Writing for news site Stuff.co.nz on 6 June 2010, former national team member Billy Harris poses the question: "Can the All Whites reach the second round?" The mere thought of it will raise eyebrows around the world, such is the low profile of New Zealand on the world football stage.
New Zealand’s Place in World Football
Currently 78 in world rankings, the New Zealand football team only rates ahead of hosts South Africa (83) and North Korea (105) among World Cup finalists. A member of lowly FIFA confederation Oceania, the New Zealand national team most commonly appears against the likes of Fiji, Vanuatu and Tahiti. Regional success has seen some recent appearances in the Confederations Cup, the last in 2009 when the All Whites were whipped 5-0 by Spain. Now for only the second time ever, New Zealand is in the World Cup thanks to a tight home and away victory over Bahrain.
New Zealand’s very appearance in South Africa has been questioned, and some of the remarks expressed by international commentators have verged on the disparaging. New Zealanders are asking if those assessments are based on the views of opinion-givers, many self-appointed, who can’t see outside Europe and the Americas.
Recent results suggest the All Whites should not be underestimated in South Africa, a fact opposing coaches will be drumming into their charges.
The Build-Up to South Africa 2010
Success against Bahrain was a great cause for celebration. Not since 1982 had New Zealand appeared at a football World Cup. Although that year’s team was soundly beaten by Brazil, the Soviet Union and Scotland, many of its players became household names. That was despite the fact only one, Winton Rufer, had true professional experience. Another member of that team, Ricky Herbert, is now the All Whites’ coach.
Once the Bahrain series was over and Kiwis reflected on New Zealand's previous World Cup experiences, a measure of realism set in. The World Cup is the biggest regular global event, sporting or otherwise, and football is not New Zealand’s game. But the skills of New Zealand players have developed over time, and Herbert was able to call on several international club players when selecting his team.
Rise in New Zealand Domestic Football
Kiwi confidence in the All Whites began to build when the nation started to believe in the game’s standard at home. In the early months of 2010 the Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand’s only professional team playing in Australia’s A-League, made a great run into the 2009/10 finals series. The Phoenix, also coached by Herbert, were overcome by Sydney FC in the semi-final, but the exposure brought with it belief.
Building up to the World Cup, it was back to reality as New Zealand was defeated 2-0 by Mexico in March before a 90,000 largely Hispanic Los Angeles crowd. After regrouping the final countdown started against old foes Australia. FIFA’s rules mean that the two countries don’t meet on the football field as they once did. Australia had been an early victim of New Zealand’s march to the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Australia is now ranked 20 in the world, and with both countries safely in the World Cup this was an opportunity for a solid shakedown spiced with traditional Trans-Tasman rivalry. In a game best remembered now for the unsporting tactics of some of the Australian players and their coach’s post match admonishment of them, New Zealand went down 2-1 to a goal in added time.
New Zealand Football and Facing Reality
Next stop Serbia, and a big surprise in store. In only its second victory ever on European soil, New Zealand previaled 1-0. Serbia is ranked 15 in the world, and some hailed the victory as New Zealand’s greatest win ever. Others pointed out it was just a friendly World Cup warm-up, and didn’t compare with the All Whites’ World Cup-earning victory over China in January 1982.
Although since beaten 3-1 by Slovenia, Herbert is upbeat about New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup, as reported by the UK’s Telegraph on 5 June. New Zealand now heads to South Africa no longer under the radar of international football.
Playing in Group F against World Cup champions Italy plus Slovakia and Paraguay, nobody will realistically deny it’s a huge ask even to achieve a point. The pressure and intensity of World Cup competition is a long, long way from the friendlies that have created expectation and anticipation back home.
New Zealand's World Cup Group Games (NZ time)
Tuesday 15 June v. Slovakia, at 11.30pm
Monday 21 June v. Italy, at 2.00am
Friday 25 June v. Paraguay at 2.00am
New Zealand betting agency the TAB, which can be excused for offering the shortest odds on the All Whites, is quoting the team at 25 to 1 to make the second round. At least in a country where football is not the number one sport, most Kiwis will enjoy the experience of being a part of it, celebrate any success that might come along, take the adverse results on the chin, and then get on with life.
Until Rugby World Cup 2011, which will be another matter altogether.
Brian Cross - Brian is a feelance writer specialising in content for the corporate sector, based in Wellington, New Zealand.
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