New Zealand

We’re Going to South Africa – So Stop Your Complaining!

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 to the views of a bitter European football fan who’s team was not good enough to qualify).

The All Whites completed the task that was set out before them by FIFA – Win Oceania, then beat the 5th ranked Asian team. Okay, so maybe Oceania is the weakest confederation in football, but that in itself is a difficult hurdle to overcome. It is difficult to get the likes of Ryan Nelsen to make the trip from the UK to Suva for an inevitable victory. Meaning the only time we have a full squad, actually playing together is when we prepare for the playoff vs Asia.

There’s more to it than just the poor preparation the OFC provides. The reason Saturdays game attracted the largest ever football crowd in NZ History is because we don’t get any big games. England, Brazil and Italy are hardly clamoring for a match in Wellington. The past biggest crowd was to see the Phoenix vs LA Galaxy, and we had to pay LA to come here! All this means low/no gate receipts for the NZFC, little to no media interest

The simple answer to the problem is that NZ should join Asia. But then what becomes of the OFC? Should they not be allowed to play football in Fiji? Are New Caledonians to be forsaken because it upsets the Croatians? Also one simple fact I’m sure no one has noticed is – New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa etc… are not from Asia! It may suit the Aussies to sell out their Pacific brothers in the quest for the glory, experience and of course pots of cash and full stadiums that Asia has to offer, but to call New Zealand an Asian country is probably one stretch to far. Also, if Asia’s 5th placed side is so bad that lowly New Zealand can beat them then maybe we would find the competition unsatisfying in such a poor confederation. South Americas close? Will they take us?

To put things in persepctive, this is only the second time since the All Whites first visit to the WC in 1982 that the OFC has been represented, the other time being Australia in 06. The Aussies qualified through exactly the same route then and nobody seemed to mind, of course they had to beat us to get to their playoff match, so I guess thats a tough enough competition.

The World Cup is just that, a World Cup. Not Europe vs South America. Qualification is already heavily weighted towards the superpowers of football (as it should be) and Oceania is given just half a spot there. It sucks for Ireland, Bosnia, Croatia, Canada and all the others who may feel they are more deserving, but it’s the way it is.

We have a saying in this country that might help you all get through this – Harden Up.

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