All Whites backing derby rivalry to get them through
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – The chance to play the trans-Tasman rivals the Socceroos in a rematch of last year’s dramatic pre World Cup loss is firing an All Whites side running on fumes after a demanding travel schedule in this international window.
Chris Killen celebrates scoring against the Socceroos in Melbourne last year. Photosport
June 4, 2011
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – The chance to play the trans-Tasman rivals the Socceroos in a rematch of last year’s dramatic pre World Cup loss is firing an All Whites side running on fumes after a demanding travel schedule in this international window.
The All Whites lost 0-3 to Mexico in Denver on Thursday afternoon (NZT), after a disappointing first half, and now back up on Sunday halfway around the world following a 27-hour trip to Adelaide.
They are already thinner on the ground after shedding Simon Elliott, Craig Henderson, Winston Reid (all injured) and Ivan Vicelich (unavailable) from a squad already without Tony Lochhead, Tommy Smith, Rory Fallon, Jeremy Christie and Leo Bertos, although Marco Rojas’ arrival has boosted the number of available outfielders to 14.
All Whites skipper Tim Brown has played down the negative factors preferring instead to look at what will drive his team when the match kicks off at the Adelaide oval at 7.30 (NZT).
“Any chance you get to play against Australia it’s something special in itself. We know some of those guys quite well and it’ll be a battle,” Brown said.
Brown knows as well as anyone just how fierce the All Whites and Socceroos rivalry can get.
The 30 year old midfielder fractured his shoulder during the first half of last year’s clash between the two sides in Melbourne – teammate Leo Bertos was also on the wrong end of some crunching tackles – a match won 2-1 by the home side through a 94th minute goal by Brett Holman.
“I think last time they spent the build up telling the media that we would kick them but it turned out to be the other way round, which is ironic. I think it’ll be a physical battle, no question about that but we’ve got something to prove after the other night.”
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said his charges would be raring to go given another 24 hours.
“I don’t think you could have asked for a better one to back up after travelling 30 hours and having to perform the next day,” Herbert said.
“Australia is the right recipe for that, but we’ll see what the result is. It’s a healthy respect we have for them. All the boys will be loving it, they’ll be looking forward to it. Everyone will be writing us off but that’s a dangerous place to be.”
The All Whites are missing nine starters from last year’s World Cup side including the entire defence and midfield. Tim Brown seems certain to be partnered in midfield by playmaker Michael McGlinchey while there will be further opportunities for young strikers Kosta Barbarouses and Chris Wood at some stage on Sunday night alongside Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen. Elsewhere, Herbert will have to piece together the remaining pieces of the puzzle with only the official stadium walkover and a good night’s sleep to firm up his thinking.
Australia 3 New Zealand 0
A brace of goals from Josh Kennedy helped Australia to a 3-0 win over a battling All Whites in trying conditions at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday night.
June 5, 2011
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – A brace of goals from Josh Kennedy helped Australia to a 3-0 win over a battling All Whites in trying conditions at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday night.
The striker scored in the 9th and 59th minutes to help the Socceroos seize control of the game and an injury time penalty from James Troisi proved the icing on the cake for a rain-soaked 21,000 strong crowd at the home of South Australian cricket.
Despite the identical score line to Thursday’s loss to Mexico at altitude in Denver, it was a much improved performance from the All Whites, although their line up had the same youthful influence.
Among the fresher faces, there were strong games from Michael Boxall playing in his favoured central defence role and Jeremy Brockie filling in as a make shift left back, as Herbert played a flat back four for the first time since qualifying for the World Cup in late 2009.
Michael Fitzgerald and Aaron Clapham got more minutes in the second half and there was a international debut for substitute goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, while a Marco Rojas cameo added spark as coach Ricki Herbert used a total of nine players aged 24 or under including starters Chris Wood, Michael McGlinchey and Kosta Barbarouses.
The only blot of Brockie’s copybook was a lofted back pass that put Glen Moss under pressure and combined with Moss’ poor touch on an increasing slippery surface allowed Kennedy to round the keeper and slot into an empty net.
“We probably didn’t need the start we had,” said Herbert.
“I thought we gifted them a goal and that was the last thing we needed off the back of the travel.”
Hebert was using the whirlwind tour to shape his thinking ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers although a raft of injuries forced the New Zealand coach to look wider than he had initially hoped. Still, Herbert was pleased with some of the positives to come out of the match.
“I’ve got more players that I can be proud of. I think there were a few who really stood up and performed well.
“I thought Jeremy Brockie was excellent tonight. We put him in at left back but have we found a right back? We’ve struggled for four years to find somebody and maybe he’s an option.
“Ben Sigmund is always a heart on the sleeve player – he’s never going to let you down. I thought he was the pick of the senior players. And you see the potential of players like Kosta Barbarouses and Marco Rojas who will benefit from another 18 months of investment and exposure at this level. Marco had defenders treading water at times.
“It’s good character building for this group. We’ve got nine or ten players who have had very little international exposure and they are going to be stronger for the opportunity. I can’t do anything about the 14 odd players that aren’t here. Australia have got three or four missing as well but the reality is we don’t have a squad of 23 to pick from at the moment.”
The All Whites’ programme for the remainder of the year will take shape after the preliminary draw for the FIFA World Cup on July 30. The path for the winner of Oceania qualifying may yet go through a playoff with Asia, North America or South America and Herbert indicated that he the All Whites would seek out relevant opposition once the full route of World Cup qualifying is known.
The All Whites are scheduled to begin their path to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in June next year in stage two of Oceania qualifying which features home and away ties against the top three teams from this year’s Pacific Games.
