Michael Brown: Best opportunity to write new chapter

There was something always very British about defeat with honour. The cause might be lost and they might go down, but they wouldn't surrender without a fight; a fair one.

It's often what the All Whites have aimed to achieve. The 1999 Confederations Cup, when they held Brazil and Germany to 2-0 and pushed the United States in a 2-1 defeat, was a classic example, as was the 4-3 defeat to Italy on Thursday morning.

It's time, though, for things to change. It's time for the All Whites to make a statement again on the world stage in a meaningful tournament.

They won't beat Spain tomorrow morning. They probably won't come close but better teams than New Zealand have suffered defeat to the European champions and world's No 1-ranked side. Their record of 32 games unbeaten dating back to 2006 attests to that.

But they need to pick up at least a point in their two remaining fixtures against hosts South Africa and Asian champions Iraq to gain international respect.

It would mean achieving something they have never done before - the All Whites have never drawn a game let alone won at a World Cup or Confederations Cup and, on face value, their chances appear slim.

In 19 games against non-Oceania nations since 2006, when this New Zealand team began what they considered their "Road to Spain", they have won only three (Malaysia 1-0 and 2-1 and Georgia 3-1), drawn four and lost 11. Their goal difference makes for even worse reading with 19 for and 47 against.

But the All Whites might not get a better chance to create history.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert must have found it hard to contain his excitement when his side were drawn to play Spain, hosts South Africa and Asian champions Iraq.

In an eight-team competition, with the so-called best teams from each confederation, that's about as generous as some of the defending from the old New Zealand Knights. Just think what African champions Egypt are facing in their pool: five-time world champions Brazil, four-time and current world champions Italy and the United States, the world's No 14-ranked side.

The All Whites will still be underdogs against both South Africa and Iraq but they have nothing to fear against them. A glance at the rankings ought to confirm that, with South Africa at 72, Iraq 77 and New Zealand not that far behind at 82.

South Africa will naturally be under pressure playing at home in front of an expectant nation. They are going through something of a rebuilding under new coach Joel Santana, who is trying to get their house in order before next year's World Cup.

Iraq were the fairytale story of the 2007 Asian Cup, when a team full of Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians managed to throw off deep-seated historical differences and unite for a couple of weeks. They have not come close to replicating that sort of form and have won only four of their last 20 internationals.

The All Whites might still walk away with three defeats at this tournament - that's their lot in the natural world order - but they could demand another chapter is written into the history of New Zealand football.

Qualification for The Big Show, the 2010 World Cup, is the ultimate goal and the All Whites have their best chance since 1982 of achieving that when they take on the fifth-best Asian nation in October and November.

Defeat with honour would be meaningless then. There's no time like the present to change that formula.