The Unused Subs

It’s Derby Week! Auckland FC hosts Wellington Phoenix in the first all-kiwi clash of the new A-League season, their 7th meeting overall. We’re joined on the Subs bench by Nix central defender Bill Tuiloma to preview the occasion, while Francis De Vries of AFC steps up to the 10-Ball Challenge. Finally, The Unused Subs ask some burning questions ahead of kick-off in the highly anticipated match-up at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.

Bill Tuiloma comes face-to-face with Paul Ifill for the first time since THAT post-match interview a few weeks ago… in that moment, Iffy seemingly accuses Bill of being overweight and too slow last season. Is it awkward? You be the judge!

Bill is relishing the chance to go up against the A-League’s top villain Sam Cosgrove on Saturday. How will Tuiloma and Lukas Kelly-Heald combat Auckland’s returning Number 9? Also, what is it like for an Aucklander to come back to the big smoke to play AGAINST Auckland, IN Auckland? That’s the reality facing Bill this weekend.

Francis De Vries is famed for his accuracy on-field, so you'd expect him to be a boss in the 10-Ball Challenge. His left foot is a magic wand, but what about his right peg? Will it let him down?!

And we assess the biggest match ups, the potential MVPs and difference makers, as well as pick our winners in the 7th Kiwi A-League Derby! Auckland FC versus Wellington Phoenix... who have you got?

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Auckland FC & All Whites keeper Oli Sail subs in for Jacob Spoonley this week and sits on the bench with Goran & Iffy… and there’s plenty to talk about!

The big news this week is Darren Bazeley parting company with the All Whites; New Zealand Football concluding that they need a new head coach for the next World Cup cycle. Is it the right call? Or had Baze done enough to retain his position?

The biggest question of the lot is: WHO’S NEXT? And who do we all want? Should we contact Pep Guardiola, or even Big Sam Allardyce?! Maybe the next head coach of the All Whites is actually on The Unused Subs bench - would Paul Ifill be interested in applying for the gig?

In the A-League, the reigning A-League Champions Auckland FC were thrashed 5-2 by Western Sydney Wanderers. Oli explains what went wrong, and Goran asks why the new system under Pedro Moreira isn’t unleashing Francis De Vries; after all, he was the focal point of chance creation for two successful seasons, and he’s barely delivered a cross from the left.

We review and fact check our most successful social clip EVER: Henry Gray and the Paul 'Goffy' Gothard Dare. Why did it take off like a rocket on Instagram, how old was Henry REALLY, and what was going on behind that closed door of Room 1405?? Oli was there in Chatswood on duty with the Phoenix, and he speaks to the qualities of Henry Gray and how the youngster even gave Alex Paulsen a little bit of a hurry up!

We give ‘Sailor’ a huge amount of grief over his long-awaited appearance in Woman’s Day magazine (his teammates are away in Australia and can’t do it themselves), and last but not least: Oli provides an update on his injured leg, detailing the crazy techniques and technologies that are aiding his recovery!

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3 A-League matches across 2 cities inside 24 hours.

660 kilometres from Auckland to Wellington, while documenting everything as you go. On your own.

Could it be done? Goran gave it one hell of a go! And then, had to turn around and drive back home of course...

With A-League Champions Auckland FC opening their account on Saturday at 5pm, and the Wellington Phoenix Doubleheader beginning at midday Sunday, time was of the essence to see all three matches from kickoff.

Sleep deprivation, hunger, very ugly eating, run-ins with security, huge temperature AND mood swings, and so much more awaits you!

At fulltime in the Phoenix Men's match, Nathan Walker and Henry Gray joined us on the Subs bench to talk not only their breathtaking win against highly fancied Melbourne Victory, but also Nathan's dad who happens to be a former Black Caps cricketer, and Henry clears up any confusion about THAT hallway video with goalkeeping coach Goffy!

Iffy talks about what it means to him to be announced in the Nix 20th Anniversary Greatest XI, and Pia Vlok takes on the 10-Ball Challenge! Or is that 11?

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Sam Cosgrove = FREE TO PLAY!

Auckland FC's previously-banned A-League Super Villain is available to play Melbourne City in Round 1 of the new season. In a bizarre turn of events, as news of his availability was made public, he just so happened to be sitting with The Unused Subs at Tyler St Sport!

So... how did it come to pass that his 2-game ban was served in NZ's National League?

And you just know that this result is going to fuel the rage of AFC and Sam Cosgrove detractors - but that's okay, because the man himself doesn't mind playing the role of the bad guy. Not one bit!

In our Season 3 Premiere, Cozzee chats about embracing the bad guy image, the fine line between diving to win fouls and going down under legitimate contact from a defender, the online trolls and how he almost manages to avoid them!

What's life like under new coach Pedro Moreira? And is Sam's ruptured ankle ligament giving him grief? Remember that he nearly missed AFC's Championship run through injury.

Plus: we go deep on Manchester City - Cozzee's favourite club. What should their punishment be for all they've allegedly done...or should they be congratulated for making the Premier League what it is today?!

Michael Woud’s efforts are revealed in the 10 Ball Challenge, we reveal Auckland and Wellington's 'Most Likely' Starting XIs this A-League season, and Bev Priestman says her new Nix recruit and Football Ferns centurion Abby Erceg has absolutely, definitely still got it. Should Erceg make herself available for the Ferns in Brazil '27?

The Unused Subs are back! So tell your mates and join us on the bench for Season 3!

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Spain has defeated Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final to become WORLD CHAMPIONS for the second time! On the surface, a solitary goal in extra time doesn't sound overly impressive or convincing, but dig a little deeper and you will see that this was not only a one-sided finale, but one of the most dominant World Cup campaigns, ever.

Spain conceded only one goal in 8 matches. They defeated Portugal, Belgium, France and finally Argentina in the knockout phase. In the show piece event against Lionel Messi's reigning champs, they secured 68% of possession, peppered Emi Martinez's goal with 20 shots - 11 of which were on target - and in return, Argentina could only muster 3 shots, none of which troubled Unai Simon in the Spanish goal.

One the final episode of The Unused Subs, Goran, Jacob and Iffy chat the final, as well as the half-time entertainment (what a performance from Shakira BTW!) and the ordinary showing from Original Ronaldo in a poorly fitted tracksuit. We go over our favourite moments of the season, ask who would we want to have bathed us like Messi did Yamal all those years ago, and chat about what's next for the Wellington Phoenix & Auckland FC in the A-League.

David Beckham comes up in conversation when we mention the bath stuff. It gets a bit weird actually.

Thanks so much to our great mates at McDonald's NZ for backing The Unused Subs, and for Tyler St Sport for providing our home ground. And thanks very much to YOU for watching! We'll be back to champion kiwi football very soon, but for now, enjoy the off-season!

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England has been defeated by Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Semifinals. And of course, the finger of blame is pointing directly at England's manager Thomas Tuchel. Were his defensive tactics in the final half hour of the clash 'cowardly' as has been reported in the UK media since the 2-1 loss?

The Unused Subs analyze the result, and how Lionel Messi was afforded way too much time on the ball to craft YET ANOTHER comeback for Argentina, and safe passage through to another World Cup final for the greatest of all time.

This episode boils down to THREE MASSIVE QUESTIONS:

- Why isn't football coming 'home'?

- 3rd place playoff: Yes or No?

- Are the two best teams in the Final?

We make our predictions too - even though we were disgustingly wrong last time - and give another shoutout to Cristiano Ronaldo and his team of scientists at the lab. They'll need to work wonders if they're to compete with Lionel & Argentina in 2030!

Who have you got: Spain or Argentina for the World Cup?

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Cristiano Ronaldo to play on for 2030. Yep, CR7 will play at a home World Cup, at the age of 45.

According to Paul Ifill.

But he's got a point! How he traverses the next four years to get there though, that's unknown. What's also unknown is what was going through the mind of Breel Embolo; Switzerland has Argentina locked at 1-1 having just equalized and bossed the second half, then off the 10 metre platform he goes, diving on the floor for a second yellow. We've seen some idiotic things, but this has to be Top 10 at a World Cup, surely?!

Of course that puts the four top nations into the final four, so bring on our Two Flags prediction once again! Why was it such a social media phenomenon last week? Why did English football let Michael Olise walk out the door? Is Jude Bellingham the difference maker when England meets Argentina?

And how do we feel about the All Whites playing India, the world number 138?! It's a chance to see our kiwis in the flesh in Auckland and Christchurch, but the opposition ain't great on paper.

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From not-so secret phone calls to suspend American red cards, to baffling refereeing decisions and our new best friend 'SNICKO', the 2026 FIFA World Cup has had it all... and then some!

With that in mind, the boys on The Unused Subs bench count down the TOP FIVE WILDEST THINGS to have happened before the quarter finals get underway. Where does the orange guy helping Folarin Balogun rank? What of the Croatia/Portugal VAR Snicko debacle? And how about Cabo Verde and Vozinha's on-field performance, creating a social media star? But perhaps, more importantly... is this whole tournament a FIFA conspiracy aimed at getting the big names and nations as deep into the tournament as possible??

Goran, Iffy and the returning Jacob Spoonley predict the winners of the quarter final matches; can France get past Morocco? Will Erling Haaland prove to be too much for a buoyant England? And is Spain actually not that good?!

As always, so much to discuss and debate from the FIFA World Cup!

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Finn Surman transfer rumours are now commonplace after the Portland Timbers and All Whites central defender played out of his skin at the FIFA World Cup... in the process, scoring a fabulous headed goal from a Tim Payne assist against Egypt!

Finn takes the time to join Goran, Iffy & Oli on The Unused Subs to describe the sensation of scoring a World Cup goal. Let's be honest: the vast majority of us will never, ever know what that's like! Finn talks us through the key moments, how he became free in the Egyptian penalty area, and whether his celebration was planned or not!

We talk about how his key moment of inspiration as a youngster was Winston Reid, the former All Whites central defender who scored a headed goal at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And here's Finn doing exactly that, 16 years later. The comparisons with Reid continue; following the South Africa World Cup, he was signed to West Ham in the English Premier League. So where will Finn go? Is he destined to say farewell to his Portland Timbers teammates?

We also chat about the one-on-one encounters with Taremi, Marmoush, Salah and Lukaku through pool play. How did Finn feel in those moments coming up against genuine football superstars?

On the subject of superstars, Finn talks about the Tim Payne social media explosion with first-hand experience - watching Payney's phone blow up with all the All Whites lads cracking jokes at Tim's expense!

So enjoy our chat with Finn Surman who joins a small - but seriously exclusive list - alongside Sumner, Wooddin, Reid, Smeltz & Just as All Whites World Cup goal scorers!

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The All Whites will play no further part at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - needing a win in their final pool game they have been humbled 5-1 by Belgium, and denied access to the Round of 32.

So let the review begin! While the gulf in quality was evident against the Red Devils, there is so much to be proud of from a kiwi point of view. Goran, Iffy & Oli look at the standout performers across the entire campaign for New Zealand: Finn Surman, Marko Stamenic & Elijah Just. With 3 goals to his name, where on earth will Eli wind up?! Is he destined for the Premier League, or is there another top European competition that is better suited to his skills?

Having claimed just a solitary point in the group phase, ultimately what went wrong for the All Whites? How did they let leads slip - twice against Iran, once against Egypt? What part did injuries or a lack of fitness play... and did head coach Darren Bazeley get his team selection (and subsequent substitutions) right or wrong?

Who were the unlucky members of the squad to see little, or no gametime? Did Lachie Bayliss have the skills required, or was Kosta Barbarouses incredibly unfortunate not to see minutes given his history with missing selection for the 2010 World Cup, and his red card in the 2022 playoff?

There is SO MUCH to discuss, debate, dissect... and The Unused Subs do it all for your viewing pleasure! Don't forget to subscribe, and tell your kiwi football mates about us!

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