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Time to Stand Up for NZ Football
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 6th spot, a loss and Terry Serepisos might get some early practice in his role as head of the NZ version of the apprentice. Will it be time to say those imortal words “You’re Fired” or will the Phoenix stand up and prove that they really are play-off contenders this year?
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Junior All Whites vs Nigeria – U-17 World Cup
Abuja National Stadium, Friday Morning
It is easy to think that our U-17 side has already done as much as they needed to in this tournament simply by getting past the first round, but the reality is that they have only just begun. This match against Nigeria could mark a turning point in NZ Football. Beat the host nation in front of 60,000 people in the final 16 of a FIFA world Cup and maybe New Zealand might start to believe that they really do deserve to win at football. Anything can happen, if the Kiwis can stand up in this match and steal a win, who knows where it could lead them.
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All Whites vs Bahrain – World Cup Qualifier 2nd Leg
The Cake Tin – Saturday 14th November
This match has been hailed as the one shot for glory for our national side. The equation is simple. Win = World Cup Spot, Anything else = Nothing. The country are ready for this, it has been too long since we were last allowed to play with the big boys at the world cup. The memories of 1982 are fading. The rise of the Australians has left an unpleasant feeling in the pit of the stomach of one-eyed NZ sports fans.
A win in this match could shape the future of NZ Footbal. As the song says:
“It’s time to stand up and be counted…”
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A win in all three of these games could catapult NZ Football to the forefront of NZ sporting interest. It’s not impossible to imagine the sports news on TVNZ leading with a story about the All Whites ahead of one about the All Blacks… one day.
Many thanks to the Feelers for setting the patriotic mood
More New Zealand World Cup News
Young All Whites Create NZ Football History
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 ... [read]
Junior All Whites Survive Perfect Storm
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 ... [read]
NZ U-17 Side on the Cusp of Glory
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 ... [read]
All Whites vs Global Pandemic
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 ... [read]
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Latest Comments
- Time to Stand Up for NZ Football
What can be said about the Junior All Whites this morning? Nothing much really, and whatever can be ...[read more] - Time to Stand Up for NZ Football
@ Matilda - That would be disappointing if it was true, I doubt FIFA will do anything about it in ti ...[read more] - Time to Stand Up for NZ Football
Have you seen this: http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2009/11/04/nigeria-u17s-captain-is-too-old ...[read more] - Time to Stand Up for NZ Football
Very impressed by Wellington of late! I hope NZ make the WC then play against Australia :) ...[read more] - Time to Stand Up for NZ Football
Success in the first game! The Phoenix were way to classy for Newcastle, cruising to a 3-0 victory. ...[read more] - Junior All Whites Survive Perfect Storm
Love that photo of the water being brushed off the field. ...[read more] - All Whites vs Global Pandemic
Fair enough Sienna, hopefully NZ Football can issue everybody with face masks before the game to ens ...[read more] - All Whites vs Global Pandemic
I agree with most of your comments, however, I will be attending the second play-off against Bahrain ...[read more]
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