1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:16,027 Speaker 2: Your Whites have secured their place in the semifinals of 4 00:00:16,187 --> 00:00:17,787 Speaker 2: Oceania World Cup qualifying. 5 00:00:17,907 --> 00:00:24,147 Speaker 3: Bell nice touch from garbt garb it Oh, Yes, that's 6 00:00:24,147 --> 00:00:31,147 Speaker 3: super That separate thing has cut on the scoreboard. What 7 00:00:31,387 --> 00:00:33,347 Speaker 3: beautiful lead up work from Matt Garbage. 8 00:00:33,427 --> 00:00:35,547 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was one of New Zealand's eight goals on 9 00:00:35,627 --> 00:00:39,387 Speaker 2: Friday night. An eight one win over Vandawatu in Hamilton 10 00:00:39,427 --> 00:00:42,867 Speaker 2: has confirmed their place in the semifinals of Oceannya World 11 00:00:42,867 --> 00:00:46,027 Speaker 2: Cup Qualifying tomorrow night. They meet some more at Mount 12 00:00:46,067 --> 00:00:49,467 Speaker 2: Smart in Auckland Or. Whites defender Michael Boxel is with 13 00:00:49,587 --> 00:00:52,027 Speaker 2: us on Weekend Sport. Michael, thanks for taking the time. 14 00:00:52,147 --> 00:00:54,587 Speaker 2: I can't imagine there would have been too many grumbles 15 00:00:55,027 --> 00:00:57,947 Speaker 2: after Friday night from the coaching staff during the debrief 16 00:00:57,987 --> 00:00:59,987 Speaker 2: that you've had around that game. Would there. 17 00:01:01,147 --> 00:01:04,587 Speaker 4: I'm super flair today, but I think overall we're Yeah. 18 00:01:04,787 --> 00:01:08,187 Speaker 4: I've got a professional job obviously as a defender, not 19 00:01:08,187 --> 00:01:10,747 Speaker 4: too happy to get a clean sheet, but I don't 20 00:01:10,747 --> 00:01:14,747 Speaker 4: know that goes against you sometimes. But we're delighted with 21 00:01:14,307 --> 00:01:17,107 Speaker 4: the crowd that showed up in Hamilton and we were happy. 22 00:01:17,107 --> 00:01:18,787 Speaker 4: We've got to put on a bit of show. The 23 00:01:18,827 --> 00:01:19,427 Speaker 4: show for them. 24 00:01:19,867 --> 00:01:23,067 Speaker 2: When you go into a game as overwhelming favorites as 25 00:01:23,107 --> 00:01:25,787 Speaker 2: you were and will again be tomorrow night, how do 26 00:01:25,867 --> 00:01:28,587 Speaker 2: you go about keeping standards nice and high and not 27 00:01:28,707 --> 00:01:30,507 Speaker 2: letting any complacency creeping. 28 00:01:32,027 --> 00:01:35,107 Speaker 4: I mean, for me, it's about not taking these games 29 00:01:35,107 --> 00:01:39,307 Speaker 4: for granted. I think, I mean, my yeah, Tennel, even 30 00:01:39,467 --> 00:01:41,627 Speaker 4: whatever it is your career, we haven't played a whole 31 00:01:41,667 --> 00:01:43,307 Speaker 4: lot of games in New Zealand, so we can't just 32 00:01:43,907 --> 00:01:46,107 Speaker 4: keep in place and I let these kind of go 33 00:01:46,147 --> 00:01:48,227 Speaker 4: by the wayside. So we know that and as a 34 00:01:48,227 --> 00:01:51,587 Speaker 4: group we're trying to I mean, there's we've got some 35 00:01:51,747 --> 00:01:54,147 Speaker 4: quality players for trying to inspire, like the next generation 36 00:01:54,227 --> 00:01:57,787 Speaker 4: of Kiwi footballers, So we can't show up and give 37 00:01:57,867 --> 00:02:00,907 Speaker 4: anything but one hundred percent. So I think we showed 38 00:02:00,907 --> 00:02:04,627 Speaker 4: that with the response to when they equalized. And I 39 00:02:04,667 --> 00:02:08,187 Speaker 4: mean when you see Garbs and back of and then 40 00:02:08,267 --> 00:02:10,227 Speaker 4: Supprint to come off the bench and kind of do 41 00:02:10,307 --> 00:02:14,067 Speaker 4: their thing, and obviously would he's he's just on top 42 00:02:14,107 --> 00:02:15,747 Speaker 4: of his game right now, so to see him doing 43 00:02:15,747 --> 00:02:17,907 Speaker 4: what he's doing in front of home and fans is 44 00:02:18,387 --> 00:02:19,467 Speaker 4: pretty awesome. 45 00:02:19,387 --> 00:02:22,027 Speaker 2: And not just attacking players if you, as you've outlined, 46 00:02:22,027 --> 00:02:24,627 Speaker 2: but some good young defenders coming through as well. I 47 00:02:24,667 --> 00:02:27,227 Speaker 2: know Nanda Pinek has been around for a while, but Finn, sermon, 48 00:02:27,307 --> 00:02:29,987 Speaker 2: Tyler Bindon, how have you assessed their development? 49 00:02:32,027 --> 00:02:35,427 Speaker 4: I mean, yeah, obviously it's a big gap between myself 50 00:02:35,427 --> 00:02:40,307 Speaker 4: and them, so we've needed some someone to back me 51 00:02:40,387 --> 00:02:44,707 Speaker 4: up when I'm when I'm ready for a wheelchairs obviously. Yeah, 52 00:02:44,907 --> 00:02:47,027 Speaker 4: Finn making a big step up to MLS, and I 53 00:02:47,067 --> 00:02:51,347 Speaker 4: think Tyler's really coming on. I think obviously you see 54 00:02:51,387 --> 00:02:54,067 Speaker 4: his footballing prowess in the field, but I think off 55 00:02:54,107 --> 00:02:56,107 Speaker 4: the field he's going to going to be a big 56 00:02:56,187 --> 00:02:57,187 Speaker 4: leader for us going forward. 57 00:02:57,667 --> 00:03:00,427 Speaker 2: Does the competition for places in the All Whites right 58 00:03:00,467 --> 00:03:03,667 Speaker 2: now feel about as fierce as it ever has during 59 00:03:04,027 --> 00:03:05,267 Speaker 2: your time in the national side. 60 00:03:07,347 --> 00:03:10,107 Speaker 4: It's got to be up there, I'd say, yeah. Obviously, 61 00:03:10,227 --> 00:03:12,507 Speaker 4: I've been on both sides of it, where I'm on 62 00:03:12,547 --> 00:03:16,387 Speaker 4: the outside looking in and also kind of fighting, fighting 63 00:03:16,427 --> 00:03:19,987 Speaker 4: to keep my place, and I think, yeah, I'm even 64 00:03:20,027 --> 00:03:22,107 Speaker 4: at my age still having to stay as sharp as 65 00:03:22,107 --> 00:03:26,067 Speaker 4: possible to to make sure I genuinely earned my spot 66 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:30,227 Speaker 4: on the team, And yeah, as you mentioned Finn, tyler 67 00:03:30,387 --> 00:03:33,187 Speaker 4: Nandov just keeping everyone honest, and I think it's you 68 00:03:33,227 --> 00:03:35,227 Speaker 4: can say that for almost every position on the field. 69 00:03:35,627 --> 00:03:37,587 Speaker 2: We we've touched on on one of the hallmarks of 70 00:03:37,627 --> 00:03:40,667 Speaker 2: your career, and that's been your ability to, you know, 71 00:03:40,787 --> 00:03:44,107 Speaker 2: to stay fit, to stay you know, athletic, to be 72 00:03:44,187 --> 00:03:46,387 Speaker 2: as quick pretty much as you always have been. What 73 00:03:46,387 --> 00:03:48,907 Speaker 2: what's been behind that? What is the secret of your 74 00:03:48,947 --> 00:03:52,427 Speaker 2: ability to to seemingly not age at all? 75 00:03:54,947 --> 00:03:58,427 Speaker 4: Obviously I just enjoy it. I just love playing the game, 76 00:03:59,227 --> 00:04:02,227 Speaker 4: love love training. Still at this age, trying to improve 77 00:04:02,347 --> 00:04:06,147 Speaker 4: every day. Every off season. I probably won my season. 78 00:04:06,347 --> 00:04:07,947 Speaker 4: I'll probably take one or two days off and then 79 00:04:08,387 --> 00:04:10,507 Speaker 4: straight into the gym. Obviously, we've got a really good 80 00:04:11,307 --> 00:04:14,587 Speaker 4: sports scientists sons who who puts through from puts me 81 00:04:14,627 --> 00:04:17,307 Speaker 4: through my paces. So I don't know. I still love 82 00:04:17,387 --> 00:04:22,307 Speaker 4: the challenge. Obviously, We've got a goal in nineteen months 83 00:04:22,347 --> 00:04:26,627 Speaker 4: time that I want to be a part of. So yeah, 84 00:04:26,667 --> 00:04:29,107 Speaker 4: just doing all I can to make sure I'm not 85 00:04:29,227 --> 00:04:31,867 Speaker 4: just there but genuinely helping, helping the group out. 86 00:04:32,187 --> 00:04:34,067 Speaker 2: And last month you signed a new deal with your 87 00:04:34,187 --> 00:04:37,187 Speaker 2: MLS club, Minnesota United for next year. Another option for 88 00:04:37,227 --> 00:04:40,307 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six. You've been there since what twenty seventeen, 89 00:04:40,467 --> 00:04:43,067 Speaker 2: the club's all time leading appearance maker. How do you 90 00:04:43,107 --> 00:04:44,867 Speaker 2: reflect on your time at Minnesota United. 91 00:04:46,827 --> 00:04:49,347 Speaker 4: I mean when we first moved there with my wife, 92 00:04:49,387 --> 00:04:51,907 Speaker 4: we probably only planned it to be there for yeah, 93 00:04:52,067 --> 00:04:56,507 Speaker 4: two or three seasons, but as we've kind of my 94 00:04:56,587 --> 00:04:59,547 Speaker 4: daughter's settled down. My son was born there, and it's 95 00:04:59,547 --> 00:05:01,707 Speaker 4: a beautiful place to raise a family, and the football 96 00:05:01,747 --> 00:05:04,027 Speaker 4: and the MLS has really grown over the last five 97 00:05:04,107 --> 00:05:07,147 Speaker 4: six years, so it's allowed me to grow as a 98 00:05:07,147 --> 00:05:11,147 Speaker 4: person as a player as well. So yeah, it feels 99 00:05:11,187 --> 00:05:13,427 Speaker 4: a lot like home, and my family's really settled there, 100 00:05:13,467 --> 00:05:16,507 Speaker 4: and obviously that league's come a long way and going 101 00:05:16,547 --> 00:05:18,747 Speaker 4: to keep growing with the big names are signing and 102 00:05:18,787 --> 00:05:21,827 Speaker 4: then off with the World Cup hitting there in twenty 103 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:23,427 Speaker 4: twenty six, a lot. 104 00:05:23,347 --> 00:05:25,987 Speaker 2: Of eural whites football box. He's been alongside Chris Wood. 105 00:05:26,107 --> 00:05:28,587 Speaker 2: You mentioned him briefly before. What have you made of 106 00:05:28,627 --> 00:05:30,987 Speaker 2: his recent seats in the in the Premier League? 107 00:05:32,787 --> 00:05:36,107 Speaker 4: I mean everything before this, the last two seasons, I 108 00:05:36,107 --> 00:05:39,827 Speaker 4: think he's been so ungraded and I think it's just 109 00:05:39,867 --> 00:05:43,027 Speaker 4: amazing to see him get his his drew rewards and 110 00:05:43,827 --> 00:05:48,267 Speaker 4: recognition I think. I mean, I can't say enough about 111 00:05:48,307 --> 00:05:51,427 Speaker 4: how much playing for the country means for him. I mean, 112 00:05:51,467 --> 00:05:54,947 Speaker 4: he does not miss a single window, possibly at the 113 00:05:55,027 --> 00:05:59,227 Speaker 4: detriment to his club career, flying halfway around the world 114 00:06:00,027 --> 00:06:04,627 Speaker 4: for these World Cup qualifiers and Vanowasu last month, and yeah, 115 00:06:04,627 --> 00:06:06,307 Speaker 4: he just loves playing for this country. He loves getting 116 00:06:06,507 --> 00:06:10,347 Speaker 4: in New Zealand and he's yeah, obviously doing a lot 117 00:06:10,387 --> 00:06:12,907 Speaker 4: for football at this country. And it's cool to see that. 118 00:06:13,267 --> 00:06:14,987 Speaker 4: Young players get to see him the flesh. 119 00:06:15,547 --> 00:06:17,387 Speaker 2: And you've been around this team for a long time now, 120 00:06:17,667 --> 00:06:19,747 Speaker 2: how special would it be for you to be part 121 00:06:19,747 --> 00:06:21,227 Speaker 2: of a team that went to a World Cup? 122 00:06:23,427 --> 00:06:26,947 Speaker 4: Yeah, obviously when I I think my kind of first 123 00:06:26,987 --> 00:06:31,947 Speaker 4: memory of your watching Nellie and Duncan and Samone Elliott 124 00:06:32,867 --> 00:06:36,747 Speaker 4: alt Smart and probably the late nineties, and then obviously 125 00:06:36,747 --> 00:06:38,867 Speaker 4: seeing what they did in the world stage in South Africa. 126 00:06:40,347 --> 00:06:43,067 Speaker 4: I think speaking with some of the younger players on 127 00:06:43,107 --> 00:06:46,587 Speaker 4: this team right now and how many were inspired by 128 00:06:46,907 --> 00:06:50,547 Speaker 4: that twenty ten World Cup journey. So I think that 129 00:06:50,627 --> 00:06:54,587 Speaker 4: if we could do something special and by the next 130 00:06:54,627 --> 00:06:56,867 Speaker 4: generation of all whites and young footballers in New Zealand 131 00:06:56,907 --> 00:06:59,667 Speaker 4: and that they would mean a lot for this whole group. 132 00:07:00,027 --> 00:07:02,227 Speaker 2: I bet and when's this first goal of yours coming 133 00:07:02,227 --> 00:07:05,547 Speaker 2: at international level? Tyler Binden even got one the other night. 134 00:07:07,907 --> 00:07:10,547 Speaker 4: I'm trying not to break Jeremy Brocky's record, you know, 135 00:07:10,587 --> 00:07:13,587 Speaker 4: I'd like to stay behind him on the just be 136 00:07:13,627 --> 00:07:15,787 Speaker 4: one goal behind Brocky. Is it's not too bad, you 137 00:07:15,787 --> 00:07:18,427 Speaker 4: know his record as a goalscorer. If i set one 138 00:07:18,467 --> 00:07:20,707 Speaker 4: goal behind Jeremy Brocky, I'm happy with that. 139 00:07:21,107 --> 00:07:23,107 Speaker 2: Love it, love it, Boxy. All right, Hey, well, thanks 140 00:07:23,107 --> 00:07:25,147 Speaker 2: for joining us this afternoon, mate, really appreciate your time. 141 00:07:25,147 --> 00:07:27,547 Speaker 2: All the best again some more. Look forward to catching 142 00:07:27,627 --> 00:07:30,187 Speaker 2: up perhaps when you arrive in Wellington in the new year. 143 00:07:30,307 --> 00:07:31,787 Speaker 4: Would love that great chat with you, Bunny. 144 00:07:31,827 --> 00:07:33,827 Speaker 2: Thank you mate, Now you take care to box Thanks indeed, 145 00:07:33,867 --> 00:07:37,947 Speaker 2: Michael box All there, veteran All Whites defender, one of 146 00:07:37,947 --> 00:07:41,227 Speaker 2: the fittest guys in his mid to late thirties you'll 147 00:07:41,227 --> 00:07:43,787 Speaker 2: ever see, still mixing up with the youngster. Still a 148 00:07:43,787 --> 00:07:46,027 Speaker 2: big part of this All White squad. Played the ninety 149 00:07:46,027 --> 00:07:48,267 Speaker 2: minutes the other night as they beat Vonder White to 150 00:07:48,427 --> 00:07:51,787 Speaker 2: eight to one. Tomorrow night some more at Mount Smart Stadium. 151 00:07:51,827 --> 00:07:53,387 Speaker 2: Anyone in the Auckland area and want to see the 152 00:07:53,387 --> 00:07:56,147 Speaker 2: All Whites and a rare appearance on home soil in 153 00:07:56,227 --> 00:08:00,027 Speaker 2: recent times. There's your opportunity. They are, as I mentioned before, 154 00:08:00,107 --> 00:08:04,987 Speaker 2: now a sorter place in the Oceania qualifiers for the 155 00:08:05,027 --> 00:08:08,227 Speaker 2: next World Cup. The semi finals now they'll take place 156 00:08:08,307 --> 00:08:11,867 Speaker 2: on Friday, the twenty first of March next year at 157 00:08:11,907 --> 00:08:14,547 Speaker 2: Sky Stadium in Wellington. If the All Whites win their 158 00:08:14,547 --> 00:08:17,467 Speaker 2: semi final, then on the Monday that follows, Monday the 159 00:08:17,467 --> 00:08:20,387 Speaker 2: twenty fourth of March at Eden Park and Auckland at 160 00:08:20,387 --> 00:08:23,067 Speaker 2: seven o'clock they will play for a place at the 161 00:08:23,107 --> 00:08:26,067 Speaker 2: next World Cup, the next FIFA World Cup, which will 162 00:08:26,067 --> 00:08:29,027 Speaker 2: be in the United States, Mexico and Canada in twenty 163 00:08:29,107 --> 00:08:32,467 Speaker 2: twenty six. Direct entry for the winner of Oceania, which 164 00:08:32,947 --> 00:08:35,667 Speaker 2: has never been the case before. So the All Whites 165 00:08:35,747 --> 00:08:39,027 Speaker 2: tantalizingly close now to a place at the next FIFA 166 00:08:39,227 --> 00:08:39,867 Speaker 2: World Cup. 167 00:08:40,627 --> 00:08:43,787 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live 168 00:08:43,907 --> 00:08:47,307 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday or follow the 169 00:08:47,347 --> 00:08:48,787 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.