New Zealand and Wellington Phoenix defender Finn Surman has been left out of Wednesday’s All Whites squad to play Tunisia after suffering an injury in training.
NZ Football say Surman (20) received a head knock during a training session.
READ MORE: All Whites to play Tunisia in third place play-off at Egyptian tournament >>>>
At his media briefing ahead of the Tunisia game, All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley said:
“It was in training, he put his head down and one of the players put their foot up and it caused a little cut on his head.
“It was a cut that was stitched. He was fine, concussion-wise, he passed all the tests with our doctor, but we decided that because there’s a cut and we didn’t want any contact to open it back up, to return him to his club to hopefully ensure he’s ready for their next game.”
Meanwhile, the Tunisian camp are waiting on an MRI scan to decide whether defensive midfielder Hadj Mahmouod is fit.
Forward Elias Saad was left out of the squad for the 0-0 draw with Croatia after having had oral surgery.
How to watch
Wednesday’s match will be streamed live and free by FIFA+.
READ MORE: Penalty sinks All Whites in tournament opener against hosts Egypt >>>>
READ MORE: Coach Darren Bazeley’s post-match reaction after All Whites loss to Egypt >>>>
WATCH: Highlights from Egypt’s 1-0 win against New Zealand >>>>
Fixtures
Game to be played on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (NZT)
Final
Egypt v Croatia
New Administrative Capital Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)
Play-off for third place
New Zealand v Tunisia
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)
New Zealand
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (5 Caps) Burton Albion FC, England
Alex Paulsen (0 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Oli Sail (9 Caps) Perth Glory FC, Australia
Defenders
Tyler Bindon (5 Caps) Reading FC, England
Michael Boxall (48 Caps) Minnesota United FC, United States
Liberato Cacace (21 Caps) Empoli FC, Italy
Dane Ingham (14 Caps) Newcastle Jets, Australia
Lukas Kelly-Heald* (0 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (19 Caps) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland
Tommy Smith (51 Caps) Macarthur FC, Australia
Midfielders
Matthew Garbett (21 Caps) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Clayton Lewis (26 Caps) Macarthur FC, Australia
Callum McCowatt (18 Caps) Silkeborg IF, Denmark
Ben Old (3 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sarpreet Singh (13 Caps) FC Hansa Rostock, Germany
Marko Stamenic (20 Caps) FK Crvena zvezda, Serbia
Alex Rufer (8 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Forwards
Kosta Barbarouses (55 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Elijah Just (21 Caps) AC Horsens, Denmark
Max Mata (10 Caps) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland
Ben Waine (12 Caps) Plymouth Argyle FC, England
*Debut call-up
Injured
Finn Surman (1 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Withdrawals
Tim Payne (34 caps), Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand (injury)
Chris Wood (74 Caps) Nottingham Forest, England (injury)
Joe Bell (18 Caps) Viking FK, Norway (injury)
Tunisia
Goalkeepers
Aymen Dahmen
Bechir Ben Said
Mouez Hassen
A.Allah Memiche
Defenders
Wajdi Kechrida
Ghaith Zaalouni
Yassine Meriah
Dylan Bronn
Oussama Haddadi
Hamza jlassi
Alaa Ghram
Ali Abdi
Amine Cherni
Midfielders
Samy Chouchane
Ellyes Skhiri
Aissa Laidouni
M.A Ben Romdhane
Med Haj Mahmoud
Houssem Tka
Hamza Rafia
Forwards
Elias Achouri
Seifallah Ltaief
Elias Saad
Seifeddine Jaziri
Haythem Jouini
Bassem Srarfi
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