But not all hope is lost - the Kiwis look a rejuvenated side with the inclusion of midfield starlet Ryan Thomas who shone in all three matches, combined with the firepower of Chris Wood - plus Winston Reid was omitted due to injury.

The Kiwis suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to hosts Russia in St Petersburg in the opening game of the tournament, where the New Zealand backline was dismantled by Dmitry Poloz and Fedor Smolov, along with young gun Aleksandr Golovin.

Following, was a much tighter 2-1 defeat at the hands of Mexico in a feisty affair in Sochi. Coach Anthony Hudson’s Kiwis struck first through Chris Wood. Raul Jimenez levelled the scores before Oscar Peralta put the game to bed, sealing the game for the CONCACAF champions. The game was marred in the dying minutes by an off the ball scuffle in which players from both sides were fortunate not to be sent to the stands.

The Confederations Cup campaign came to a crashing close with a 4-0 defeat to reigning European champions Portugal in St Petersburg. Cristiano Ronaldo and his men were ruthless in front of goal, scoring almost at will if it weren’t for a top drawer performance from gloveman Stefan Marinovic.

But who were the standout All Whites during the tournament? Here are our player ratings for the starting XI in the Russia game, and then throughout the tournament...

 

Stefan Marinovic

Club: SpVgg Unterhaching (Germany)

A pretty poor start to his campaign against Russia, he gradually got better as the game wore on. Marinovic looked more composed against the Mexicans, getting fingertips to their first goal, but was beaten at his near post for their second. But come the third match, it’s not often you can pick out the goalkeeper on the receiving end of a 4-0 drubbing as a stand out player, but in this case he produced a ripper. Marinovic made the number one jersey his own, and will definitely be in Anthony Hudson’s future plans.

Score: 6.5/10

 

 

Kip Colvey

Club: San Jose Earthquakes (USA)

In the starting 11 against Russia, it was good to see Colvey venture forward to support an otherwise hapless middle three. Lacked confidence against a vastly more experienced campaigner in former Chelsea man Yuri Zhirkov. On the bench for both the Mexico and Portugal clashes, as Dane Ingham and Tom Doyle were given chances to impress Hudson in the squad.

Score: 5.5/10

 

Tommy Smith

Club: Ipswich Town (England)

The most effective All White on the pitch against the Russians. Lost his temper late on in the piece, but combined well throughout the park and was unlucky to have a header cleared off the line. Against Mexico he also pushed forward for attacking set pieces and generally made himself a handful for the defensive line. Was unlucky not to be a little faster and get boot to a ball that evidently rolled out for a goal kick, when the Kiwis could have been 2-0 up and away laughing. The Portugal match saw a different side to Smith though - he was reluctant to commit to tackling Ronaldo in particular, and the All Whites were made to pay when he coolly slotted a penalty. Only then did Smith, Durante and Boxall begin to close the superstar’s space down.

Score 6.5/10

 

Andrew Durante

Club: Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand)

Playing as the central member of New Zealand's back three, Durante was unconvincing while covering attackers Poloz and Smolov and lost too many 50-50 headers at the beginning of the Russian match. He, like so many other All Whites, grew into the tournament as it progressed. And although he was substituted for Shane Smeltz in the 74th minute against Portugal, he had made significant improvements to his game since his showing in St Petersburg the first time. Will forever remember dispossessing Ronaldo.

Score 5/10

 

Michael Boxall

Club: SuperSport United (South Africa)

The first contribution Boxall made to the All Whites in their Confederations Cup campaign was to dive into a tackle, only to miss ball and player, leaving a gaping hole where a centre back is meant to be. Following that, he warmed to the occasion like Andrew Durante, and won more aerial battles. Had a very quiet game against Mexico and went missing for long spells, occasionally winning or conceding the odd foul. Hard not to feel sorry for him going up against the quality of Ronaldo in the Portugal clash, and in the end the Real Madrid athlete came out trumps.

Score 5.5/10

 

Deklan Wynne

Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (Canada)

Wynne, against Russia, made crucial tackles in the defensive third and started counter attacks which often fizzled out (through no fault of his own). He also outplayed his fullback counterpart Kip Colvey on the other flank. Was a substitute for Tom Doyle in the Portugal matchup - Doyle and Wynne may become a more regular part of Hudson’s plans after their respective performances.

Score 5.5/10

 

Michael McGlinchey

Club: Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand)

A ghost on the field in the first half of the Russia game. Normally so impactful in the A- League where he directs play for the Phoenix, he disappeared into the Saint Petersburg air. Much better in the Mexico match, where he slipped many a through ball to the ever-threatening Chris Wood, who could have had a bag. Against Portugal he was taken off in the first half without any obvious injury. Replaced by the more defensive-minded Bill Tuiloma. McGlinchey could have been better overall and never put together a complete performance.

Score 6/10

 

Kosta Barbarouses

Club: Melbourne Victory (Australia)

The differences between the central role Michael McGlinchey played and Barbarouses’ wide playmaker role was evident. The latter was encouraged to push forward with the ball and take the game to the opposition, while the other was told to hold the fort while the All Whites were in possession. Unfortunately, Barbarouses frequently made the wrong decisions on the ball, making passes look harder than they needed to be and was often caught by a resilient Russia and Portugal (when he was subbed on) defence.

Score 5.5/10

 

Ryan Thomas

Club: PEC Zwolle (Netherlands)

What a player this kid is turning out to be. The All Whites' best midfielder without question against Russia. He tracked back to make vital tackles on advancing Russian troops before they made it to New Zealand’s defensive third. In the other two matches, Thomas won fouls, set up attacking moves and, when everything else failed, took it upon himself to shoot with venom and even rattled the woodwork. He was compared to Aaron Mooy across social media platforms throughout the group stage. Player of the tournament for the All Whites.

Score 7/10

 

Marco Rojas

Club: Melbourne Victory (Australia)

Almost as transparent as Michael McGlinchey against the host nation. The 'Kiwi Messi' didn't live up to his name, as was perhaps expected against such opposition in the tournament. He stepped up to the plate for attacking free kicks, but usually couldn’t direct them either towards the head of a team-mate, or goalwards. Rojas was subbed off for Shane Smeltz in the first match and for Kosta Barbarouses against Mexico.

Score 5/10

 

Chris Wood (C)

Club: Leeds United (England)

Was the lone attacking threat for the All Whites, even if Hudson's starting formation against the Russians would suggest otherwise. Elsewhere Wood scored the Kiwis’ only goal of the tournament against Mexico, and combined well at set pieces with other tall timbers in the side Boxall and Smith. Chances came few and far between for the Leeds United target man against Portugal, but a performance to savour nonetheless.

Score 6.5/10

 

Clayton Lewis vies for the ball against Mexico

SUBS

Clayton Lewis had the greatest impact of the subs bench, assisting Chris Wood for New Zealand’s only goal of the tournament with a scything through ball through the heart of the Mexican defence. Otherwise Bill Tuiloma was present in all three matches, used in various roles across the pitch, as he is capable of carrying out midfield and defensive roles. Tuiloma was also influential in the attacking third with his long throw rockets into the box. Ingham and Doyle were used as replacements for Deklan Wynne and Kip Colvey - watch this space as Doyle and Wynne are proving they should be Hudson’s future first picks at full back.

SUBS - Glen Moss, Tamati Williams, Sam Brotherton, Themi Tzimopolous, Dane Ingham, Tom Doyle, Storm Roux, Bill Tuiloma, Clayton Lewis, Alex Rufer, Shane Smeltz, Monty Patterson.