The All Whites may have fallen just short in their latest World Cup bid, but coach Darren Bazeley insists his side remains a single victory away from rewriting history. “We’re still one match away from making history,” he declared after the narrow loss to Egypt. “We know what we must do—beat Belgium.”

Bazeley reflected on the missed opportunities in the campaign, particularly the draw against Iran and the heartbreaking defeat to Egypt. “We had control in both games, especially early on. Against Egypt, we dominated possession, created chances, and were in control at halftime. But we couldn’t maintain that intensity. They stepped up, and we paid the price.”

The frustration was palpable. “We were satisfied at the break, but we never counted our chickens. We struggled on set pieces and transitions, and they punished us. Everyone’s devastated, but this isn’t over yet. One-goal margins can swing either way.”