Pacific span prepared for final push

• New Zealand and Solomon Islands accommodate in a OFC World Cup play-off
• The leader faces South America’s fifth-best nation
• The Kiwis featured during Russia 2017 while it is Solo’s first OFC final since 2004 

Just dual matches apart New Zealand and Solomon Islands from a berth in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ intercontinental play-off opposite a South American opponent. The span have outlasted Oceania’s other 9 Member Associations and will accommodate on Friday and Tuesday to establish a continent’s final remaining contender on a highway to Russia 2018. FIFA.com offers we all we need to know brazen of a OFC decider.

The credentials
It is dual years to a day given Oceania subordinate commenced in a low-key vicinity of Tonga’s inhabitant football centre as Samoa kicked-off – and eventually won – an all-Polynesian opening stage.

The remaining OFC nations entered a competition during Round 2 with 6 teams eventually staying alive, before New Zealand and Solomon Islands survived their particular three-team groups in Round 3. New Zealand won 3 and drew 4 of their matches to allege in some comfort. Solo, in contrast, edged out Tahiti and Papua New Guinea following an array of evenly-fought matches.

PHOTOS | Check out a best shots from training as a #AllWhites get prepared to face a Sol Islands @PhotosportNZ https://t.co/SBkB9JSpaX pic.twitter.com/3nDPiqEWcI

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) August 28, 2017

The players
New Zealand have had no aptness on a damage front with a pivotal party of players to skip a dual matches – captain Winston Reid, first-choice defender Tommy Smith, stream heading goalscorer Shane Smeltz and immature aggressive ace Marco Rojas. Also blank will be teenage fullback Dane Ingham who has sent home progressing in a week for a miss of fitness. The patrol was a first-ever All Whites register with any actor on a veteran contract. On a and side is a form of substitute skipper Chris Wood, who final weekend scored on entrance for English Premier League bar Burnley following his pierce from Leeds.

Solomon Islands seem set to be but arguably their many in-form actor in Auckland City FC assailant Micah Lea’alafa, with a sharp-witted goalscorer starring for a Navy Blues during a FIFA Club World Cup. Henry Fa’Arodo, a nation’s most-capped actor with only over 50 appearances, will be creation his general swansong should a Bonitos be eliminated.

The stats
New Zealand’s record opposite Solomon Islands, not to discuss their home form opposite Pacific Island nations, means a All Whites start as comfortable favourites. The statistics behind New Zealand’s clever explain to favouritism, carrying won 6 and drawn one of their 7 matches opposite a Melanesians. Solo did pull 1-1 opposite a Kiwis during home in 2012. A expected pivotal to their hopes will be holding New Zealand divided brazen of a lapse in front of a vast and ardent Honiara crowd.

The quotes
“When we get to finals in these situations it’s not as straightforward, these are always wily games. They’re going to be unequivocally stubborn. we don’t consider they’re going to come and attack, unequivocally renew and so irrespective of how large a group is, it’s going to be a unequivocally wily game.” New Zealand manager Anthony Hudson

“It will be a tough diversion divided from, generally with a continue that will freezing. Combine that with their team, that is full of veteran players. But we will be adult for it nevertheless.” Solomon Islands brazen Benjamin Totori

The matches
1 Sep
New Zealand-Solomon Islands (Auckland)
19:35 internal time (08:35 GMT)

5 Sep
Solomon Islands-New Zealand (Honiara)
14:00 internal time (04:00 GMT)

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=8/news=pacific-pair-read-for-final-push-2906037.html