Two All-Whites could get their first caps at the World Cup

May 9th, 2010 | by: Ian Rose |

0.023869001141816853_29_Winston_Reid When the New Zealand World Cup squad was announced today, there was naturally plenty of excitement to go around, but for Aaron Clapham and Winston Reid (pictured), there is more than just the honor and thrill of being selected to a World Cup roster. These two players have the chance to do something extremely rare – get their first national team cap at a World Cup.

Reid is probably the better known of the two players, at least in European football circles, but we’ll forgive you if you can’t put a face to the name. The central defender plays his club football for FC Midtjylland in Denmark, and is a dual citizen of both New Zealand and Denmark. The Danes have played him at the U-19, U-20, and U-21 levels, but he has never earned a senior cap, and came out recently and made it clear that his senior preference was to play for the All-Whites.

Aaron Clapham is a midfielder for Canterbury United in New Zealand. Manager Ricki Herbert told TVNZ in New Zealand: “Aaron has come into this group and looked very comfortable. He is the type of player that should be around the international scene for many years and he has a big future in the professional game”.

What a way to start your international career. There’s no guarantee, of course, that making the squad means getting any actual time on the pitch in South Africa, but if one of these guys does step on for New Zealand, or (dare I say) if Clapham gets a chance at goal, it could be one of the storybook moments at this World Cup.

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Tom

Probably more likely that one or both of these players would make their debut in one of the lead-up friendlies, I would think.
http://scotland.worldcupblog.org Ian Rose

That is an extremely sensible thought. With three friendlies scheduled by my count, there should indeed be time to get everyone a run out. Well done, Tom – your head is on straighter than mine this weekend.
Tom

On the friendlies, Ian, any thoughts on how many Kiwis will make the trip across to Melbourne for the Oz-NZ game?

The whispers on this side are that the ground may be half empty.
http://denmark.worldcupblog.org Cerberus

Speaking as a FC Midtjylland fan, we’re very very proud of young Winston Reid and hope he’ll do himself and his country proud at the World Cup. He’s been one of our great young talents and had potential to eventually break into the Danish national team, so it’ll be very exciting to see what he does.

Especially as he may be the only player of ours in the Cup as Leon Jessen and Mikkel Thygesen are barely on the shortlist for the Danish squad.
http://PostedfromNewZealand Siena Denton

Kiaora (Greetings),

We are very, very proud of ALL our ALL WHITE BOYS’.

The ante on football in Aotearoa (New Zealand), well what can I say….the BAR has certainly been raised.

Now if Marcello Lippi, leaves Totti at home in Italy, we will win!….dreams are free are’nt they.

I’m getting smart to my La Famiglia Fratellos’. eh! Giu,Fab and devi and Moodie and camgar, it’s a long list of global brothers’ that I have….LLOL’s

Kiaora and ciao.