World Cup: Group G: New Zealand vs. Egypt, 6/21/2026

[DaveG]

The thing is the biggest issues the underdog teams used to face was that you couldn't necessarily count on there being a professional training and nutrition regime in smaller leagues which often weren't true pro leagues. I think that's changed a lot. With all that expertise being widely publicized and easily accessible today and in fact just many random normal people pursuing really rigid fitness regimes, I think that gap has closed a lot. Cape Verde is full of guys who play in like very low tier leagues and they looked fitness-wise entirely on par with both Spain and Uruguay.

Like just because some guy on NZ or Curacao plays in the Dutch 2nd tier or the Irish league you can't assume the guy doesn't have any athleticism and doesn't know how to run for 90 minutes. And once you have that baseline then stuff like skill on the ball at pace etc. can be worked around in a very small sample size of one group match.

Definitely. The information is so easily available (and often for free if you listen to the right sources) that a random schlub like me that's a decade+ past his athletic prime can make my way back into a solid athletic shape after significant time off. And that's working a desk job, not someone that's playing the sport to make their living.





And New Zealand leads.

 

[kabidjan18]

That was me haha, once you see it you can’t unsee it.

Egypt with a grade A chance ruined by extra touches. While New Zealand guy had a tough angle but still turned it into a SOG and a corner.

THIS

Take fricking shots. Take shots on target. The one touch hopeless shot from a wide angle turned into a corner that turned into a goal.

Egypt had all that possession in the box on the other side with golden opportunities. But they tried to set up the perfect shot and they ended up never getting a shot off.

 

[Very Stable Genius]

Ref having none of that embellishment.

 

[PeteWorrell]

THIS

Take fricking shots. Take shots on target. The one touch hopeless shot from a wide angle turned into a corner that turned into a goal.

Egypt had all that possession in the box on the other side with golden opportunities. But they tried to set up the perfect shot and they ended up never getting a shot off.

Yep. It's just lile in hockey where a shot might be deflected or take a weird bounce that fools the goalie. Especially in a sport where the net is so big.

 

[PeteWorrell]

Ref having none of that embellishment.

I am honestly loving the reffing this tournament. They are not buying this garbage.

 

[Osprey]

I keep tuning into matches and finding it's already 1-0. Really annoying. Can't they wait for me?

 

[trostol]

NZ playing back too much

 

[Summer Rose]

I keep tuning into matches and finding it's already 1-0. Really annoying. Can't they wait for me?

You can still tune in to Belgium vs. Iran. They haven't scored yet.

 

[trostol]

wow...that wasnt really close

 

[trostol]

lol cmon

 

[Sol]

Egypt is legit so f***ing stupid this game. the amount they’re intentionally slowing it down and not running during possession near the box is mind blowing.

 

[Osprey]

I am honestly loving the reffing this tournament. They are not buying this garbage.

It's entertaining to watch players writhe around on the grass like they're in the worst pain ever, then eventually get up because the ref doesn't give a rip and starting playing again like nothing happened.

 

[robertmac43]

I got to give NZ credit - they are far better than that 4-0 defeat to Haiti showed haha

 

[Live in the Now]

Salah's legs are mostly gone, but there's no space for him to run into either. I don't like their tactics and I don't like him in the center.

 

[gary69]

father time remains undefeated.... though Messi certainly is putting up a hell of a fight with him

Still ways to go before reaching Stanley Matthews' heights at old age, who won Ballon d'Or as 41-year old and was player of the year in England aged 48.

Too bad he missed his best years aged 24-30 because of war, and was only able take part in the World cup first time aged 35, because England weren't FIFA members before that.

 

[gary69]

Very difficult to defend Surman..

Sure man, he was certain to score with getting a header with so much space.

 

[trostol]

NZ might want to start playing in Egypt's half

 

[trostol]

wow...no call

 

[Shocker]

Well, i slept through Cape Verde heroics

 

[Edmonton East]

Egypt...yet another bunch of geniuses that think perimeter, non threatening possession matters more than actually scoring goals. Even with established possession, they never have more than 2 guys in the box. Ever. It's comical and gutless.

New Zealand defense is meh and their goalie is bad so they could still turn this around.....but not if they keep doing this nonsense.

Edit: Just now with Salah in a dangerous spot inside box, and 5 Egyptians standing around the box taking pictures

 

[trostol]

was just a matter of time

 

[Live in the Now]

Today's been a great day for haramball. Very bad for our chances of seeing good football the rest of the way.

edit: wow finally