As for the visitors, while New Zealand s record on paper may have seen Danny Hay s men win six of their last seven matchups and enjoying an unbeaten run that stems back to June 2018, they have famously struggled when up against some of the world s more notable nations. Losing each of their last four friendly matches on the spin, including defeats against Canada, Japan, Belarus, and Northern Ireland, their 1-0 victory over little-known Oman fours years ago is their only friendly victory since way back in September 2013. Now sat down 121 st in the FIFA rankings, there is no doubt that Hay should be boosted by the on-going success of leading marksman and attacking talisman, Chris Wood. Arguably the most notable star in the New Zealand set-up, the Burnley ace once again found the net against West Ham over the weekend and will lead the line out in Dublin. It should also be noted that the 27-year-old has bagged five goals in his last five Premier League appearances.
Team News
West Ham defender Winston Reid has declared himself fit to feature on Thursday and is likely to captain the All Whites in midweek. Burnley s red-hot striker Chris Wood will lead New Zealand s line on Thursday.
Key Factors to Consider
