The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Ricki Herbert: Former All Whites Coach previews key match against Egypt
21 Jun 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What are the All Whites' expectations for the match against Egypt?
Round two, of course, for the All Whites today. World Cup, Egypt in Vancouver. Ricky Herbert, former All Whites coach, of course, is with us. Ricky, morning. Morning, Mike. Did you like what you saw in game one?
Yeah, really good, Mike. I think a great start. Clearly a couple of things to tidy up defensive-wise, but great to score a couple of goals and get some points on the table.
Would that be momentum for us heading into today?
Chapter 2: How did the All Whites perform in their first match?
Look, I think it's going to have to be Mike. We're probably going to have to just raise the quality right across the pitch up another level. I think the Egyptian side will be very, very strong and tough to beat. Having said that, I think the boys will be in a good space, take some real confidence out of that first game and hopefully take it to a slightly different level and get us three points.
Let's hope so. What's your observation of the tournament generally, the quality of football from what you've seen overall?
Yeah.
Quite outstanding, really, Mike. I think there's always that question around should it be 48 teams and the extension of different numbers. But for me, goals are being scored.
Chapter 3: What challenges does Egypt pose for the All Whites?
Very competitive. I think there's only probably been a couple of blowouts. So nothing too much on that spectrum. But, no, super exciting. I'm in Vancouver. The mood is healthy. People everywhere just loving the game. Good. And stadiums have been pretty full too, mate.
Well, I was going to say, so in Vancouver, not a lot of people from Egypt, not a lot of people from New Zealand, but you can still feel a buzz that there's something World Cup-ish about to happen there today.
Yeah, very much. I'm actually downtown Vancouver, and it's chock-a-block with Kiwi shirts, flags. Egyptian people everywhere. So yeah, a real buzz. And I think it'd be a super atmosphere in the stadium again tonight.
It's a weird thing to talk about this, but I mean, the chances of us winning today is slim. So maybe we get a draw and we'll probably lose to Belgium and that's the end of our tournament. I mean, just being realistic, is that about how you see it unfolding?
Oh, look, the dice could roll that way, Mike. You know, it is the World Cup and, you know, the expectation of the level of football here is going to be really high. So, you know, the challenges will keep coming for the white boys. But we're here, we're present. You know, we do take the confidence, as I said, from the previous Iranian game.
So, you know, fingers crossed we can be competitive tonight because, you know, This probably is our best shot now to grab that three points and that will take us straight through to the next group.
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Chapter 4: What is the overall quality of football in this World Cup?
Fantastic. Go well. Enjoy the game today. Appreciate it very much, Ricky Herbert, who's the former All Whites coach with us this morning.
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