With the AWs qualifying stumbling into another Confederations Cup, we might as well walk down memory lane, avoid any speed camera vans, and chew the fat over the time the team first made the Confeds Cup.
My memories - I don't remember anything of the group games of the 1998 ONC, but according to Wikipedia we squeaked past Tahiti, tonked Vanuatu, and then Danny Hay scored in the 88th minute to give us a resounding 1-0 over Fiji in the semis.
What I do remember is the 20 minute or so package that was on Sunday afternoons TV One Sport, most likely fronted by Geoff Bryant....we had a team that featured a previously not-really know (uncapped?) Mark Burton and Aaran Lines. I don't know how strong the Aussie team was, but fair call to think they were favourites at home (Brisbane)
I think it was a scrappy game (duh) - I remember thinking there wasn't much of a crowd, but Wiki says 12,000.......wasn't our goal (we won 1-0, spoiler!) a bit of a long ball punt up the field, Ngata sort of miscontrolled it, and Burts slotted it away? Anyway, cue celebrations and we're off to Mexico!
I was working in Mt Wellington in 98, and the NZF offices weren't far away - I was wearing my AWs shirt, and I went into the portacom that NZF had - Harry and Burts were in there, and I said congratulations and shook their hands. I always regret that I never thought of getting them to sign my shirt!
The buildup the team had to Mexico was just ludicrous. We complain about no games now, but in 1999 the AWs played a shark ton of matches, which was great, but they were flung out all over the world - it just seemed like a logistical meltdown. Thailand, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia....then onto Central America.
Anyway, on to Mexico. I tried to talk a friend (who is a bit of a tight arse) into going to Guadalajarrrrrra, but he piked out. That first game against the USA was played during the week - I was contracting to HP at the time, and was always on the road.....so I was trying to listen to updates on 1332AM. I even tried to call the helpline at my work to see if they knew the score! Kris Bookenhooghe played up front, but I'm sure he wasn't a striker? I always thought he was a midfielder......the Mexican fans booed the Americans (naturally) and cheered NZ. Chris Zoricich scored an absolute belter of a free kick, but too little too late. Lose 1-2.
Germany in the next round at the Azteca. This game I have no memory off really, apart from the Germans played in green and completely outplayed us. Jason Batty started in goal as Utts was disciplined for a late night out. Wasn't there someone else in the same boat?
And then the biggie - Brazil! Nelsen crashed a header against the bar (or just over), Lines duffed a right footed shot.....Ronaldinho scored a great free kick. Losing 0-2 to Brazil (albeit a weak Brazil) is no great shame.
I think we had a great tournament by NZs standards - I wish Tinoi Christie played. I think he travelled to Mexico but wasn't even in the squad. What was that about? I was a bit of a Tinoi fan, he could provide an x-factor that would be hard for others to replicate. Still, maybe Duggers saw him as a luxury player....who knows.....
Will wait a few days before starting a 2003 thread - but what do y'all remember of this time? Did any forum members go along to Guadalajara/Mexico City?