Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
New Zealand
Vanuatu
World Cup Qualifier: New Zealand vs Vanuatu – Will the Visitors Avoid a Blowout?
New Zealand
While New Zealand may not be a global football powerhouse, they are a strong team by regional standards. They kicked off their qualification campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Tahiti, with the game played on neutral ground. This summer, they also claimed the OFC Nations Cup, defeating Vanuatu in the final with the same 3-0 scoreline.
New Zealand typically only falters against tough teams from other continents, with their last loss coming in a friendly against Mexico, where they went down 0-3. Their World Cup qualifying group isn’t especially challenging, so they’ll be pushing hard to secure the top spot.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu lacks a strong football tradition, and with a population of roughly 300,000, they aren’t exactly a formidable presence on the pitch. The team opened its qualifiers with a solid 4-1 victory over Samoa, allowing them to share the lead in the group.
They made a respectable showing by reaching the OFC Nations Cup final, though they were soundly defeated by New Zealand. With two teams advancing from the group, a second-place finish is realistic for Vanuatu.
Possible Lineups
- New Zealand: Crocombe, Bindon, Old, Wood, Garbett, Just, Cacace, Pijnaker, Payne, Ruffer, Stamenic.
- Vanuatu: Seblan, Vanemut, Katlak, Jeffrey, Vatu, Alik, Clarke, Cooper, Tasip, Saniel, Spokeyjack.
Match Facts
- New Zealand is unbeaten in their last three matches across all competitions.
- Vanuatu has lost three of their last four games.
Odds for the Match
- New Zealand win: 1.01
- Draw: 13.5
- Vanuatu win: 28
Head-to-Head
New Zealand dominates this matchup, winning eight out of nine games, with Vanuatu’s sole victory coming in a friendly.
Prediction
There’s no question that New Zealand is the stronger side, making them the undisputed favorites here. While they should win comfortably, Vanuatu might manage to avoid a complete rout. My bet is on New Zealand to win with a -4.5 goal handicap, which seems quite achievable.
