Despite a disappointing outcome in their latest World Cup match, the All Whites remain just one victory away from making history. Coach Darren Bazeley emphasized that a win over Belgium in the upcoming fixture could secure their spot in the knockout stages.

“We’re still just one game away from writing our name in the record books,” Bazeley stated. “A single win against Belgium will determine our fate. They’re a formidable side, but if we channel the energy and intensity we showed against Iran and Egypt, we have a real chance.”

The narrow loss to Egypt left a bitter aftertaste for the Kiwi manager. “It was a game we should have won. Not converting our leads cost us dearly,” he admitted. “We dominated possession and controlled the first half, but lost our rhythm after the break. Egypt stepped up their game, and while they deserved their victory, it’s frustrating to fall short when we had the upper hand.”

“At halftime, we felt good, but we never counted our chickens too early,” Bazeley reflected. “We faced challenges in transitions and aerial duels, and Egypt punished us when we least expected it. The team is devastated, but we’ll regroup. A one-goal deficit means anything can happen in football—we just need to convert our chances.”