South Africa World Cup 2010 Group F: New Zealand

GROUP F

Italy Paraguay New Zealand Slovakia

New Zealand

Road to South Africa

Derided by many for having the easiest qualifying route of all the competing finalists, New Zealand simply did what was asked of them in beating New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu in Oceania qualifying.

They then saw off Asian hopefuls Bahrain in a tense two-legged playoff, as the Kiwis shoved rugby off New Zealand's back pages by qualifying for just their second ever World Cup finals appearance.

They didn't face a single nation with a population of more than one million en route, but that won't phase coach Ricki Herbert – who played for the Kiwis in their only other appearance in Spain in 1982.

Fixtures

New Zealand Copyright © Soccerphile	New Zealand Copyright © Soccerphile

New Zealand v Slovakia 15 June; Rustenburg
New Zealand v Italy 20 June; Nelspruit
New Zealand v Paraguay 22 June; Polokwane

Analysis

New Zealand go into the finals as rank outsiders, and the underdogs have nothing to lose after being written off by most of the world's media.

Unfortunately for coach Herbert, his team possesses a limited game plan, with a strong work ethic and reliance on set-pieces the sum of New Zealand's fairly one-dimensional style.

What they lack in finesse, New Zealand makes up for in sheer physical presence, and their group stage opponents may just find the All Whites' bustling line-up difficult to contain.

Key player: Ryan Nelson

New Zealand's skipper and a tower of inspiration in defence, the vastly experienced Ryan Nelson has spent the past five years at English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.

One to watch: Shane Smeltz

The German-born, Australian-raised target man was a flop in the English lower leagues, but Shane Smeltz has enjoyed a remarkable transformation since switching to the A-League with Wellington Phoenix and now Gold Coast United.

Coach: Ricki Herbert

The affable Ricki Herbert is a popular figure in New Zealand, where he combines his duties as club coach of A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix with the role of national team coach.

Herbert played in New Zealand's only other World Cup finals appearance in Spain, and the well respected tactician will be hoping to steer his side to their first ever finals point in South Africa.

Record

1982 First round

FIFA Ranking

Men to watch

Ryan Nelsen

Predictions & Latest Odds

First round exit with pride intact.
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

Won a play off with Bahrain.

On the sidelines

New Zealand shipped 12 goals in their 3 previous World Cup finals games.
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Soccerphile says

They're rank outsiders, but New Zealand may just be capable of sneaking a point off of group rivals Paraguay or Slovakia, while the Kiwis will hope to avoid a mauling at the hands of defending champions Italy.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix)
Defenders: Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City)
Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (FC Tampa Bay Rowdies), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (unattached), Michael McGlinchey (Motherwell), David Mulligan (unattached)
Strikers: Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion)

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