New Zealand – World Cup 2010 Preview #22 (Group F)

New Zealand is a island-country in the Pacific Ocean with a population of just 4 million. For a country of 4 million that has hardly embraced the game of football to qualify for 2 World Cups is quite astonishing. New Zealand are overshadowed by neighbours Australia, who left the Oceanic Football Confederation in 2006 and now that Australia have left the OFC, New Zealand had their chance against Asia’s 5^th best team in qualification, Bahrain which they took and have now qualified for South Africa.

Appearances at World Cup finals: This is the 2^nd time that the All Whites have qualified for the World Cup. The first and last time was Spain ‘82 where they were in a group of death involving Brazil, the then Soviet Union and Scotland where despite losing all 3 games they managed something which Australia failed to do in an easier group at their first World Cup, score a goal.

Best ever performance / Famous moment in WC history: New Zealand scored twice in a 2-5 loss to Scotland in Malaga, Steve Sumner scored New Zealand’s first World Cup goal as captain in the 54^th minute and then fellow Steve, Steve Wooddin scored in the 65^th minute when at that time it seemed the All Whites could cause an upset as they were only 3-2 down. This is without a doubt New Zealand’s proudest footballing moment.

The Lowdown: The 2 World Cups New Zealand have qualified for share in common the makeup of their squads, with many of their players playing in Australia. Both of New Zealand’s goalscorers in 1982 were playing in Australia’s top flight the then National Soccer League (NSL) while 8 of Ricki Herbert’s All Whites’ in South Africa play in Australia’s current top flight the A-League.

In South Africa you could say New Zealand have a much easier group than they did in Spain and with Marcello Lippi’s very aging Italy, the underrated South American side Paraguay and European underdogs Slovakia, New Zealand have a chance of qualifying from Group F.

First up in South Africa for New Zealand are Slovakia. Despite being lowly rated in a group containing Germany 2006 dark horses the Czech Republic, Slovakia won their group and qualfied for the World Cup without going through the pain of playoffs. This Slovakian team is underrated and despite having no stars of the game they will be up for this game and this could be a challenge too great for the All Whites.

If New Zealand thought the last game was difficult they will be overwhelmed by Italy but New Zealand may be able to fight through this game like they almost succeeded to under a year ago when they played Italy in an international friendly in South Africa leading up to the Confederations Cup which they both qualified for. New Zealand held the lead 3 times in the narrow 4-3 loss where Gold Coast United striker Shane Smeltz opened the scoring on the 14^th minute, Chris Killen put them back in-front after an Alberto Gilardino goal on the 42^nd minute and did the same from the penalty spot after another Alberto Gilardino goal on the 57^th minute but despite these heroics in South Africa just under a year ago I don’t see them doing the same thing and I believe Italy will win by a good 2/3 goals.

The final game in their group and in my opinion their final game in South Africa will be against the underrated Paraguayans. Paraguay are going to cause a bigger challenge to New Zealand than many will expect because you have to consider in CONMEBOL’s long qualification group they finished joint 2^nd and just 1 point behind Brazil after 18 games. Paraguay’s attacking threat will cause some trouble for New Zealand’s defence with 3 very good strikers to choose from, Roque Santa Cruz, Oscar Cardozo and newbie Lucas Barrios for the 2 spots in Gerardo Martino’s 4-4-2.

Qualification: New Zealand had a simple qualification group with ‘tough’ footballing nations like New Caledonia,Fiji and Vanuatu ranked 146^th,130^th and 153^rd to deal with the biggest shock being a 2-0 loss in a dead-rubber against Fiji. The All-White’s real challenge came against 5^th placed Asian side Bahrain over a 2 leg playoff. In the first leg New Zealand kept Bahrain to a nil-all draw in Bahrain before coming home to a sellout crowd in Wellington’s Westpac Stadium where new Kiwi Rory Fallon (due to changes in FIFA’s nationality rules) scored on the stroke of half-time and ‘keeper Mark Paston saved a penalty in the second half to send the All Whites’ through.

Top scorer in qualifying: Shane Smeltz who scored 8.

All-time World Cup finals top scorer: New Zealand’s World Cup all-time top scorer is shared between the two Steves, Sumner and Wooddin who both scored 1 in Spain ‘82.

The Manager: Ricki Herbert who played in Spain ‘82. Herbert started coaching in amateur football in New Zealand before stepping up in 1999 to manage the Oly-Whites and has been involved with the national team ever since becoming Assistant Manager in 2001, U17s coach in 2003 and in 2005 becoming All Whites manager. He has also managed in professional club football as caretaker-manager at New Zealand Knights in 2006 and in 2007 being appointed Wellington Phoenix manager, a job he has kept since.

Key Player: Gold Coast United striker Shane Smeltz. Despite having a Premier League captain and captain of the national team (Ryan Nelsen) as a defender I believe it will be Smeltz who’ll make the difference.

One to Watch: Winston Reid, a defender currently playing in the Danish top flight, may break his way into Herbert’s first eleven.

On the Move?: If any of the All Whites will make a big move it will be a player I’ve already mentioned, Shane Smeltz. I think Smeltz could move to a Championship side and play quite well for them and hopefully he gets some interest.

(Photo credit: Anthony Stanley/ATP)

Group F, New Zealand, Previews, World Cup 2010