Vs Mexico 1st Leg Thurs 14th 9:30am SS2

Yeah I hit FIREUP mode in the weekend! 180min away from Brazil!

This may be completely irrational but I'm treating the fact that we have to play in BLACK as a good omen. 

There's something just plain magic about the Black Shirt and the Silver fern. Think Murray Halberg rather than the All Blacks. Rank outsider - an unknown - disabled by polio in one arm so he can't run normally - just a solid kiwi. Comes from apparently nowhere and wins the Olympic Gold convincingly with a surprising burst of sustained power. I just hope the guys lining up on Thursday have just a wee bit of that spirit in them as the odds against us are huge. We are such massive underdogs with it all stacked against so much against us.....what better time for a miracle

......and surely some luck has to come our way just this once.... 

They are already onto our secret midfield weapon.. would love to know what they have found out?

http://www2.aztecadeportes.com/notas/pambolitobreak/167416/mano-a-mano-entre-jugadores-de-nueva-zelanda-y-mexico

MEXICO  CONFIRMED THE STARTING ELEVEN TONIGHT   for 1st leg,  5-3-2  formation

Muñoz; Paul Aguilar, "sledgehammer" Rodriguez, Rafa Marquez, "the moleman" Valenzuela, Layún;  "Gullit" Peña, Medina, Montes;  De Nigris & Oribe-Peralta

6 players from America, 3 from León and the 2 strikers from 2 other teams

http://www.record.com.mx/article/mexico-jugaria-asi-ante-nueva-zelanda-en-la-ida-del-repechaje

they've realised Christie is the key for us. 

I'd like to know what the positive bit says about him.

This has all the makings of a classic underdog tale, with Christie as the star

The weather forecast is still playing nice. Forecast to be cloudy and a high of 16 in Mexico City on Wednesday.

I know where I'll be come Thursday 9:30am.

Not at work...

we do have a bizarrely good record wearing black.......16 degrees centigrade is wellington weather......The big JC in the mid field - there will be a miracle

40 hours to go!!!

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1952279&s=mundial&type=story

Simon Elliot interview for Mexico's tv

Away - 1 in 100

Home - 1 in 10

I'm an optimist

Was reading Jeremy 'Secret Weapon' Christie's wiki

"Christie scored his first goal for Tampa Bay in a 2–2 draw with Austin Aztex FC, an 86th minute penalty kick to tie the game in front of a sell-out home crowd.[3]"

An omen? You decide.

In fact the Mexicans must be really worried, they can't find a club where Christie plays. Have we really snuck a footballing superman in under the radar? Is he perhaps an alien? Likewise this Lochhead chap, by all accounts he hides out in Wellington, doesn't expose his super skills to the public. They must be wracking their brains trying to figure out what Ricki's secretly up to. I know we are. 

Agreed, like Tony Smith's lineup overall but would slot Ivan Vicelich in for Sigmund and Clapham or James for Butler. But we all know Ricki - put your money on Lochhead, Bertos and Christie playing - sigh. 

got BBQ cranking and i am pumped  i had trouble sleeping last night im soo excited. come on guys we can do this. believe i tell you

I like the way Tony Smith also points out to those who say Roux and Tuiloma are too young - that Rufer started the 1982 campaign at 18 and Herbert at 20. Rising stars before fading veterans I say.

I see midfielder Ryan Thomas (18) played 82 minutes for Dutch first division club PEC Zwolle last weekend, his third game for them this season.

Does anyone think that if either Merrick or Nelsen was All White coach that Christie, Bertos, Lochhead or Bulter would be ahead of Ryan, Roux or Tuiloma? 

Well they have landed in mexico according to saville and tvnz news, and apparently "there are going to be hundreds of mexican supporters who will be against them"

I love how we can be so down on our guys chances, it's hilarious - sure two of our team have no club but since when has that stopped anyone stepping up and doing their best - everyonme is writing off our chances - including the TAB, had us at $13 to win in Mexico and $6.50 to draw, Mexico were at $1.18. For mine this is daft - footy is the one game where the "eaker" team can take the game. Given the current chaos that is mexican football, their apparent inability to score and their horrid fans who we know will turn septic towards their own team if they are not winning - we stand a very good chance provided we keep our heads. Noone expected us to go through last WC unbeaten, in fact had it not been for a poor refs call we would have beaten Italy 1-0. How can you lot even suggest that Mexico will destroy us, I'd rate Italy higher and put the pressure to a similar level. Some of you may think I'm delluding myself, but I seriously think this is our chance to put NZ on the footballing map.

personally I think the draw option is worth a few bob, the other one was the score, 1-1 was paying $40, TAB had Mexico 3-0 paying $4.25

Ok one all at $40 is worth a go