Soccer: Forget 1982 - let's make new memories

Ricki Herbert. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It is time to move on and finally relegate the 1982 All Whites to their deserved place in New Zealand's sporting lore.

New Zealand sport has a proud history of truly memorable moments.

The pulsating 2-1 triumph over China on a sticky Singaporean night in January 1982 when Steve Sumner led a brave All Whites team to the World Cup is, deservedly, right up with the best.

The sheer theatre and drama of that victory against seemingly insurmountable odds remains firmly etched in the minds of all associated with it.

For almost 28 years that result and the journey to Spain which followed for John Adshead and his team has remained the peg on which New Zealand soccer has hung its hat.

Now is the time to move on.

Coach Ricki Herbert, his faithful lieutenant Brian Turner - both warriors from that heart-stopping campaign - and captain Ryan Nelsen can finally give New Zealand's soccer-loving public the chance to laud new heroes.

There have been six World Cups since that Spanish odyssey.

New Zealand has not figured in any, living for so long in the long shadow cast by the Socceroos.

There has been for and against, conjecture and speculation about the continued existence of the Oceania Football Confederation and the comfortable path to Fifa's world stage it affords New Zealand and their island neighbours.

Some argue New Zealand Football should follow Football Federation Australia in pitching their lot with the Asians.

Why? Such a move - especially if Oceania was disbanded altogether - would, surely, end any chance for the smaller nations to follow the Solomon Islands and Tahiti in playing at Fifa tournaments. And Waitakere United and Auckland City appearing at the World Club Cup.

Supporters of the call to ditch Oceania say the game would improve - playing-wise and financially - by aligning with Asia. Perhaps, but interest would quickly wane if New Zealand and other teams from this part of the world never got beyond first base.

The current team now have the chance to let their boots do the talking.

Make no mistake, dispatching Bahrain will not be easy. The odds, world rankings and home advantage are all heavily weighted in their favour.

The All Whites have hardly raised a sweat in getting to within 180 minutes of World Cup glory. The Bahrainis have done the hard yards and are well-honed for their second such shot at winning a spot on the international stage.

Technically they will be better than the All Whites. They will also be quicker. And more experienced. Will that prove a winning formula? Maybe, but don't count on it.

New Zealand's isolation and the paucity of meaningful international fixtures does not help but any time Herbert gets his players together they usually put on a decent show.

Recent results including the 3-1 win over Jordan, the 0-0 draw with Iraq, the battling 4-3 loss to Italy, the 2-2 and 1-1 draws with Wales and Estonia and the 3-1 win over Georgia have given Herbert heart.

The challenge now is to lift their game to the next level in the truly meaningful contest Sunday's clash will be. Too often All Whites teams have been left to play catch-up after conceding an early, and often soft, goal. They can't afford to hand any such early advantage to Bahrain.

Concentration levels must remain high, especially as the stifling conditions take their toll.

New Zealand have the talent to win but only if every player sent on by Herbert turns in a 100 per cent effort.

They can nick a result in Manama but much will depend on Herbert's game plan and his player's ability to follow it.

Set play could be the key, especially in the away leg where clear scoring chances are likely to be few.

In Leo Bertos and Simon Elliott, the All Whites have players capable of delivering telling balls from free-kicks and corners into the danger areas. It will then be up to proven goalscorers Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen and newcomers Rory Fallon and Chris Wood to provide the finishing touches.

Smeltz, 17 goals in his 29 internationals, and Killen, 17 from 34, are proven goalscorers and Fallon, one from one in his only appearance, alongside defenders Ryan Nelsen and Ben Sigmund, give this team a daunting physical presence in attack and the ability to test the Bahrain defence.

While the home team will produce speed across the park, the All Whites will be looking to Bertos and newcomer Michael McGlinchey to provide pace on the flanks and, from there, a stream of intelligent crosses into the danger area.

In defence, the All Whites will be sternly tested.

Captain Nelsen will have his hands full in running the show, cajoling every last bit of energy from his teammates and at the same time organising a defensive effort which must remain fully attuned.

Much has been said about the likely formation Herbert will go with. Whether he sticks with his 4-4-1-1 or uses something different matters little. He won't tinker too much, but the result will ultimately not rest on how the team lines up. It will be simply a question of how well the 11 players perform.

WHAT THE NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE TO DO

Four things the All Whites must do to get a resultin Bahrain (apart from ignoring the bookmaker's odds ... )

1 SCORE A GOAL OR TWO

Isn't that what football is all about? In the past it has been easier said than done but now the team has genuine goal-scoring talent. Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz have strike rates most attackers only dream about. And new boy Rory Fallon is one-from-one after his impressive debut.

2 DON'T CONCEDE SILLY, SOFT GOALS

Again, simple stuff but too often in the past the defence has leaked goals through a simple lack of concentration. All Whites teams have an unhappy knack of too often conceding in the opening minutes and then spending the rest of the game playing catch-up. That is a big ask at this level.

3 MAKE THE MOST OF SET PLAYS

Attacking free-kicks and corners are a bonus which the All Whites must cash in on. Captain Ryan Nelsen, Fallon, Smeltz and Killen present an imposing physical presence. While his strike rate with Blackburn hardly strikes fear in opposing defences, Nelsen has shown he can do the job for New Zealand. Set pieces could be their trump card.

4 RUN. RUN. RUN

There can be no passengers. To get any kind of result, coach Herbert will demand a full 90-minute, 100 per cent effort from his players. With it they have a chance. Without it, forget it. The quick, technically proficient Bahrainis will cash in and make life miserable for the All Whites and head to Wellington in the box seat.