ALL WHITES V BAHRAIN - Official 2nd Leg T

so, Convilla why would you want to take attention from the players?

All Whites on verge of history
Stan Lazaridis

November 07, 2009 06:30pm

FOUR years after John Aloisi ended Australia's 32-year World Cup drought, New Zealand stands on the brink of its own piece of history.

Having made their only appearance in 1982, the All Whites host Bahrain this Saturday in Wellington in the return leg of the teams' World Cup playoff.

After a scoreless draw in Bahrain last month, NZ needs a win to make it to South Africa. A scoring draw would send Bahrain through on the away goals rule, while another 0-0 draw after regular and extra time would see the All Whites needing to win a penalty shootout just like the Socceroos.

NZ has been big winners from Australia's move from the Oceania Confederation into Asia. After winning the Oceania group stage, the Kiwis earned a playoff with the fifth-placed Asian team, Bahrain, for a spot in the World Cup.

The All Whites were doubly lucky, because not only did Australia's departure make things easier, but Oceania's playoff path now goes through Asia rather than South America, meaning the Kiwis avoided a showdown with Uruguay.

Should NZ qualify, plenty of questions will be asked over whether it deserves to be there given the strong European teams that have failed to make it through that continent's cutthroat group stage.

European powers the Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia have missed out and 2006 runner-up France, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Guus Hiddink's Russia still have to navigate their own two-leg playoffs to get through.

But if NZ gets to the World Cup, it deserves to be there and I'll be happy if it happens. FIFA has to create a qualifying path for every nation.

It's not NZ's fault that it has been presented this opportunity to qualify through an Asian playoff.

There are so many strong teams in Europe and only 13 of the 32 spots go to European nations because FIFA wants the World Cup to include countries from around the world.

These European countries know their fate from before the start of qualifying.

Credit must also be given to the A-League for allowing Wellington Phoenix to be part of the competition.

About half of the Kiwi national team plays for the Phoenix, so the A-League has helped New Zealand become stronger.

Some in Asia have seen this as Australia helping a country from a rival confederation, but at the end of the day Australia also has to worry about its own league.