All Whites v Spain at Confeds Cup

Really, the players mentality has to be that Spain is there for the taking even though it is the toughest task this NZ team has ever faced. By not having the best players against the number 1 ranked and European champions, does not send the right message to the whole NZ tournament campaign and it would affects us in the other games mentality. We must have a "go and get them" attitude or we we might as well quit this tournament of champions.

The bad thing about having not your best players against Spain is that it invites them to knock in more goals than normal from the word "go" and inadvertently affects us in the group. By saving our best players for the other two matches, we may not get through because of the goal difference. The more you think about that approach, the worse it is for the whole scheme of things.

A case in point: consider Australia in their 2006 group stage. They played Japan, Brazil and then Croatia. Admittedly they have a bit more in depth than we do, but not much difference, however about 7 of their 11 played in all the group matches and that is not including a GK change for the last match and the other 3 top key players were under injury and fitness clouds during the time but still in the Brazilian game they turn out their best players that was available then even when it was likely that they would lose. They lost 2-0 but the 3-1 win against Japan and the 2-2 Croatia was enough to see them through.

If Croatia won 3-2 against Australia then it would have been even point and even goal difference but Australia would still get through by the greatest number of goals scored in their matches. In that last match Croatia had to win by 2 goals for them to get to the next round as second placers. If the Australian game against Brazil was not a 2-0 lost but more than 2-0, that scenario would have Croatia in through by Goal difference and wouldn't go to greatest number of goals scored in all matches decider.

Simply, in the game against Spain, we still have to keep the goals conceded down and score some goal ourselves to maximise more goals scored in all our group matches and have a better goal difference. We simply can't roll over and die by placing our weak team out against the strongest, in-form team. The chances are that Spain will win their group games, the question is by how much and who against. We know they are on an undefeated streak. But if we are lucky to forced a draw, then they are psychologically compel to thrash the other groups, which will help our goal difference compared to the other teams and the task in getting to the next round becomes a bit easier.AllWhitebelievr2009-06-13 15:43:12

Agree with AWB. We need to play our best team, if we lose 6-0 in the process; not good, but at least we will know there was nothing else we could have done about it. Getting thumped by Spain, could probably even improve our chances of getting results against Iraq and SA. As they may get slightly complacent against us. Either way I would love to see a competitive result against Spain, for the good of NZ football.

He really should try to use his brain and test himself buy using some type of defence tactic.
Rickie and his AW's have nothing to lose. Goal diff may come into it If there good enough to beat the other sides.

I am a huge fan of Moss , but I have to say, he did not look his best against Italy. I don't consider Paston a "2nd choice" to Moss and he should get some high pressure game time before the WCQ's.   
   Siggy over Mulligan any day. We shouldn't even have Mulligan in the 'Nix matty.j2009-06-14 02:55:25

Terry Mad-da-ford's articles are crap. He says that "Herbert would never say he expects to lose . . ." and then says ""Given the realism of the situation, you have to admit it is highly unlikely you are going to win . . ."

A coach must never say that they will lose or suggest that a win is unlikely. What players want to hear such nonsense as they approach the game? How are you expect the players to perform with a coach dissing their chances before they even kick the ball. As the old saying goes "You are defeated before you started"

Bloody stop making excuses, you are confusing the public and the players!

Maybe Herbert needs to read the "Art of war" by Sun Tzu and get his house in order.

But even more so, Terry Maddaford should stop writing crap articles that would affect public and players perception. I really don't want a coach of the national team discussing about his selection problems or even a article that stirs problems.

What do you mean journos shouldn't write articles that may change public perception? If that's your view, most journalists should probably give up their jobs as pointless.

jamesnz2009-06-14 04:34:32

BBC preview here

In that case, and based on Leo's beautiful set pieces let's play 6-3-2 and play for as many freekicks and corners as possible.

O 4 attitude Oska!

Spanish media have done there home work, there are quite alot of articles on NZ. About the haka, the 13-0 U17 defeat. and David Villa wants to get some sort of record against us.

eeeeeeeeeeekkk

any pubs opening tomorow? 4 Kings?

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/futbol-kiwis-evitar-goleada/dasftb/20090614dasdaiftb_35/Tes&ei=R5Q0SouVCoOMsgP8iNXUDg&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DWellington.%2BPelea%2Bcon%2BMoss%2Bpor%2Bla%2Btitularidad,%2Bpero%2Bal%2Bfinal%2Bparece%2Bhaber%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enNZ274NZ274 Oska2009-06-14 18:30:17

kia ora

http://www.iraqgoals.net/ is your friend

 www.iraqgoals.net have got it set to broadcast tomorrow so trying there would be your best bet.

CMON ALL WHITES!

That line up scares me.

http://www.as.com/opinion/articulo/nueva-zelanda-saben-quien-villa/dasopi/20090614dasdaiopi_8/Tes

"In New Zealand they do not know who is Villa"

Hahaha, oh but we do Mr Villa. We do.

But, do they know who Smeltz is?

beaten like Marco Amelia by Killen to SuperLeo's corner.

Score predictions anyone??

I'm gonna go hand on heart here and say...

Spain 3 New Zealand 0

CMON YOU ALL WHITES!!!!!

nk_croatia who can't log on anymore gave me his score pred just now:

Spain 5 New Zealand 0
Buffon II2009-06-14 21:12:45

Spain 7 New Zealand 2

Not sure if this has been posted before . . .

Line-ups for the U17 game that is referred to . . .

Sigmund and Xavi and Casillas were all in the u17 squads. There may be more of the Spanish, not sure- still comparing.

The Four Kings are showing the big game tomorrow morning.

See ya at 6.30am, bright eyed and bushy tailed.   

C'mon All Whites!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeXcKuVrKNI

Our last goal at the Confeds Cup.

as the commentator says "stunning goal"

My prediction is 5 1 to Spain. Bertos scores the most average goal possible

This is what they are saying about our players;

Translation using Yahoo's Babel translator and then paraphasing to make sense.

1. Paston Position: Goalkeeper. Age: 32 years. Team: Wellington. Fought with Moss for ownership, but in the end, he seems to have yielded his position in the starting eleven in view of last the friendlies. He had played two seasons in more moderate English soccer, with Bradford and Walsall, and sometimes if he had time in the squad because an injury to Moss, opens doors to him in the team.

23. Bannatyne Goalkeeper; 34; Petone. The Goalkeeper with more experience, veteran of certain local clubs, given his selection. He is very tall, but he practically does not have on any opportunity to play. He never left the local league and he has only been twice an international with the New Zealand squad.

6. Vicelich. Defense; 32; Auckland. Powerful in New Zealand (defence), best at the moment with due to the absence of Ryan Nelsen from Blackburn. He will be indisputable in the right central and has several seasons in Dutch soccer.

18. Boyens Defense; 25; New York Red Bulls. He plays to the left of Vicelich in center of the defense, is beginning to be grounded in the starting team. Has already played in the last friendly game against Italy. His career has been established in the United States.

4. Oughton Midfield player; 32; Columbus. Mid centre and powerful player, but it does not seem to have many options of being a starter. Another one which played in famous 2-2 draw with Wales. Performs all his games with the Columbus Crew of the MLS.

7. Elliot Midfield player; 35; San jOse. One of the leaders of the team, has the most experience at his age and for 14 years has been selected to play. He is a tiredness worker of midfield defence, but his injuries have not good to him.

12. Moss Goal; 26; Melbourne Victory. In the last friendly against Italy, he does not come with a bad reputation. Was quite sensation a few times in the friendly despite of conceding a total of four goals. Has started as the incumbent one in the last friendly, in which he has gained the confidence of the selector. He spent one season with Rumanian soccer and had the opportunity to enjoy the European adventure, but he never got to make a mark in that championship.

10. Killen Forward; 27; Celtic. Next to Brown and Smeltz, the most important player in the team. Good targetman(?) which has the quality to suddenly nab one. Has achieved regular form for New Zealand. He did play for Hibernian, but in the Celtic he has not much chance (to play).

3. Lochhead Defense; 27; Wellington P.; Left-footed player, very little speed, we last saw him in the friendly against Italy. He was in distress in defense. He spent a long time in university soccer in the United States and certainly he will be in distressed very much tonight.

2. Scott Defense; 22; Waitakere U. Substitute for Mulligan at right back. He has only played some minutes in the last friendlies against Bostwana and Thailand. He was in the Olympic Games at Beijing.

17. Mulligan Defense; 27; Lateral Wellington P. His position is undisputed owned. His squad selection has been based as consequence of playing ten years in modest teams of England: Barnsley, Scun_thorpe or Port Vale. He just arrive at the Australian league.

19. Old Defense; 23; Kilmarnock. He just arrive at Scottish soccer, although it is not going to be easy for him to own a spot in Kilmarnock. He was one of the most influenced players after losing in a pair of friendly before Costa Rica and Venezuela.

15. Sigmund Defense; 28; Wellington. Mainly a substitute, although certainty we saw him in the group qualifier stage for the World Cup. Mainly injured(?), quite slow, must be outside of the usual pair of Vicelich-Boyens. He has never left the local league (scene).

9. Smeltz Forward; 27; Gold Coast U. Is undisputed in the starting line up behind Killen, is often seen him in sitting in center of the field to help the team. One of the key men of this kiwi squad, He shot 12 goals in the last season with the Wellington Phoenix.

11. Bertos Midfield player; 27; Wellington P. For a long time, he has demonstrated to be the player with accurate strike of ball in this squad. In fact, he assisted two of the goals against Italy in the last friendly. Usually he enters from the left, although he is skillful.

13. Barron Midfield player; 29; Petone. Very few minutes in the last half for a player who must not have the choice of starting tonight. Usually midfield centre, another player from the New Zealand league in the squad.

14. Christie Midfield player; 26; Wellington P. For a long time, he has been offer as one of the players with more future in New Zealand, but the certain thing is that when he comes on, he has rather little to play for. Another hard working midfield player.

16. James Midfield player; 21; Tampere U. Usually a substitute for Bertos in the left side of the center of the field, has got to play with the English youthful squad, but he was chosen for the kiwis. Used as a starter in the Finnish Tampere, is one of youngest.

15 Brockie Forward; 21; N. Qeensland. He has played as a forward, but with the squad, he provides more right side crosses. In the last friendly played against Italy, although almost he did not create danger. He is teammate of Fowler in his Australian team.

21. Bright Forward; 22; Panserraikos. He shoots enough goals in Norwegian soccer, but in Greece he nearly has not fire. Son of that competitive player of the New Zealand team in World-cup in 82, Dave Bright. He will not be starting.

20. Wood Forward; 17; WBA. The past season, he made debut in the Premier with the WBA and is already the youngest player of the Confederations Cup. Future forward by far, but right now has not been grounded in the starting team.

22. Smith Forward; 24; Forward Seattle S. hard and physically solid, did not play much in Toronto in the past season and just arrive at the Seattle Sounders. Personally not chosen to start. Certainty, we saw him in one of the qualifiers group games for the World-cup.

8. Brown Midfield player; 28; Wellington P. Captain of the team, midfield centre, the best distributor of quite reliable ball and. Against Italy he was the best midfield player of the team. He is, without a doubt, the best New Zealand soccer player.
AllWhitebelievr2009-06-15 00:45:41

Beautifully done and a good laugh

Ha.

I keep reading it and correcting for grammar and discovering better words to use but I still feel unsatisfied. I don't know whether I did a good enough job, but I use as much common sense when it comes with the cultural language difference.

Those translation from the net makes your head go on a spin.

Here's the Xavi Roca's article using Babel fish translation (I'm not going to bother correct this one but you can decipher with your dyslexia abilities)

"I have had a great experience playing in New Zealand but already it is called on to return to house. I am going to work for the technical secretariat of the Sabadell and perhaps it ends up killing gusanillo in some Third. There it was to me very well. We gained everything, Liga and Champions Although sometimes we have gotten to play before 200 people. In New Zealand soccer is the third sport after rugby, rugby league (something different) I took it as my profession but gives account there you that discipline and method need. Three of each four children go to the beach with a ball of rugby, not of soccer. To the Glass Confederations they will go strong. Sometimes they take soccer as if outside rugby. I said to them that they could go to the ball, but that was not obligatory to take ahead to the rival. But they go to the shock. Taken care of with them. They are going to be intense as already they were it against Italy. The New Zealand ones promise fight, force and certainly they are going to kick. They are noble but out of proportion. They need to coordination and tactics. All attack or all defend. I tried to instill the covers to them Chris Wood, the forward of the West Bromwich Albion, is the best one. Only he is 17 years old and he has already drawn attention of the Premier. It is that there much is seen English soccer. In fact, its league is as an imitation of little quality of the Premier But very little people goes to soccer. There are no soccer schools, does not exist soccer bases. Of Spain they know little. To the New Zealand one you stop to him by the street and him questions that who is Villa and does not know nor who is. That yes, after the party all to take a beer, as if outside the third time of rugby. It is his great sport. Xavi Rock, Spanish soccer player, has played east year in the Auckland New Zealand City."

Spain's Friday training session

Spain's Saturday Training Session

More Spain's Training Session

Our Spanish lesson has begun....let "battle" commence.