New Zealand look to shake up 2014 World Cup
Reuters - Friday 25 June 2010, 08:50
POLOKWANE - New Zealand's football team can
look forward to a bright future after a World Cup run in South
Africa surprised many and took them to the brink of a shock
qualification for the tournament's second round.
The All Whites, one of the lowest ranked sides in football's
biggest competition and with no big name players, ended the
group stage unbeaten, after holding more accomplished teams,
including world champions Italy, to draws.
"I think I need to probably pinch myself... we've finished
in the top 24 in the world," coach Ricki Herbert said after the
final Group F match against Paraguay saw New Zealand finish
third in the group on 3 points after three draws.
Most experts saw the side that has only one player from a
major football league - captain Ryan Nelsen plays for England's
Blackburn Rovers - as the whipping boys of the group.
Herbert said there were great things to come from a young
team, with most of the players likely to be around for the next
World Cup in 2014 in Brazil.
"I think when you look at the team, 85 percent of it can go
on to the 2014 programme and there are not a lot of sides that
are in that position," he said.
"The future looks extremely bright for this team."
RUGBY-MAD
The hype generated from the tournament, which saw usually
rugby-mad New Zealanders glued to screens watching their
unheralded side, might also lead to a few more youngsters taking
up soccer and spreading the selection pool.
A survey by Sport and Recreation New Zealand two years ago
showed that only 5.5 percent of New Zealanders over 16 years of
old had played football at least once in the previous year. The
country's total population is about 4.3 million people.
Many of the squad are still aged in their 20s with standout
players Tommy Smith and Winston Reid only 20 and 22
respectively.
Those two helped form a solid defence alongside Nelsen that
conceded only one goal from open play, against Slovakia. With a
debatable penalty awarded to Italy, the team let in two goals in
three games.
Herbert coaxed Smith back from England and persuaded Reid to
play for New Zealand after the tall defender represented Denmark
at under-19 and under-21 level.
The coach, who played in New Zealand's only other World Cup
in 1982 that ended in three heavy defeats, said the team raised
their game and urged the world to take notice.
"I think right across the board players have really grown in
stature. Everyone has played well and I can't find anyone who
has not contributed at the highest level."
With neighbours Australia now competing in the Asia
qualifiers, New Zealand have an easier path to the World Cup
through the Oceania division and may well see many more
tournaments.
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