The team includes six players from the Junior All Whites side from the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey with Tim Payne, Cameron Howieson, Storm Roux and Bill Tuiloma all named along with All Whites squad debutants Ryan Thomas and Tyler Boyd.
Boyd has impressed since joining the Wellington Phoenix while Thomas has made a strong start at Dutch Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle. Since signing in the middle of 2013, the 19-year-old has earned a contract extension through to 2018, scoring his first league goal for club two weeks ago in a 2-1 victory over Roda JC.
With a review process underway before the search for a permanent coach begins, the team will be led by interim coach Neil Emblen; the assistant coach of the All Whites during the World Cup qualifying campaign in 2013. Junior All Whites coach Darren Bazeley will serve as the side’s assistant coach.
Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss will take the captain’s armband for the first time with the New Zealand side with West Ham United’s Winston Reid in the early stages of his return from the ankle injury which kept him out of the FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff with Mexico.
After consultation with New Zealand Football, Tommy Smith will remain in England with club side Ipswich Town FC.
The squad features nine players under the age of 25 and includes a trio of 19-year-olds in Thomas, Boyd and Howieson.
Five players are included who didn’t feature in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental playoff loss to Mexico with Payne, Howieson, Thomas and Boyd joined by Wellington Phoenix defender Michael Boxall (25) – aiming for his first All Whites appearance since 2012.
Emblen, who guided the New Zealand side at the London Olympics in 2012, says the game against Japan offers a great opportunity for the players against a side in the final stages of their preparation for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June.
“The players deserve to be in the squad,” Emblen said, “they are getting regular game time and playing a high level of football. They are in good form and deserve the opportunity.”
“It’s going to be a huge test. Japan play fantastic football and I expect they’ll be at full strength because their players will be aiming for selection for the World Cup.”
Despite stepping out as a head coach at senior international level for the first time, Emblen will not be on unfamiliar ground, having visited the National Olympic Stadium before as a player for the FIFA Club World Cup and as a coach in the lead-up to the London Olympics.
“I’ve had good experiences there and I’m familiar with the stadium and I like Tokyo so I’m not going into the unknown.”
Relishing the chance to lead the side in Japan, Emblen is focussed on guiding the team to a good showing in what is the final game for the home side at the venue.
“It’s going to be an historic occasion and I’m honoured to be doing it. It’s a privilege and I’m thankful I’ve been given the opportunity and I’ll be doing my best to help the side be as ready as they can be to put in a good performance.”
The March 5 fixture against the World Cup bound Samurai Blue honours an agreement to reschedule an international friendly from which New Zealand reluctantly withdrew due to safety concerns after the tragic earthquake that struck the country in March 2011.
All Whites squad
(Caps/Goals/Club)
Goalkeepers
1-Glen Moss (capt – 26/0, Wellington Phoenix, NZ)
12-Jacob Spoonley (2/1, Team Wellington, NZ)
Defenders
4-Ben Sigmund (31/2, Wellington Phoenix, NZ)
6-Bill Tuiloma (2/0, Olympique Marseille, FRA)
15-Storm Roux (1/0, Central Coast Mariners, AUS)
18-Michael Boxall (7/0, Wellington Phoenix, NZ)
22-Andrew Durante (6/0, Wellington Phoenix, NZ)
Midfielders
8-Michael McGlinchey (25/3, Vegalta Sendai, JPN)
13-Chris James (16/2, unattached)
14-Ryan Thomas (0/0, PEC Zwolle, HOL)
18-Tim Payne (8/2, Blackburn Rovers, ENG)
21-Cameron Howieson (6/0, Burnley FC, ENG)
Forwards
7-Tyler Boyd (0/0, Wellington Phoenix, NZ)
9-Shane Smeltz (50/23, Perth Glory, AUS)
11-Marco Rojas (17/1,Vfb Stuttgart, GER)
16-Jeremy Brockie (42/0, Wellington Phoenix, NZ)
17-Kosta Barbarouses (24/2, Melbourne Victory, AUS)
20-Chris Wood (33/10, Leicester City FC, ENG)
Head coach: Neil Emblen
Assistant coach: Darren Bazeley
Match Details:
Japan v New Zealand
National Olympic Stadium
Tokyo, Japan
March 5, 2014
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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