All Whites 'greatest' results keep coming
BY FRED WOODCOCK IN RUSTENBURG
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These "greatest ever" results seem to keep on coming for New Zealand football.
First it was Bahrain, then Serbia, and now world No 34 Slovakia after the 78th-ranked All Whites surprised the footballing world with a last-gasp 1-1 draw in their opening match of the World Cup at Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium this morning.
"It would have to be," All Whites coach Ricki Herbert replied when asked if this was the greatest result in New Zealand football's history.
"We've never picked up a point at a World Cup, albeit we've only been twice.
"We beat Serbia, although people want to tag that as a friendly match, but we've thrown some really good punches tonight and got what I think was an extremely well deserved result.
"I'm very, very proud and we've got a really proud dressing room in there. We came across with intentions to make a difference and we've certainly done that.
"I thought we played really well tonight against a highly ranked team."
Herbert is overseeing something of a golden era for Kiwi football and he wondered, like the hundreds of Kiwis in the 23,781-strong crowd who witnessed Winston Reid's injury-time equaliser, if it could get any better.
"I think this team has laid a platform for four or five years now, it has created history everywhere we've gone and it's a very proud group. I think the nation will be in reasonably good spirits tonight.
"We made an extremely strong statement today that we're competitive and the brand of football we're playing now is more conducive to high level results and performances."
Herbert admitted that, aside from a win, he couldn't have made up a better scenario.
"We probably had it all today," he said.
"We were really focused going into this one; I've shared that with you for a long time in that I thought the opening game was our best chance to get something.
"We would have been disappointed with a loss but credit to the players, we kept coming. Smeltzy [Shane Smeltz] probably had a better [chance] and could have scored but Winston's popped up and got us back into it."
Herbert said Auckland-born goal-scoring hero Reid, who only switched allegiances to New Zealand in March after playing age-group football for Denmark, had been a "great coup" for the All Whites.
"He's only a young player and no doubt internationally he will progress but he's got a great heart and he's slotted into the team really well.
"It's a special moment to score for your country at any stage, let alone at a World Cup. It was a good finish. He's kind of redeemed himself for getting on the wrong side of the Slovakian striker when they scored."
Herbert acknowledged the All Whites had looked shaky at times, giving away too much cheap possession which allowed Slovakia to dominate for longer periods than he would have liked.
"We're on the world stage here, but a couple were just silly mistakes," he said.
"Mark [Paston] slips over and Winston didn't react as quickly as he should have to clearing a ball, and those things can punish you, but I thought we were very good.
"The world was watching us and hopefully there are a few proud people around the country saying that wasn't a bad effort."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Totally agree Dave #132
I remember England celebrating when they drew with the Ab's, and they looked like blonkas !
Go the AW's. You make us proud, and happy too. Good luck for the next matches, we will be watching.
As much as I am behind the All Whites, this was a draw!! Lets not celebrate it as a victory. I hope this tournament opens up soon, its been a snorefeast so far.
Kind of annoyed by some comments and minimising the AW achievement saying Slovakia created history by earning their 1st world cup point. They sure did. But what country did they use to be?? CzechoSLOVAKIA. How many WC appearances did that country make? 8. What was their highest placing? 2nd (1934 & 1962).
Its not like their team is a bunch of no hopers with no WC history behind them. This was a very good football and sporting result and shouldn't be scoffed at.
Personally, I'd almost rank the Serbia game above this one. I hope the AW's keep making "best ever results".
Go the AW's!!!
Re: NIKOS #102. Mate you are kidding yourself. Happy with only modest sporting achievements? How about league world cup, Bledisloe Cup (for how many years), several Olympic champions and still competing on the world stage in a sport we haven't really gotten that into over the years (until now). Not bad for a country of 4 million. How many whingers you got over there? 20 million? C'mon Ghana!!!!!!
All you haters on this site, get over yourself. NZ is playing out of their skins, they just got their first point in a World Cup against an opponent who finished first in their European qualifying group, who have players who play week in, week out in some of the toughest competitions in the world. And all the Aussies bashing us, I have many Aussie friends here who are unashamedly supporting NZ as their second team, so why not get over your superiority complex and jump on the bandwagon of a great underdog story, Kiwi battlers proving they can compete against the best in the world.. what more do you want? oh and all I can say is 4 nil, 4 nil, 4 nil....
Wow.. #114, #116 and the other haters - you keep harping on yet you're watching and reading and following the team, just like real fans eh?! Time to come out you poor repressed fools, you're allowed to enjoy football! And to Andrew #118, if this is a defining moment for that chap's family then so be it - it's none of your business so don't judge him mate! Stop being jealous rugbyheads!! GO THE ALL WHITES!!!
Ricky Herbet opines: "...the brand of football we're playing now is more conducive to high level results and performances."
Sorry, but the long ball isn't conducive to anything in football. Take the rose tinted glasses off and realise that the way we play is miles behind the rest of the world.
Andrew#118. It is not the only occasion of course,however it is sharing joy and sorrow together, little things that make up the Big picture..and the last night was a lot of joy...
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Which two teams do you think will go through to the final?
Makr, comment 131:
Spot on, People forget that slovakia is half of Czecheslovakia, who were a formidable world football power until the nation split.