Ricki on the match
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1217555/index.html#kiwi+performance+boosts+herbert
New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert believes his team's performance
against Australia yesterday shows the All Whites will be more than
competitive at this year's FIFA World Cup�.
Chris Killen put the
visitors - ranked 58 places below the Socceroos in the FIFA/Coca-Cola
World Ranking - ahead after 16 minutes but second-half efforts from
Dario Vidosic and, with the last kick of the match, Brett Holman handed
Australia victory. Herbert said the display proved his team would not be
the pushovers most experts think they will be in South Africa after
being drawn alongside Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia.
"The history
of New Zealand (football) tells you - you play one up front and you get
10 behind the ball and hope for a set play (to score) so hopefully we
have changed that sort of thinking with the personnel we have," he said.
"I think we caused them all sorts of problems with Rory Fallon's
ability in the air while Chris (Killen) is a good finisher and with
(Shane) Smeltz we have seen what he can do in and around the box.
It was great for us to have a World Cup warm-up game here in
front of a big crowd and with the big rivalry back again and hopefully
that continues.
Ricki
Herbert
"Maybe
we surprised (people in Australia) with our performance but it was a
good positive statement of what we are about and where we are at.
Although we have got a lot of work to do yet leading into the World Cup,
I was very pleased."
While Australia and New Zealand met
regularly when both were in the Oceania confederation - the All Whites
famously knocked Australia out of the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cups in
qualifying and also beat the Socceroos in the 1999 and 2002 Oceania
Nations Cup Final - last night's clash was their first meeting in five
years following Australia's move into Asia.
However Herbert says
his team's performance showed his team was more than a capable opponent
for the Socceroos and would like to see regular meetings between the two
nations - as is the case in cricket through the annual Chappell-Hadlee
trophy. "It was a great match and I can only thank the FFA (Football
Federation of Australia)," Herbert said.
"It was great for us to
have a World Cup warm-up game here in front of a big crowd and with the
big rivalry back again and hopefully that continues. Given the right
timing and with all players fully fit I think it would be an amazing
opportunity for the game (regular Australia-New Zealand fixtures) and
hopefully people went away having enjoyed it."