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A to Z of WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010 - New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND:
Known as the All Whites, New Zealand compete in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). They now occupy top spot here following Australia’s move to the Asian Football Confederation in search of a more competitive playing environment. New Zealand Football is very much down the pecking order behind Rugby Union, Rugby League and Cricket. Not surprisingly this will be the All Whites only second appearance in the World Cup Finals.
Their first appearance was in Spain in 1982. In their group matches they conceded 12 goals and scored only 2. Losses of
4-0 (Brazil), 3-0 (USSR) and 5-2 (Scotland) saw them finish bottom of their group and making an early exit from the competition.
Qualification for 2010 initially involved home and away matches against Fiji, New Caledonia and Vannuata. They won 5 of their 6 matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding only 5. This led to a two-legged playoff against Bahrain which the All Whites won 1-0 overall, thanks to a Rory Falon goal in front of a record New Zealand crowd.
The side is managed by Rickie Herbert who featured in the All Whites team that played in Spain in 1982. A no-nonsense defender he spent 4 years with Wolverhampton Wanderers and has, since 2005, turned the side into a very workman-like outfit, capable of producing solid displays as well as being difficult to break down.
New Zealand has only 1 professional football team (Wellington Phoenix ) and they play in the Australian A-League. Consequently most local talent seeks an outlet abroad. The national captain is Ryan Nelson of Blackburn Rovers, someone who has a degree in Political Science.
Goals are likely to come from Celtic’s Chris Killen (now on loan at Middlesborough) and Shane Smeltz who plies his trade in the Australian A-League. Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle) and West Brom’s teenage giant, Chris Wood, will add to the attacking options. Shrewsbury Town supporters will be holding their breath to see if their resident Kiwi, Kriss Bright, gets the call to South Africa !
If the All Whites are to improve on their previous World cup showing, then they will have to do it the hard way. Drawn in Group F alongside Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia, they are quoted by bwin at 100/1 to win this group. Victor Chandler are offering 12/1 on their making it to the last 16 whilst Skybet has odds of 1/25 on a repeat of their 1982 performance.
New Zealand is famed for its Rugby and its use as a location for such fantasy films as Lord of the Rings. And you would indeed be in fantasy land if you took up Coral’s offer of 2500/1 on the All Whites emulating their rugby cousins and lifting the World Cup on July 11th 2010.
Posted: Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 @ 08:03 pm by Mark
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