Little margin for error in Oceania - OCEANIA
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| FIFA.com |
An unusually hectic period for Oceanian football continues as 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ action take centre stage across the region over the coming week. Following the recent OFC U-17 Championship and OFC Champions League group-stage, Round 3 Russia 2018 qualifiers will take place in Tahiti on the far east border of the confederation, and in Papua New Guinea in the west, as well as in Fiji and New Zealand. Solomon Islands and New Caledonia will remain on the sidelines this week before taking the field again in June.
Last year’s OFC Nations Cup doubled as Round 2 qualifiers with six teams progressing. The two winners of the three-team Round 3 groups will advance to a single home-and-away series, where the victor will tackle South America’s fifth-best team for a ticket to Russia 2018.
The coming week will see the middle two matchdays of the six rounds completed, and with just four matches overall for each side there is little scope for error. FIFA.com previews what could be a decisive week in Oceania’s Russia 2018 journey.
Group A – Fiji seek to rediscover former spirit
What a week looms for New Zealand, with home and away ties against Fiji. The All Whites are top of Group A having secured a win and a draw from two outings thus far, ahead of New Caledonia with a single point. And while a further four points from the upcoming matches will be enough to progress, anything less will take their destiny out of their own control.
Fiji will begin their Stage 3 campaign on Saturday in Lautoka in what will be their first home World Cup qualifier for nine years. New Zealand were the visitors that day and a repeat of that 2-0 win for the home side would open up the group. Fiji has enjoyed a boom period in recent times with qualification for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, followed by winning unexpected passage to the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016. However, the senior team were rudderless for a long period following the unexpected departure of coach Frank Farina in the wake of Rio 2016, with Christophe Gamel assuming the reins in January.
New Zealand, in contrast to Fiji, having been steadily building under Anthony Hudson over the past few years. One negative for the All Whites, however, is the loss of their best credentialed player through injury – West Ham United defender Winston Reid. The return leg will take place in Wellington next Tuesday.
Group B – PNG return to spotlight, Tahiti eye progression
Nearly four months on since the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final in Port Moresby, men’s football returns to the spotlight in Papua New Guinea as the locals open their Stage 3 campaign with a home encounter against Tahiti on Thursday in the capital. The two teams will then traverse the breadth of the region for the return encounter in French Polynesia five days later. Tahiti have so far accrued a win and a loss from two matches against Solomon Islands. And two victories over PNG would lock up their progression to the OFC play-off.
But all the indications are these matches will be exceedingly tight, as has been the case so far in both groups. The only time these two nations have met in a World Cup qualifier was last June in Port Moresby, with the spoils shared in a see-sawing 2-2 draw. PNG subsequently went on to reach their first Nations Cup final in what was a breakthrough moment for the local game. Rediscovering that confidence and can-do spirit from will be essential if the Kapuls are to make that next step. Tahiti will be without experienced pair Lorenzo and Jonathan Tehau, while PNG have brought in several new players with experience in Australia and New Zealand.
Player to watch
New Zealand’s Marco Rojas has long been a player of great potential, and recent showings for club and country indicate he is ready to fulfil that promise. The fleet-footed Hamilton-born attacker scored both goals for the All Whites in their win over New Caledonia in November, doubling his international career tally. The 25-year-old has also starred for Melbourne Victory this season, and has provided the most assists in the A-League (11) to go with 12 goals in 20 matches.
The stat
6 – Papua New Guinea are undefeated in their past six World Cup qualifiers dating back to 2012. If the Melanesians can extend that run for another week, they will have one hand on a ticket to the continental play-off.
The quote
“The people need to follow what has happened to our national sevens rugby team in as far as supporting the team whether they lose or win. A lot of fans come with a negative thought that Fiji will lose.”
New Fiji coach Christophe Gamel seeks to invoke the spirit of last August, when the nation witnessed unprecedented support as the rugby team won the country’s first-ever Olympic Games gold medal.
Fixtures
Thursday 23 March
Papua New Guinea v Tahiti (Port Moresby)
Saturday 25 March
Fiji v New Zealand (Lautoka)
Tuesday 28 March
New Zealand v Fiji (Wellington)
Tahiti v Papua New Guinea (Papeete)