How you'd be feeling today if we hadn't qualified?

How you'd be feeling today if we hadn't qualified?

A thinking exercise for you

I've been looking through my photographs from that fateful day last November and I remember back to my thoughts as kick-off was approaching that day.

Expectation and desire had been building for weeks, but I was realistic that this wasn't a game that we were certain to win. In fact I was so nervous about what was to come that night that all of a sudden I didn't even want to think about the game.

What if we had lost that day?

Can you imagine what your thoughts would be about the World Cup coming up in 8 days if it had been Bahrain that had qualified instead?

I'm curious to know how you think you would be feeling today had we lost or drawn that game.

Me? I'm actually filled with such joy about our appearance in the Finals next week that I can't even begin to imagine what my thoughts would be like.

Hard to say. I'd still be full of excitement as I always am before any WC, but without a doubt the AWs presense enhances the event greatly in my eyes. Then again, I'm always hyped up before the WC and for a long time that's been without us being there.

I've never been a strong follower of the World Cup to be honest. Strongest interest was in 1994 (big US publicity).

Having had a more in-depth think into it, I think I would have been torn between the pain of "close but no cigar" for the All Whites, and wanting to support Bahrain as the default "second team" (being the team that knocked us out).

Id probably be the same as before any WC. Had no expectation for the AWs to qualify at all,therefore no real reason to be gutted 8 months later (I still wouldve been absolutely inconsolable on the night after the loss though).

I'd still be very excited.

yeah, i think I'd still be talking about football and only football. The fact the AW's are in the cup makes it all the better

I'd be wishing it was us and not Bahrain. Seriously thought loving it more cause we are.

Yeah guess id be looking at Bahrains fixtures with some jealousy.

I'd feel like that kid that didn't get invited to the cool kids party.

This! But now we are the life of the party. Or maybe that kid no one talks to. Perhaps we are that really bad dancer, with eighties moves. As long as we score by the end of the night, I'll be happy. Beats being coma-ed out in the corner.

Junior822010-06-04 10:10:44

That's a Feverish Friday night out.

Im quite the opposite really. I had been saying since the beginning of our campaign that we only have to beat the 5th placed Asian side and that I would be disapointed if we didnt take advantage of what would be the easiest path ever for us into the finals.

I remember waking up the morning after the Manama leg and seeing the score on Stuff. I knew then that we would make it to the finals.

I always expected the AWs to qualify, and I will again for Brazil in 4 years also (assuming nothing changes in our route to the finals).

You didn't watch the game?

sh*ttest birthday ever?

Am just stoked we qualified on my b'day haha

I'd be $15,000 richer, staying in New Zealand hoping England would finally get past the quarter finals.

The difference is I wouldn't be going to South Africa and now I am!!!!!!! And I am so excited, I just can't hide it. Whereas, if we'd lost, I would be hiding it. Bottled up deep inside.

Didnt have Sky or broadband or time to do anything else but work/sleep.

And search for new & interesting avatars?

I would be feeling as left out as I have for the past 28 years .. we're baaaaaaaaaack!

A really cool selection of thoughts here. I was a bit apprehensive starting the topic but glad I did. Didn't want to leave it too late either and spoil the week leading into the Cup.

Was just thinking what the Bahrainis might be feeling right now. But then I remembered that this is the second time they've fallen agonizingly close at the final hurdle. Of course they could have done the business before the need for a play-off but it still hurts losing in this same fashion twice.

See you in 2014 Bahrain - and I don't mean in the final qualifier

Well I know I would have stayed gutted for a fair while, since we had got so close, only one game between us and the World Cup. But I guess it would be like every other year, getting extremely excited, not sleeping much, cheering on other teams with a wistful dream of us qualifying.

As if I needed to be *more* football mad! :P But having NZ there makes it so much more awesome!

I still remember Nov 14 ( if that was the day we qualified).

Getting out of bed excited. My rugby head dad had come down from napier which was good because i don't get to see him that much. In true student style we walked down to the mill at 10am and brought a create of bushmans beer. After dad having enough of the bushmans he took me to pub's in  town about 2pm there was a buzz it just felt like we were going to qualify. On the walk to the stadium dad in his drunken state said paston hes a napier lad he'll save a penalty.

When the Bahrain guy stepd up and it got saved i knew we were going to the world cup it was just fate. 12ubb3rduck3y2010-06-05 14:45:46

Haha sounds like you made that part up to make the story sound better!

i would be fuked off, knowing that we could be there.

I wdn't be sad now that I've finished my sticker album as I wd prob not have even gone on the FIFa site let alone opened a TAB account lol & joined a tipping comp and set up my predictor thing on the FIFA site. Not to mention writing a bus slogan etc etc. life wd be going on as usual and I wdn't be bothered I'm prob gonna miss the opening ceremony as are planning on going to a rave sat night

I'd support the Netherlands like I have every other WC but obviously it's not the same

How would I feel?