Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Motorsport
Netball
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
ENG v CRO post-match on SN ExtraAll Whites rue missed chance but belief grows after Iran draw
Sport Nation • June 18th, 2026 9:02 am
All Whites coach Darren Bazeley | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley reckons their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 performance against Iran showed exactly what this side is capable of, even if it came with a sense of one that got away.
After reviewing the game with his players, Bazeley said it was one of their strongest displays in a long time.
“We’ve done a big review today with the players and went through quite a few of the clips and yeah, I mean, I’m super proud of the players there. The performance was good,” he told Sport Nation's Millsy & Guy.
“I think we did produce probably our best performance for a long, long time here at the World Cup in the opening game.”
Still, there was no hiding the frustration.
“I’m a bit disappointed with those moments that we know we could do better with and conceding goals when we’re leading 1-0 and 2-1 it's disappointing to not go on and get that historic first win at a World Cup.”
New Zealand created chances, scored twice and went toe to toe with a quality Iranian side, but couldn’t quite close it out.
“It does feel a bit like a missed opportunity. We played well, we scored goals, we created chances,” Bazeley said.
“We probably needed to get that double goal buffer… to go two clear would have given us a nice little gap.”
“We probably needed to get that double goal buffer… to go two clear would have given us a nice little gap.”
Instead, they had to settle for a point.
Meet the All Whites' newest ultras! | Millsy & Guy
“We didn’t lose, we survived some pressure and made sure that we came out of it with a point, but yeah overall we’re a little bit disappointed that we didn’t get that three points and that historic win that we really want to get.”
At this level, Bazeley said, it all comes down to the small moments.
“Overall defensively, we were very good, individually and as a group, we were very strong defensively,” he said.
“But football is a game of moments. If you switch off for five seconds within a game… you can get hurt. And that’s what happened.”
“But football is a game of moments. If you switch off for five seconds within a game… you can get hurt. And that’s what happened.”
With Egypt and Belgium up next and the All Whites currently sitting atop of the Group G standings, the message is clear as Bazeley's side continues their fight to reach the Round of 32.
“If we’re going to win any of these games then we have to be perfect. We can’t have moments where we don’t perform perfectly defensively.”
Despite the big stage and the attention that comes with a World Cup, Bazeley said there is no danger of his players getting ahead of themselves.
“These guys are so tight. Everything is team first,” he said.
“When we’re in camp together all day, every day, in training and every game, it’s team first.”
“When we’re in camp together all day, every day, in training and every game, it’s team first.”
Following a special pre-match edition of Studs Up! live at John Barleycorn's Taphouse (Westfield Newmarket) this Monday from 11am with former All Whites Harry Ngata and Fred de Jong, Sport Nation will have live commentary of New Zealand vs Egypt on all NZ frequencies, the app and web with kick-off 1pm.
Listen to the full interview below:
