Soccer: Herbert names solid starting line-up

Ivan Vicelich will captain the All Whites on Saturday. Photo / Brett Phibbs

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has named a strong starting eleven for the friendly soccer international with China at Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium in Hubei Province on Saturday morning (NZT).

The starting line-up has a combined international cap count of 280 going into the match and Herbert believes it offers a solid platform in what is expected to be a tough encounter against a side ranked 76th in the world by FIFA.

Herbert has chosen the experienced Ivan Vicelich as captain and the Auckland City defender slots into a back three alongside Andy Boyens and Tommy Smith.

Gold Coast United goalkeeper Glen Moss wins his 17th international cap.

"We've gone with stability given we haven't played for a long time and we've a number of players missing," Herbert said.

"I'm thrilled to have the bench we've got and we're going to go to that as much as we can," Herbert said.

Vicelich, winning his 72nd cap, was delighted to be leading the side.

"It's a great honour to captain my country," Vicelich said.

"It's going to be great to lead the All Whites out but the important thing is we want to get a good result and continue the success of the past couple of years."

Herbert said Vicelich was a popular choice among players and management for the honour.

"I've got a heap of respect for Ivan he's had a wonderful career as a player and a fantastic World Cup," Herbert said.

"Ivan has captained the side before, 71 caps speaks volumes for him. He's a wily old campaigner but hopefully he's around for a while yet."

The All Whites midfield will see Jeremy Brockie start wide right with Central Coast Mariners playmaker Michael McGlinchey handed a starting role alongside another diminutive midfielder, David Mulligan. Wellington Phoenix left midfielder Tony Lochhead completes the midfield quartet.

Up front, Herbert sticks by the tried and tested combination of Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen, with Chris Wood in line for his 15th international cap.

By contrast, the All Whites substitutes bench features three uncapped players in Marco Rojas, Michael Boxall and Michael Fitzgerald while Jacob Spoonley, Kosta Barbarouses and Aaron Clapham share four caps between them.

Herbert said the bench would get game time.

"We will inject them into the game. I've spoken to all those players and told them they could be an integral part of the World Cup campaign and hopefully in Brazil in 2014.

"Michael Fitzgerald could do a good job for us and Barbarouses definitely up front," Herbert said.

China were knocked out at the group stage of the Asian Cup back in January but has won their last four friendly international matches, three of them against European nations.

China is scheduled to play three matches in the current international window and faces also faces Costa Rica and Honduras.

New Zealand team: Glen Moss, Ivan Vicelich (captain), Tommy Smith, Andrew Boyens, Tony Lochhead, Michael McGlinchey, Jeremy Brockie, David Mulligan; Chris Wood, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen.

Substitutes: Jacob Spoonley, Kosta Barbarouses, Aaron Clapham, Marco Rojas, Michael Fitzgerald, Michael Boxall.