Cup plans on hold as team draws attention

CONFIDENT: Michael Glading

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AUSTRALIA is off the table, Uruguay and China want a piece of the action but the All Whites' World Cup build-up plans are on hold until early next month with the tournament's official draw influencing the entire footballing landscape over the next seven months.

Having beaten Bahrain to qualify for the world's greatest sporting showpiece, attention now turns to who the All Whites will play before and during the World Cup.

The draw will be made in Cape Town on December 5 (6am NZ time) where New Zealand's three group opponents will be revealed.

Then New Zealand Football bosses will spring into action, looking to arrange a home game on March 3 and sort out where the All Whites will be based for warm-up games before the cup kicks off on June 11.

"Time is against us – there is a lot to do but the draw will dictate a lot of things," New Zealand Football boss Michael Glading said.

"No one will commit to playing against you in a friendly until they know they aren't going to play you in a World Cup match."

He said hopes of re-establishing games with Australia were unlikely to materialise just yet. The Socceroos were tied up with Asia Cup matches over that March period and their early qualification for the World Cup meant they were well ahead of New Zealand with their planning. Those plans are likely to include arriving early in South Africa to prepare there.

That's something the All Whites may look at. But again, the World Cup draw will help determine that.

If they get drawn to operate at altitude, as they were in the recent Confederations Cup in South Africa, they may repeat their warm-up plans by going to Botswana which is also at altitude.

"If we get drawn to play at Cape Town then we could base the team in Europe and play some really strong European opposition and then fly to Cape Town," Glading said.

NZF is keen to utilise the March 3 date but wary that it is only an official two-day window and would prevent European-based All Whites being involved.

But it would be an opportunity for coach Ricki Herbert to explore his options as he looks to add another five players to the 18 who did the business against Bahrain.

"In principle we are keen to use that window, it's a question of what quality game we can get," Glading said, adding that New Zealand's success hadn't gone unnoticed. "The approaches are coming from a better level now."

These included China and a call from an agent working for Uruguay which was the last team to qualify, clinching the 32nd spot on Thursday.

Glading plans another meeting with Herbert this week to work through options. Herbert won't be attending the World Cup draw but would love to see his All Whites get England in their group.

"Yeah, I would like to get England," Herbert said. "At the end of the day we are going to get a top side, a seeded side.

"So it's just how kind the draw will be to us with the other two. You are going to draw a giant which is great for us."

- © Fairfax NZ News