New Zealand Football (NZF)
1891
Coach: Ricki Herbert Confederation: Oceania
FIFA Ranking (Nov 09): 77
Previous Appearances: 1 (1982)
New Zealand v Slovakia 15 June; Rustenburg
New Zealand v Italy 20 June; Nelspruit
New Zealand v Paraguay 22 June; Polokwane
Coach
Ricki Herbert
Record
1982 First round
Background
Top contenders in world rugby and a major test playing cricketing nation, it is a pleasant surprise that this country with only a population of 4.3 millions already figured in football World Cup at least once. That occurred 28 years ago and the All Whites lost all the three group matches. But the country has made a comeback now to play on the gand arena.
The road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals
New Zealand is a member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), which does not have an assured spot in the FIFA World Cup finals. This time around, the World Cup qualification from this zone was merged with the OFC Nations Cup tournament. The winner of this round robin double leg tournament would qualify for a play-off with the fifth placed in the Asian zone. Only four teams participated in the competition. These countries were New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Zealand.
The first game for New Zealand was with Fiji which the All White won 2-0 and the good start was followed up by a 2-1 victory against Vanuatu. The last victory was repeated a few days later in the return match at home. The score line was 4-1 this time. Next in line was New Caledonia, who were blasted 3-1 helped by a late brace from Smeltz. New Caledonia was crushed 3-0 in the return game too. However, the victory run was over in the last of the fixtures when they lost 2-0 to Fiji. But this lose was immaterial to the final outcome as New Zealand had already won the 2008 OFC Nations Cup and had qualified for the play-off.
Bahrain, the fifth placed team in the AFC was New Zealand’s rivals for the one slot in the 2010 World Cup. Neither side could score in the first leg at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa. But the All Whites managed to put one across in the second leg played at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington and New Zealand was thru to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Strengths
If body strength matters in football, then they have it in them. Physical strength often imparts a kind of confidence and so the All Whites will not be overawed by reputations. New Zealand players are hard working and will not give up easily.
Weaknesses
With not much of football played inside the country, let alone international participation, New Zealand is not technically savvy.
The Coach
A member of the 1982 World Cup squad, Ricki Herbert is one of New Zealand’s most capped players. He is also the coach of Wellington Phoenix, which plays in the Australian A-League. Highly passionate about football, he maintains a very calm exterior. Herbert has been in charge of the team since 2005.
Star Men
Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers, England);
Very active on the field, Nelsen is the rock around which New Zealand’s defence is built. Being a player in the English Premier League, he has a bag of experience with him, which he shares with the team as its captain. Nelson is a motivating force for the All Whites.
Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand);
He is a brilliant playmaker and very creative. Bertos keeps his forward line busy with nice balls from the midfield.
Shane Smeltz:;
Smeltz had a good qualification campaign and scored freely for the team. A fabulous striker, he will be in the thick of it, if New Zealand makes any headway in the tournament. The German-born Smeltz will also want to atone for his lackluster performance in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
Chris Killen;
ahead of the 2009 Confederations Cup, New Zealand played Italy in a preparation match and the 28-year old striker netted two goals. Chris Killen has been capped for New Zealand around 30 times and will be one of the players, All White fans will be looking forward to perform in South Africa.
Best Footballing Moment
New Zealand was playing Saudi Arabia in Riyadh ahead of the 1982 World Cup. They needed to defeat the Saudis by at least five goals to be in the reckoning for a spot in the World Cup finals. The All Whites scored the five goals in the first half itself and eventually qualified.
World Cup Objective
New Zealand had lost all the three group games in their last World Cup appearance. So they would aim to win a game or at least earn couple of draws.
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