NZ Fifa Rankings to drop to between 139 and 149

Not a bad idea but we don't play that many friendlies against island nations anyway.

if it's an option, i think we should skimp on the big foreign trips a bit to play more of them

I agree. More games within the Oceania confederation is a must if we are 1. to improve our rankings 2. improve our player depth within the all whites 3. to improve the level of football within the confederation. While the possibility of losing the occassional game is maybe a bit off putting, development of players, getting used to travelling and playing in different climates etc would be worth it- and the loss of ranking points for the occassional poor result would be offset by points gained in most of the games, and by the strengthening of a bigger base of players. 

Great forum, enjoy reading posts and getting feedback from passionate football people on the game in NZ. I must declare my identity - Graham Seatter. The problem is that OFC games as friendlies earn very few FIFA points. Points are seriously discounted for games being friendlies, and for the ranking of the team you play against, and for the Confederation you play in - all of which would add up to very few points for friendlies by the All Whites against Fiji. Games within a Confederation that are not friendlies earn significant points, especially when they are World Cup qualifying games. Our main problem is that we only have 6 such games in the current 4-year World Cup cycle. Other Confederations typically have at least that many games every year, hence their greater accumulation of points. For example, AFC, UEFA etc. have a long qualification process for their Confederation championship, then the event itself (Euro 2008, Asia Cup 2007), then a two-year World Cup qualifying process. If we win our 4 World Cup qualifying games later this year, we will be approx 100 in the ranking. That will be a good platform to move further up the ranking in 2008, and then 2009 - with Confederations Cup and final World Cup qualifying home-and-away games against the 5th-placed Asian nation to look forward to. Finally, the "invitation XI" games against Fiji were about preparing a group of players for the Olympic qualifying tournament - the bulk of the NZ players used were U23, and that qualifying tournament may well be held in Fiji.

Good to hear from you Graham. Why don`t we arrange some friendlies in the  FIFA windows against Asian countries?

Very good idea, and we have tried - unsuccessfully thus far. One problem has been that they do not follow FIFA windows very closely - they are prepared to play on non-windows, and that has been hard for us when we have had to get a team back from overseas. So we could not really do that in the past, but it is easier going forward - now that we have the basis of a national team playing professoinally in NZ, plus Leo Bertos, we are looking at a domestic-based national team playing Asian nations at the end of the A-League season - watch this space!

That last idea sounds like a good one.

I've just got one question for you Graham, have you considered making NZ join the Asian confederation, because then we would get more competitive games which would boost our ranking and help to develop our players.

I think it would be a good move, but I'd like to know your opinion on it.loyalgunner2007-08-25 16:06:44

Hi Graeme, just awesome that you have posted; i think that's just first class. 

When you're ready Graham

interesting point about us only getting 6 competitve matches in a four year world cup cycle. Given that, perhaps we should look at seperate qualifying process for confeds cup, rather than having them doulbe as world cup/confed cup qualifiers?

Also, with Solomons etc playing the first stage world cup qualifiers now, gives thema  good chance to move up the rankings quite a bit with the high value (world cup) points they receive- at the end of this, they will be getting pretty close to the nz ranking if undefeated.

Sorry about the delay in my reply. Regarding joining the AFC, that is a very good question. Initially, on the departure of Australia from OFC, I had a very clear view that we should follow them. Now, after 18 months experience, I have a different view - for several reasons. Firstly, I believe that we would get lost in Asia. We are not good enough in youth and women's football to figure prominantly, and we would end up struggling with other small, weak nations. Secondly, we could not afford to play all qualification tournaments in AFC. I am aware of the schedule and cost for Australia, and the financial pressure that it is causing - we could not do it, so we would have to pick and choose a few qualifying tournaments. If we made it to the final round of a qualifying tournament, we could struggle to afford to participate in that next stage. Thirdly, one of the reasons that Australia left OFC was to get a better route to the World Cup - but now we have the same route, and arguably it is easier for us than them, and we have the financial and competitive benefit of the Confederations Cup. Fourthly, I do not believe that FIFA would allow us to leave OFC and retain the Confederation - Australia got "first-mover advantage", and also used considerable influence to make their move. Fifthly, I believe that we need the incentive of participating in World Cups, Olympic Games etc. to retain our players, and get cut-through with the media/public. So, I believe that the best thing we can do at present is take all the advantages available to us in OFC to grow our sport and develop our players, and wait and see what happens with the Confederations over time. I do not know whether OFC is a forever prospect, but in the meantime it has our total support. Finally, I woud not make a change to get better world rankings, as they mean very little. If we win our 6 OFC games, participate in the Confederations Cup, play quality frinedlies in 2008 and 2009, then beat the 5th-placed AFC nation to qualify for the World Cup, we will have a good world ranking! Most importantly, our current world ranking will not stop us achieving that goal.

Nice to get your thoughts Graham. It woud be nice if the next All Whites home game could be played at the Ring of Fire rather than up at North Harbour. I know logistically it would pose more headaches, but here in Welly you have a commed fan base willing to support their time Phoenix or All Whites until they've lost their collective voices.

do you think that ryan nelsen will play for us in the qualifiers?

Good points Graham, cheers for that. Any friendlies on the agenda for the All Whites?

Yes,Ryan Nelsen said to Herbert he won't be there at the qualifications macth and killen also say that in an interview when he signed for celtic glasgow.

they better play if we get into the 5th placed playoff.

I guess thats why we need a NZ based+Bertos team playing Asian friendlies. Cos they'll be the ones getting us to the 5th placed playoff.

Graham Seatter here again. We plan to play our Oceania World Cup qualifying match in Wellington, at the "Ring of Fire", on Wednesday 17 October. The venue will be confirmed next Monday, once our opponent is known. At this stage, we know that we will play the 3rd-placed team from the South Pacific Games, which finish this weekend. We will have played that same team away on the preceding Saturday, 13 October. We will be announcing the team over the next few weeks, but - at this stage - there has been no indication, formal or informal, that any of our overseas-based players will be unavailable. Barring injuries then, at this stage, we expect Chris Killen and Ryan Nelsen to be available. Their premiership competitions do not play the previous weekend - the challenge for them is getting back to play in the UK for the following weekend. Mark Hughes is supportive, and understands the issue - he is used to Brett Emerton (and Lucas Neill, until recently) doing just that. I did read the article where Chris expressed concerns about playing after the return trip - especially, on this occasion, given that Celtic is away to Rangers the following weekend, and he is trying to break into the eleven.

Seatts...have to say its bloody wonderful to have the chairman talking footie with us plebs in the cheap seats. Top marks mate.

I second that. Graham, would i be right in thinking you will be looking at playing Fiji in Auckland after the turn out at the o- league final and the under 20 game earlier this year? What happens if they finish third?
sanday2007-09-03 16:45:17

I'd hope not... we want the advantage of a home crowd and an Auckland stadium full of Fijians is a pretty hostile 'home' atmosphere.

Good point. Money money money. It didn`t help Ba, or the Fijian under 20`s.

It took them closer than the less-informed expected them to be.

NZF would maybe LIKE NHS to be the home of NZ football but the fact is they couldn't even play the Chatham Cup final there without most likely incurring further financial loss. They were probably looking at a fee of around $8000 to hire the stadium for the Central v Wests game. Hence they ran this "lottery" to see who hosted the final. Kinda of a easy way out coming from my point of view. They (NZF) have chosen to base themselves at North Harbour, built a million dollar turf there, but can't host their premier winter competition final there....c'mon, what's with that? Added to that, SKY gives NZF some free match broadcasts and the decision was made NOT to show the cup final live. Central were offered the game but the $40k fee to broadcast it would have been a good reason why they didn't pursue it. I feel it's another knife in the back for the Chatham Cup. It's a total crock of pony that North Shore is the hotbed of NZ football. I just wonder when sanity will prevail and NZF will go full circle and move back to Wellers.

Or Hamilton:-p

Just realised something...

Sweet. If we're in the top 80 doesn't that mean that our players have a better chance of getting work permits in Europe?

I think so. How can we move up to around 80 if we play less than 10 games (I think), and none of those games are gauranteed wins either.

you only need to play 5 matches to have maximum points. because points are based on average. LondonChris2007-09-05 22:33:25

Excellent. The All Whites are ranked 6th in Oceana!! Woohoo!

Bring on the champagne...

156 and proud of it!

NZ may win all qualifying matches against Pacific islands

but some Pacific islands rankings will higher than NZ for some period
they can win in other qualifying matches, or even reach top 100 in FIFA rankings

quality! i knew there was a reason why I am trying to get my samoan passport!

Just shows how silly fifa rankings are.

if only the TAB used them to set their odds

Gosh, page four of the rankings.  Now that's an incentive to win with a clear sheet and a bag full of goals.