Soccer: All Whites get in shape to face Mexico

Dakota Lucas is expected to spearhead the Waitakere attack tonight. Photo / Paul Estcourt

In putting out a team stacked with midfielders and strikers, All Whites coach Ricki Herbert feels tonight's game has the promise of being an exciting, attacking affair.

The Australasian-based team Herbert will start against the Waitakere United Invitational XI promises plenty of action even if some of the players have had little recent football.

"The basis of this team are well out of season with the majority just getting back into pre-season training," said Herbert. "That is why this game is important in terms of getting game time before we play Mexico and Australia.

"There are a lot of attacking players here and it could be quite exciting. It will give our wide players the chance to get forward, which is something they might not get against Mexico.

"It is important to get the players together in a full football environment and get some work on the pitch. It is not the total answer but the players are very thankful to have the opportunity. The clubs have been great in releasing their players and they have enjoyed coming back together."

The team trained at the match venue last night with Herbert's assistants Raul Blanco and Neil Emblen taking the session. They will have another run this morning.

With a short lead-in to the game against Mexico in Denver on June 2, Herbert is placing some importance on tonight's game as he contemplates his starting line-up.

"With the injuries we have, the list of players is getting shorter," said Herbert, who will have a squad of 22 when they assemble in the United States this week. "Australia have got four out, we have nine so we have got the thick end of that one as well.

"This is a chance for players to press their claims. Right across the board, I don't think we have any hesitation in putting any players in. Over time, as we build towards the World Cup qualifiers, that number will increase."

Of the team Herbert named last night, only exciting striker Marco Rojas is in doubt. He has a virus and did not train last night. Tim Brown will lead the team tonight but Herbert has yet to make a call on who will do that job in the internationals.

Emblen has a foot in both camps but will be on the All Whites' bench tonight, leaving the Waitakere side to his assistants Darren Bazeley and Carl Jorgensen.

Of his decision to play a 4-3-3 formation as opposed to the 3-4-3 line-up Herbert will go with, Emblen said: "We want to play our way and they want to play their way. That's fine."

With regulars Tim Myers, Jason Rowley and Andy Ralph unavailable, Emblen has gone outside his regular players in bringing Bay Olympic's Ryan Elder into the starting line-up.

"We have three from the under-17 and three under-20s - including Dakota Lucas, who will spearhead our attack - in the squad along with many of our regulars," said Emblen. "It is the chance for our players to test themselves. I'm sure they are looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, 12 of the players from the squad who recently beat Germany 2-1 in Moenchengladbach have been named in the Australian squad to play in Adelaide.

Tim Cahill, David Carney, Harry Kewell and Mark Schwarzer are unavailable through injury.

THE TEAMS

All Whites v Waitakere

Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, 7.30 tonight

All Whites: Glen Moss, Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, David Mulligan, Jeremy Brockie, Michael McGlinchey, Tim Brown, Aaron Clapham, Marco Rojas, Shane Smeltz, Kosta Barbarouses.

Waitakere: Danny Robinson, Aaron Scott, Chris Bale, Anthony Hobbs, Ryan Elder, Martin Bullock, Jake Butler, Tim Payne, Allan Pearce, Dakota Lucas, Roy Krishna