In the last 20 years, Before moving to AFC, Australia would struggle in the OFC playoff qualifying. They would always win against the smaller teams like New Zealand, who had no chance to beat Australia. How ever, the All Whites had their biggest chance to qualify since 1982, having Australia switch to AFC. New Zealand stormed through qualifying facing against small teams like Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. With almost no competition, New Zealand faced Bahrain in the OFC v AFC playoff, and in their first game in Bahrain, they managed to get 0-0 draw, an advantage heading back to Wellington. Rory Fallon scored the one and only goal (even with a penalty scare) in the match and New Zealand fought for their 2nd ever FIFA World Cup appearance. With a country centered around it's Rugby team, the All-Blacks, it seems that this All-Whites football team has a chance to show the world they are all about football when it comes to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Qualification: I basically summed it up in the paragraph above. The team: Coach Ricki Herbert will lead the All-Whites, but it won't be easy, because New Zealand comes into South Africa as one of the worst squads in the tournament. The All-Whites need work in pretty much every part of field, whether its defending to passing to attacking. A few good players on the team don't match up to the problems in the squad, which lack much discipline...and speed. But being New Zealand, they have an equal chance when it comes to physical play. Probable Starting Lineup (4-4-2): -------------------Paston------------------------ Sigmund---Nelsen---Vicelich---Lochhead Killen---Brown---Elliot---Bertos -------------Fallon---Smeltz--------------- Stars to Watch: Ryan Nelsen: The intimidating Blackburn defender will be tough to get past whether it's facing against him or staring at him Shane Smeltz: He will be they key man to look to for goals if New Zealand wants points in this tournament. Chris Killen: The Middlesborough striker can also act as a right winger, and that's good because he is fast. Verdict: New Zealand are no doubt one of the bottom teams heading into South Africa, and they have a dark history behind them too. They did not gain a single point in the 1982 World Cup. Infact, in any sort of FIFA-related competition, New Zealand has yet to win a single game. However, this is South Africa, and New Zealand face Slovakia in their first game, which is not as bad as it seems. Also, New Zealand have the experience of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup behind them, and only Italy in their group has also made a recent trip to South Africa before the World Cup began. New Zealand are far from expected to make it ou tof the groups, but there's always a time for a surprise! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF7KkgBK9ow Question: Can New Zealand win a game in the next few weeks?
FIFA World Cup(TM) - 2 Answers
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1 :
I'm not gonna lie. I love reading these;)
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They might get a point out of Slovakia but I expect thrashings from Italy and Paraguay.
