coach of New Zealand.
08:53English head coach.
08:54He used to be a player.
08:56Made more than 450 appearances for Watford Wolves and Walsall during his career.
09:04He's been part of the coaching set-up for a long time with New Zealand.
09:0815 years or so.
09:17Jed Spence to take this one.
09:19Thomas Tuchel liking what he offers the squad.
09:22Rod feels he gives them something a little bit different and, of course, can play on the left or the
09:25right.
09:27Always a starter for Tottenham.
09:31Here's Stones.
09:43Notable that in the opening minutes of the game, more often than not, Watkins moving to the right with Rodgers
09:50in a more central position.
09:51But when England attacking and Kane goes for a wander, Watkins does head straight into the middle.
09:57But now an opportunity for New Zealand to break, potentially.
10:01But nobody there.
10:02As it was sent square by Elijah Just.
10:08That's tidy from Pickford.
10:09Away to Rashford.
10:13Colby Manu over on the far touchline.
10:21Good second after the season.
10:23Colby Manu didn't start a game in the Premier League for Manchester United until the middle of January this season.
10:29And then flourished once Michael Carrick had taken over.
10:3823 appearances in the championship this season.
10:42Crocombe, the goalkeeper.
10:45For Millwall.
10:47He was on the bench for the playoff semifinal against Hull.
11:04Just.
11:06Unable to pick out Wood in the middle.
11:08Here's Kwanza.
11:11A free kick there for the challenge on Rashford.
11:15Had a pretty good season on loan with Barcelona.
11:18Scored 14 goals, set up the 11 others.
11:22But interesting with Anthony Gordon signing for them in the past week or so.
11:31Rashford, of course, having been on loan from Manchester United.
11:47Henderson.
11:49Closed down by Sabrit Singh.
11:55Here's Gaye.
11:56Captain England for the first time in the.
11:59One of the March friendlies.
12:02Manu.
12:06Promising flow to this one.
12:07Now it's with Jett Spence.
12:10Up against Tim Payne.
12:12Support from Manu.
12:14Finds Henderson.
12:15Time to try and pick the ball in.
12:22England's hinting at an attacking threat of real intent for the first time.
12:40Just enough on that defensive header to carry it behind for the second corner of the game.
12:55It was a free header there for John Stones.
12:57It's only half cleared.
13:00And New Zealand survived that scramble inside their own six-yard box.
13:12Maybe an opportunity to just get a foot on the ball for a moment.
13:18England pressing.
13:20Playing something akin to their regular game despite the hot conditions.
13:24But now Chris Wood with a chance to advance into the box for the first time.
13:28Still Wood.
13:29And Marquet does enough to block his path to goal.
13:35Encouraging for New Zealand.
13:38Great running there by Wood.
13:39The pass finding him.
13:59England's 73% possession so far in the match.
14:05Expect them to have the vast majority of the play.
14:12Just the two defeats during Thomas Tuchel's tenure so far.
14:18The friendly game against Senegal roughly this time last year at the city ground in Nottingham.
14:25And then the last match before this one at home to Japan at Wembley.
14:38Kwanzaa.
14:57Kwanzaa.
14:59alongside his teammate Olly Watkins, Esri Concer the other Villa player in the
15:03squad on the bench in the first half here is Rogers looking to pick the pass
15:07it was aimed for Olly Watkins
15:16and again New Zealand try to pick out their captain record appearance maker
15:21and goal scorer that's nicely done and a little flick into the middle made by
15:26Matt Garbit collected now by Just and Singh skews the shot wide of the goal
15:37promising forays deep into England territory in the last two or three
15:41minutes though from New Zealand
16:02okay he looks to try and keep the ball away from Marko Stamenich
16:06pressure there on Pickford Kane really deep inside his own half
16:13Maynut get the free kick for the foul by Singh
16:21there's the previous corner from Rashford and the header from John stones
16:28is making his 88th appearance for England today has scored three goals in that
16:32time two of them in one match against Panama at the World Cup finals in Russia in
16:392018 when England won 6-1
16:46lovely feet there from Marcus Rashford
16:54opening the space up for Spence is able to get there and it goes towards Rogers
17:08collision there between Rogers and Finn Sermon Sermon's another one now based in the United States with the Portland Timbers
17:20most of these players for New Zealand at the World Cup will be at the World Cup
17:24finals for the the first time this year Chris Wood and Tommy Smith who plays for
17:28Braintree town in the the fifth tier the English set up set to make history as the
17:36only New Zealanders to feature two editions of the World Cup both of them were part of
17:41the squad in 2010 that was the last time they were at the finals but here goes
17:46Ollie Watkins now with an opportunity for England
17:51which has been
17:53since some distance wide
17:57first clear sighting of goal for the England striker today
18:02Watkins just drilling that one
18:04into the floor and way wide he's been in
18:07outstanding form in the closing couple of months of the season wasn't involved in
18:13March in the squad and who's that as fuel and was so good for Villa in the
18:19the run-in
18:30here's Boxall
18:33Kakache
18:35Singh leaves it Wood trying to craft a pass
18:40goes back to Wood once more this is
18:44Stamenic sending it back
18:45and Sermon away to the far side to Payne
18:49this is better from New Zealand
18:52England they were looking for a non-existent offside
18:56this is Singh
18:58back in now to Stamenic
19:03Sermon finding Michael Boxall
19:17possession rather easily conceded there by Max Crokem's ball out
19:29well 15 minutes in no one's had an attempt on target yet
19:35predictably England with
19:36more of the play just over 70% of the possession
19:41Jarrell Quince
19:45Rogers
19:48here's Watkins now
19:50up against Kakache
19:52support from Rogers
19:55right underneath that one
19:57look to the
20:31Spence has that one covered
20:33Rashford's there as well
20:34John Stones
20:36Just a little bit short with that one
20:38But that's well worked by Watkins
20:50Jordan Henderson
20:53Back into Olly Watkins
20:54He's got Rodgers ahead of him
21:04Rashford
21:06Up against Payne
21:11Kane from distance brings the save
21:16Beautifully struck from England's captain
21:26First effort on target of the match
21:43There's Morgan Rodgers now
21:46Holding two at arm's length
21:48Jarrell Kwanza getting involved and collected by Rodgers once more
21:51Just trying to slide that one through to Kane
21:54All deflecting off Henderson who says it hit him in the face
21:57And that says that it wasn't a handball
22:02Referee Natalie Simon has given the free kick to New Zealand
22:06Here's the shot from Kane
22:08Straightforward enough in the end for Max Crocombe
22:12Straight at him but was well struck
22:15Outro Music
22:16And that's all right
22:17Well, we're quite a bit down in the process of talking about it
22:36But we're quite a bit out of the way
22:37We're quite a bit out of the way
22:38Yeah, we're quite a bit down in the face
22:42Alright, we're quite a bit down in the face
22:51Sing.
22:59Stamenich sending it out wide to Payne on the far side.
23:04Matt Garbutt collecting.
23:06Good play.
23:08Joe Bell.
23:09Just a slight miscue there by Stamenich.
23:13And suddenly New Zealand are going to be backpedalling here as Rodgers sends it forward.
23:18And Marcus Rashford gets up to full speed.
23:20Excellent defending.
23:21Good block by Finn Sermon.
23:26Kwanzaa.
23:29Sent in by Henderson.
23:32Back in towards Kobe Mainu.
23:35Off the boot on the byline of Marcus Rashford.
23:38But England threatening here once more.
23:41As Watkins had gone for the header in the middle initially.
23:46But that midfield passing move breaking down for New Zealand.
23:50And they almost paid a price for it.
23:53Roughly 20 minutes in.
23:55Kwanzaa.
23:57Only his second cap for England today.
24:01Here's Ollie Watkins.
24:03Into Kane.
24:04First time those two have started together for England.
24:08Sermon with the clearance.
24:10Henderson's header down.
24:15And they have another corner.
24:25Hot work out there.
24:49Interesting to see how much England will be able to play their regular game in terms of set plays.
24:55With a lot of blocking and grappling.
25:01And get away with a lot more in the Premier League than in some other leagues.
25:06Officials may clamp down a lot.
25:08And the shot was very firmly struck by Spence.
25:11Certainly have plenty of group games to watch before they take to the fielding.
25:15And to see how referees are monitoring activity in the penalty areas.
25:19Before free kicks and corners are taken.
25:24As well as when the ball is in play.
25:27See how much they're clamping down.
25:31That's Rashford.
25:33And the block is made by Garbet.
25:40Garbet's one of the New Zealand players who's based in England.
25:43He plays for Peterborough United.
25:46Winning his 34th cap today.
25:49The number seven for New Zealand.
26:03King just moves away from the traffic.
26:05He's hoping to have a little bit more of a spacious area of the pitch.
26:09And that was optimistic there from Jed Spence.
26:24We now have a break as we head for the midway point of the first half.
26:32Cooling break for both sets of players.
26:35In the Florida sunshine.
26:37Quarter of the way through the game.
26:42Time to hydrate.
26:45Time for any tactical tweaks.
26:47An opportunity to just cool down a little bit for a couple of minutes.
26:51Before resuming the match.
26:52This will help the players to get into this rhythm.
26:56We will see this at every game during the finals.
26:59And the players, given the heat that they're likely to encounter as the World Cup wears on,
27:05are going to need it as well.
27:15Well, New Zealand able to hold England at arm's length for a quarter of the game so far.
27:40Thomas Tuchel quick to get right in there and explain precisely what he wants and presumably what he's not quite
27:46getting at the moment.
27:51It's a reminder that the Arsenal contingent in the England squad have been given a little bit more time, of
27:56course, following the Champions League final of last week.
28:00So, Noni Madwecki, Berrieza, Bacayo Saka and Declan Rice not involved in this one.
28:06England have Josh King of Fulham.
28:08Ethan Nuaneri of Arsenal, who've been on loan at Marseille.
28:11Alex Scott of Bournemouth and Rio Ngomoa.
28:14The exciting 17-year-old from Liverpool on the bench today.
28:19They are part of the squad at this early stage.
28:26Not part of the actual World Cup squad, but valuable experience for all four of them.
28:32On the bench today.
28:34The Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
28:37The Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
28:47Darren Baisley there, just slightly obscured at the moment in the black polo shirt there.
28:58Head coach of New Zealand, set to become the first person ever to coach all of the FIFA men's international
29:05tournaments.
29:06An under-17 World Cup, under-20 World Cup, men's Olympic tournament and a FIFA World Cup as well.
29:12So that just illustrates how integral he's been to the whole coaching structure within New Zealand football for a considerable
29:21amount of time now.
29:35So ready to go once more after our scheduled break.
29:56That's a long chase for Chris Woodch on Stones with the head start.
30:01Pickford under a bit of pressure there.
30:03Stones as well.
30:04Challenge.
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