World Cup Team Guide: New Zealand

New Zealand / Dave Farrar / 17 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

The full Nelsen: Ryan is organiser as well as captain and best player

There's a strong suspicion that New Zealand will be the worst team at the Finals but at least with that comes no burden of expectation. They'll certainly go down fighting and don't expect cricket scores every time they're in action.

"The Blackburn Rovers man is the Kiwis’ best player by a long long way, and his job with the side extends to organising as well as doing his job as a player. Nelsen can’t do it all on his own, but he must play well enough to get big performaces out of the likes of Ben Sigmund. The Kiwis know that there only chance of getting anything here is to keep things tight defensively."

Four years ago, New Zealand football was at its lowest ebb after a defeat by the Solomon Islands meant that they weren't even the second best side in Oceania. They've worked hard since, and Australia's defection to Asia meant that they were shoo-ins for a play off place.

They surprised many, though, by beating Bahrain and claiming their place in South Africa, although there's still a suspicion that they'll be the worst team at the finals. This is only their second World Cup, and while there's no Wynton Rufer this time (remember him, all thirty somethings reading this?), they have some talent in forward areas, and have picked up enough reasonable results in the last two years to suggest that they won't be humiliated this summer.

I certainly wouldn't be drawn into the trap of backing over 2.5 goals and any unquoted score in the games involving the Kiwis, although if they keep sides to 0-0 at half time, then those markets will be worth a look as the New Zealand side will be at a disadvantage when it comes to fitness. The A-League finished in March, and those in the squad who are involved in that competition have had to find ways to keep up their levels. Many, though, will be short of match practice.

COACH: Ricki HERBERT

Herbert combines his duties as the national coach with guiding the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League, and the former Wolves man is renowned as a solid defensive organiser. The Confederations Cup showed us that his sides can be overrun, but don't bank on Herbert's team shipping as many goals as people seem to expect.

Vanuatu scored twice against them in qualifying, as did New Caledonia. They conceded 5 goals in all in their Oceania Group. They kept clean sheets in both their play off matches v Bahrain, although Bahrain missed a penalty in the second of those.
Key Players

Ryan Nelsen

The Blackburn Rovers man is the Kiwis' best player by a long long way, and his job with the side extends to organising as well as doing his job as a player. Nelsen can't do it all on his own, but he must play well enough to get big performaces out of the likes of Ben Sigmund. The Kiwis know that there only chance of getting anything here is to keep things tight defensively.

Shane Smeltz

If New Zealand are to get goals, then Smeltz is the likely scorer. He has twice won the golden boot in the Australian A League and has been Oceania Player of the Year over the last two years. He scored in six consecutive qualifiers, and while the opposition may not have been the strongest, he at least showed that he is able to go on runs of form. Who knows what might happen if he hits a rich vein in South Africa?

Mark Paston

Along with the poor bloke who has the job of restocking Sepp Blatter's mini bar, the Kiwi goalkeeper can expect to be one of the busiest men in South Africa. His pedigree may not look the best, in that he was released by Bradford, Walsall and St Johnstone, but he looks competent, and is in the fortunate position of being able to impress, without ever being blamed for New Zealand's inevitable defeats.

Recommended Bet:

Back New Zealand to finish Bottom of Group F @ [1.25] if you like that kind of price

Tags: New Zealand football team, Ryan Nelsen New Zealand, World Cup betting, World Cup fixtures, World Cup teams