http://www.worldcupblog.org/more/ World Cup South Africa 2010 en-us World Cup Blog http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/kiwis-coach-forced-to-put-club-before-country.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/kiwis-coach-forced-to-put-club-before-country.html Craig Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:41:51 -0600 Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has been told he will not be going to South Africa on December 4 for the World Cup draw. Despite FIFA requesting all head coaches attend the gala event, the NZFC is hopeful that no one knows who we are and as such, will not be missed. The Phoenix have a game against Melbourne Victory the night before and club owner Terry Serepisos has insisted that his head coach put the needs of the club ahead of wining and dining with the big wigs of world football. Ricki has agreed that he http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/were-going-to-south-africa-so-stop-your-complaining.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/were-going-to-south-africa-so-stop-your-complaining.html Craig Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:03:59 -0600 As the dust settles on the pitch at Wellington Stadium and the hangover from Saturday night/Sunday morning gradually clears we have a chance to sit back and reflect on the momentous achievement that was Saturdays glorious victory and subsequent World Cup Qualification. But there are some out there (and over here) that have questioned just how worthy the All Whites are of their place at the adults table of world football, and just how difficult their task really was. A couple of points that I feel could do with being discussed from a New Zealand point of view. (As opposed http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-through-to-the-world-cup.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-through-to-the-world-cup.html Craig Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:15:30 -0600 The All Whites have beaten Bahrain 1-0 in the second leg of their World Cup Qualifier in front of 35,500 people at Wellington Stadium tonight. The Kiwis showed loads of Kiwi grit and determination withstanding a fast starting Bahrain side before gradually asserting some dominance in the midfield that allowed them to begin to return fire. The All Whites took the lead courtesy of a Rory Fallon header on the cusp of half time: Bharain had thier chances though: Mark Paston saving this penalty just after half time - And just as time was running out, conceding a free kick with the equalizer tantalizingly http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-v-bahrain-less-than-9-hours-to-go.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-v-bahrain-less-than-9-hours-to-go.html Craig Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:36:18 -0600 The big day has finally arrived. In a little under 9 hours the All Whites will take the field in what is easily the most anticipated football match ever played in New Zealand. The All Whites have indicated that they will go into the match using the same 3-4-3 formation that they played in the first leg in Manama, allowing them to play Rory Fallon, Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz upfront in the quest for the goal that will take them to South Africa. On the injury front, Simon Elliot is looking a doubtful starter and will most likely be replace by http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/ryan-nelsen-to-usain-bolt-mine-is-bigger-than-yours.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/ryan-nelsen-to-usain-bolt-mine-is-bigger-than-yours.html Craig Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:36:53 -0600 All Whites vs Bahrain - 3 Days to Go... All Whites captain, star defender and potentially New Zealand's next Prime Minister (pending World Cup Qualifier result), has described the possible rewards of Saturdays game against Bahrain (qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa) as "Bigger than an Olympic 100m Final"' and "absolutely the pinnacle of sport" - So, no pressure then Ryan? "Obviously there's pressure in the game, there's a lot riding on it, I think it's important this week that we focus on the little things and doing what we do well. It's important we don't get carried away http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-vs-bahrain-5-sleeps-to-go.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-vs-bahrain-5-sleeps-to-go.html Craig Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:58:04 -0600 There are only five sleeps to go until the biggest game of football ever played on NZ soil, and I for one am starting to get a little excited. It just seems like it's all starting to click into place for the All Whites. Ryan Nelsen and the rest of the overseas All Whites will arrive in Wellington today having just doubled his career goal scoring tally for Blackburn by scoring against Portsmouth. They will join the New Zealand based players tomorrow for a training session in the afternoon. The Phoenix came from behind to score a 1-1 draw at 'The Stadium' http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/time-to-stand-up-for-nz-football.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/time-to-stand-up-for-nz-football.html Craig Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:51:13 -0600 ******* Before you read this post, you need this playing in the background to set the mood: ******* Righto, got that sorted? Are you wearing black and/or white? A NZ Flag or Silver Fern displayed prominently somewhere about your person? Good, lets go then... The next 10 days will without a doubt be the most important 10 days in the entire history of New Zealand Football. And it starts tonight. Wellington Phoenix vs Newcastle Jets - A-League The Cake Tin, Tonight Newcastle are rubbish, the deserve dead last. The Phoenix currently sit uncomfortably on the same points as them. A win would lift the Nix up to http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/young-all-whites-create-nz-football-history.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/young-all-whites-create-nz-football-history.html Craig Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:41:04 -0600 The Young All Whites have accomplished something no other NZ Football team have ever achived. Not only have they finished the group stage undefeated with 3 draws, but they have qualified for the second round of a FIFA World Cup - the first Kiwi side to ever venture out into the dizzy heights of knock-out football. Trailing 1-0 to Turkey with only injury time left to play, the Junior All Whites world cup dream seemed to be fading fast. That was until this moment: Midfielder Hobson-McVeigh's 35m shot sent NZ through to the final 16, and a showdown with either Switzerland or http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/u-17-world-cup/junior-all-whites-survive-perfect-storm.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/u-17-world-cup/junior-all-whites-survive-perfect-storm.html Craig Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:54:08 -0500 The New Zealand side took one small step towards the next round at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, weathering a relentless storm of shots from the Burkina Faso side and a downpour or torrential rain that stopped play for over 100 minutes, to cling to a 1-all draw this morning (NZ Time). The Africans had it all their own way in the first half, raining down shot after shot on the desperate Junior All Whites defence, Victor Nikiema scoring for Burkina Faso after just 12 minutes with a thunderous shot past the NZ goalkeeper. While the Burkina Faso side were http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/nz-u-17-side-on-the-cusp-of-glory.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/nz-u-17-side-on-the-cusp-of-glory.html Craig Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:09:22 -0500 There may well come a day when the sport loving public of New Zealand can expect one of their representative Football teams to win a match at a FIFA tournament, when progress beyond the group stage is not just some distant lofty goal, but a realistic and attainable target. This is not that day. But the current NZ Men’s U-17 side could take a huge step towards raising the expectations of a nation if they could get a victory against Burkina Faso at the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria tomorrow. Victory against the small landlocked African nation (yes I had to look it http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-vs-global-pandemic.html http://nz.worldcupblog.org/team-news/all-whites-vs-global-pandemic.html Craig Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:54:57 -0500 The news this morning that three Blackburn Rovers players have contracted swine flu has put the entire football supporting public of New Zealand on edge. With just 18 days to go till the second leg of their world cup qualifier against Bahrain in Wellington, the All Whites are sweating on the availability of influential defender and captain, Ryan Nelsen who plays for the Premier League side. General consensus from the population of Wellington, and in particular the 35,000 people who have tickets to the match at The Stadium, is that they would be more than happy for Nelsen to play, even