| @Sheldon New Zealand have really lost out massively by Australia leaving the confederation. Of course you're now 1 stage closer to qualifying for the World Cup, but that just means one game against the likes of Bahrain and possibly three World Cup matches against superior opposition over four years. There's no real regular competition and that will slow down NZ's progress. It wouldn't surprise me in the future if, rather than the Asia and Oceania federations merging together, new federations formed, one around the Middle East, and the other around East Asia and Oceania. Having a group in which Australia and New Zealand competed against the likes of Japan, South and North Korea and China for three World Cup spots would significantly improve both country's performances. |