Fifa praise All Whites duo

IAIN McGREGOR/The Press

COMPETITIVE DEFENDER: All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen was singled out for praise in a Fifa report.

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All Whites goalkeeper Mark Paston and skipper Ryan Nelsen have been hailed for their World Cup performances in an official Fifa report.

A 289-page study by a 16-person technical study group was published last week by Fifa.

It said that the All Whites – ranked 22nd in the 32-team tournament despite being the only unbeaten team in South Africa – featured "disciplined, well-organised defence". Their strengths included their "deep, defensive block, aerial dominance in defence, counterattacks and excellent team spirit".

Fifa president Sepp Blatter noted in his report that "New Zealand, who did not lose any of their games, Slovakia and the USA provided some early headlines" in group play.

Only two All Whites were singled out by the technical study group for individual mention. Paston was "excellent in the air" and impressed with his "good reflexes and quick distribution", according to the report.

Nelsen was a "competitive central defender, good in the air" and stood out as a defensive organiser.

The report noted New Zealand were at their first World Cup finals since 1982 but said the All Whites, "despite being placed in a tough group alongside Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia, gave a more than respectable account of themselves".

"With three draws, the Kiwis failed to qualify for the next round but were still a good advertisement for their confederation [Oceania], for which qualifying for the finals and performing well at them is of great importance.

"Ricki Herbert's team particularly impressed through their good organisation, competitiveness and compact defence."

One item in the report might raise a few eyebrows. The Fifa report said all 15 penalties awarded at the World Cup were "100 percent correct" decisions, including, by implication, the dive by Daniele De Rossi for Italy's equaliser in a 1-1 draw with the All Whites in Nelspruit.

- © Fairfax NZ News