“So, am I at my peak now? Yeah, definitely, in terms of confidence and fitness but in terms of what level I can reach now, I’ve kind of opened my own eyes and started to learn a lot more. I improved a lot as a footballer this year and obviously this is the next step. The World Cup is a great chance to test yourself again.”
Just’s breakthrough in Scotland is one of the more unusual in New Zealand football. He has been in Europe a long time and was recognised as a talented professional, ever since he moved to Helsingor as an 18-year-old, then in the third tier of Danish football. He made steady progress – with time at two clubs in Denmark – but as recently as September last year he was still under the radar, on loan at St Poltens, a second-division club in Austria.
Just has appeared 44 times for the All Whites since his debut in 2019. Photo / Photosport
But then came the move to Scotland, where he exploded. As one example, his market value on a leading football analytics site is now at €2.5 million ($5m), after being at €300,000 this time last year.
“The season was amazing,” says Just. “It really exceeded my expectations, not only for myself, but also as a team where we were expected to finish. And playing in Austria in the second league there weren’t many fans so then you go to playing at Celtic or Rangers, with 50,000 people or Hearts, Hibs and other big clubs. Taking that step into Scotland I knew was a big challenge and the success was a bonus.”
The diminutive Just (1.74m) adjusted to the physical Scottish game much quicker than expected, helped by being in a team that played to his strengths, with an eye-catching brand of football.
“We had some good early results, people got behind us and it snowballed,” Just says.
It started with the first match, against Glasgow giants Rangers, as they got a late equaliser for 1-1, with Just providing the assist.
“We were playing against Rangers and not showing any fear,” said Just. “That was obviously a good result and that springboarded us into believing that the way that we were doing things was going to work long term.”
A personal flashpoint came a fortnight later, with a brilliant performance at home against Hearts, where he set up two goals in the 3-3 draw.
“That was a standout,” said Just. “A lot of people talk about that as my best game of the year and it came quite early on, so that was good timing. Not to say my teammates didn’t trust me before, but when they see you playing at your peak, then there’s always that extra bit of trust and belief and it started a snowball effect from there.”
Elijah Just has been based in Europe since 2019.
Photo / Photosport
Motherwell finished fourth, only behind the Glasgow giants and Hearts, while Just recorded seven goals and eight assists in 30 league matches. He was recognised as the club’s player of the season and also picked for the Scottish Premiership XI. That puts him in an ideal, and somewhat unusual, state of mind coming into this tournament.
Just has been in the All Whites a long time – he made his debut in Danny Hay’s first match in charge in 2019 and no one has played more internationals in the time since, as he has racked up 44 internationals and only missed two games. But the vagaries of club football mean he hasn’t always come into camp with a bounce, instead sometimes needing the All Whites to regain a spring in his step.
“I’ve been really fortunate to be involved for such a long time,” Just reflected. “It’s a little bit crazy … I don’t feel like I’m a veteran in the team but there’s definitely been a lot of learning. I was lucky that maybe during some years where I was struggling with club football, I still had the national team to come back to, speak to everyone and gain that little bit of positivity and energy before I went back to club. And now this year has been a little bit different where I’ve been able to come from club and have maybe more expectations on myself and try to bring more to the group.
“At this World Cup it’s really important that everyone is not necessarily just confident as a footballer but knows what they can bring to the group and are ready to do that, and I definitely feel like I’m ready to do that.”
Just operates in the most competitive area of the field for the All Whites – as an attacking midfielder or winger – with numerous options. But he is one of the certain starters for Monday’s match against Iran (Tuesday NZT), whether he is employed on the right (most likely), left or as a number 10.
It will be a step into the unknown for Just – and the biggest match of his career – though the likes of 2010 veterans Chris Wood, Tommy Smith and assistant coach Simon Elliott have provided some guidance.
“We’re lucky that we have those guys who have been around for so long and have a lot of experience,” Just said. “They do try to prepare us as best they can. You never really probably can understand the magnitude until you play that first game but definitely they are good leaders in the group and will pass on any information they have.”
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.
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