Ben Waine could miss much of Plymouth Argyle's pre-season (Olympics.)

The Pilgrims' striker is expected to be selected for the New Zealand squad for the men's football tournament at the Olympic Games in France this summer

Ben Waine could miss much of Plymouth Argyle's pre-season in July if, as expected, he is named in the New Zealand squad for the men's football tournament at the 2024 Olympics.

It is an under-23s competition - although three over-age players are allowed - so 22-year-old Waine, who is a regular in his country's senior squad, is eligible for selection. Darren Bazeley is the head coach of the senior side, the All Whites, as well as the under-23s, the OlyWhites, so he knows all about the Pilgrims' striker.

Waine has played 13 times for New Zealand at senior international level, most recently two substitute appearances in games against Egypt and Tunisia in March.

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New Zealand, who will represent the Ocenia Football Conference at the Olympics, have been drawn in Group A alongside the host nation France, as well as Guinea and the United States.

Their first game will be against Guinea in Nice on July 24 and their other two group matches will be played at the Stade de Marseille, against the USA on July 27 and France, who will be coached by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, on July 30.

The top two nations from each of four groups will advance to the quarter-finals on August 5, with the semi-finals three days later and the gold medal match on August 9. Argyle will begin their Championship campaign that weekend.

PL

Same group as France and USA? Won't make it through to the second round.

But the good news for Argyle today is that Harve and Wotton have joined TUFC


Anything that keeps that pair away from Home Park has to be worth celebrating.

Sounds like a positive to me - he gets to play some competitive matches against decent opposition, rather than some meaningless friendlies against Parkway and Torquay.

Hopefully he does well and catches someone's eye so we can loan him out after the tournament.

Loan him out when he comes back he ain’t championship material let’s have that right be no great loss his to lightweight
Championship centre half’s push him off the ball for fun

Thought Waine improved quite a bit in his all round play towards the end of the season but problem was he didn't look like scoring a goal. Difficult player to describe really-not a goal scorer, not an out and out target man, quick enough but not burning pace, not brilliant in the air etc. Maybe he does need a spell somewhere where he'll get some full matches rather than 10 or 20 minutes when Hardie is knackered.