Chris Wood wants Danny Hay to remain as New Zealand manager despite their double-header derby defeat. With no competitive fixtures, the All Whites played two friendlies against rivals Australia to plug the international gap.
However, two defeats - without scoring a single goal - have raised questions about the manager’s future. The Kiwis lost 1-0 in Brisbane on Thursday before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat on home soil over the weekend.
New Zealand also failed to qualify for the World Cup after being edged out 1-0 by Costa Rica in their play-off match in June. This means 1982 and 2010 remain the only times the nation has qualified for the tournament.