Kiwi Dreams Come True – New Zealand into World Cup 2010

by Saxon Durrant

New Zealand have done it, a 1-0 win against Bahrain booking their passage to the prime time event on all football calendars, the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Rory Fallon will now be remembered in eternity by history, his headed goal in the last minute of the first half proving decisive in sending New Zealand to South Africa. I have no doubt that Fallon’s goal will be the image New Zealanders everywhere will remember for years after the World Cup, and cherished even when the build-up to Brazil 2014 has begun.

Let’s also not forget the All Whites goalkeeper, Mark Paston. He saved a 51st minute Sayed Adnan penalty that could quite easily have gatecrashed the party before it had even started. What a tremendous achievement for a nation that has had few chances to prove itself in the limelight of world football. What does this mean to the people of New Zealand however?

The answer to that is in fact an awful lot. For a country which does not consider football a major national sport it is clear that rugby union may now face some fierce competition for that spot. A record crowd of 35,100 supporters packed into the Westpac Stadium in Wellington to cheer their side on to victory. “They were our 12th man today and they got us home. I’ve played in some incredible atmospheres but this is right up there,” said skipper Ryan Nelsen, who many will know from Blackburn Rovers. This quote is testament to the 4 million people of New Zealand that will now see their country in South Africa next year.

As an Australian writing this article about a fairytale triumph I can relate as it was only a few years ago, in 2005, that our whole country, all twenty million of us, were gasping for breath as John Aloisi stepped up for a penalty against Uruguay. This penalty would send us through to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Aloisi of course scored it and from that day football in Australia changed. The new A-League had started up a year earlier and interest grew rapidly. People watched as Australia reached the second round only to be knocked out by the eventual winners, Italy. The World Cup will certainly be an interesting time for New Zealand.

This is only the second time New Zealand have ever reached the World Cup finals, the first coming in the 1982 competition held in Spain. The team ended up finishing last of a group which contained the USSR, Scotland and Brazil, with no points and a whopping -10 goal difference. Could this be the same in 2010?

My head thinks that it will all depend on the group they are placed in. This could throw up some interesting fixtures, especially if Australia, England and New Zealand get thrown together in a group one way or another. Many assume that the New Zealand squad have no players of great quality; no Ronaldo, Gerrard or Drogba to call their own. While this may be true it is not to say that New Zealand should be underrated, anything but in fact.

Any Blackburn supporter will be familiar with Ryan Nelsen, the rock in the centre of defence and I should say that he will be vital to New Zealand in every way, to keep out the Drogbas and Henrys of international football. Another starlet in the Kiwis’ squad is Shane Smeltz. A rather unknown figure in world football, Smeltz is largely considered to be the best finisher in the Australian A-League. This season alone he has netted 11 goals in 13 appearances as well as winning the golden boot last season with 12 goals. The man certainly has an eye for goal. One more to look out for is Chris Killen. The 28 year old Celtic striker should prove very helpful to coach Ricki Herbert who is looking for a better World Cup than 1982, a tournament he played in.

With the World Cup fast approaching it is hard to say confidently how New Zealand will fare. As I mentioned earlier, it will depend on the group. If they are unlucky enough to draw a Brazil or an Italy then the second round will look unlikely, but then is that what they are really aiming for? I think New Zealand should be immensely proud of even getting to the World Cup. Anything else is a bonus.

Saxon Durrant is the latest addition to the Just-Football.com writing team, specialising in football in Oceania.

Photo credit – Mark Mitchell

Bahrain, New Zealand, Ryan Nelsen, World Cup 2010