Soccer: Early hope in Cup journey

Jeremy Brockie and several other young All Whites acquitted themselves well against China. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The match against China had long been billed as the beginning of the next World Cup journey and, if yesterday is anything to go by, the future is encouraging.

The All Whites recovered from a shocking opening 15 minutes, when they conceded a sloppy own goal and gave away far too much possession, to record a meritorious 1-1 draw in Wuhan.

Just as pleasing as the result was the second-half performance and the emergence of a handful of young players who represent the future of New Zealand football. The All Whites were missing some pretty big bodies and even bigger figures for this match. Ryan Nelsen and Rory Fallon were late withdrawals through injury while Winston Reid, Simon Elliott, Tim Brown, Mark Paston, Ben Sigmund and Leo Bertos were also missing. Seven of those nine were starters at last year's World Cup and Brown might have been had he not fractured his shoulder on the eve of the tournament.

Yesterday proved, however, there are some talented youngsters coming through the system who will put pressure on more established players. They might not be there yet, but they provide coach Ricki Herbert with options and, crucially, different ways he can play the game.

Both Kosta Barbarouses and Michael Boxall changed the match when they came on at halftime against China. Barbarouses has just come off an excellent A-League season with Brisbane and his introduction saw a different approach. He's not a tall player like Chris Wood or Fallon and demands the ball at his feet.

The All Whites looked better in the second half when they maintained possession rather than looking long.

Boxall looks another good prospect. New Zealand will always produce strong and athletic centre-backs but he also brought composure and his arrival will surely squeeze Andy Boyens - who scored the second-minute own goal - further down the order.

Boxall's arrival is also significant because the All Whites will continue to have to cope without Nelsen, who has a history of picking up 'injuries' just before friendly matches. That's fine. If that means he maintains his enthusiasm to play in meaningful matches like World Cup qualifiers, that can be tolerated because he proved in South Africa how important he is.

Herbert now has a swathe of young centre-backs - Reid, Tommy Smith and Boxall - on top of Nelsen, Sigmund and Ivan Vicelich.

It's the emergence of a handful of creative players further up the field which is perhaps the most encouraging. Barbarouses, Marco Rojas, Michael McGlinchey and Shane Smeltz have the ability to beat players with skill and guile rather than just pace and brawn and it allows Herbert to adopt different tactics and formations.

He can't persist with 3-4-3 forever. Few coaches in the world use this system, which can resemble a 5-4-1 if the All Whites are put on the back foot. He needs to find capable fullbacks and it's hoped Michael Fitzgerald and Luke Rowe, who is at English Premier League club Birmingham City, can fill these roles.

"I think everybody grew [during the game] and it was really important for us," Herbert said afterwards. "Kosta and Michael came on and played a very pivotal role and I'm delighted with that.

"It was about opportunities tonight. Everybody who went on the pitch did themselves no harm."

It's too early to get carried away. China are an ordinary side ranked 76th in the world - how they can't find 11 good players in a population of 1.3 billion is a mystery - and All Whites goalkeeper Glen Moss was forced to make a series of good saves. .

It's also unsure when the squad will next get together. Herbert is planning a domestic camp in June but the cancellation of the Japan friendly and postponement of the World Cup qualifiers until June 2012 has left a gaping void on the calendar. They need games to build on momentum created by the World Cup and to develop the players and game plan Herbert intends using in the next World Cup campaign.

New Zealand will get a better idea whether qualification for consecutive World Cups is realistic when a draw is done in July to determine the playoffs involving Oceania, Asia, North America and South America.

If they can avoid the South Americans, yesterday showed there is a chance.