Soccer: Healthier fixture list allows Herbert to focus on ranking recovery

Less than four years ago, in a galaxy that seems a long way away, the All Whites were ranked 47th in the world.

They'd leapt 40 places after beating Australia to qualify for the Confederations Cup and assumed their highest ranking since the system was introduced in 1993.

It's a position currently occupied by World Cup-bound Serbia and Montenegro, and is one place ahead of Australia, who will also line up in Germany in June.

Today the All Whites are ranked 122, sandwiched between Lebanon and Vietnam. Now they are galaxies far, far away.

There are a number of reasons why this has happened but one stands above the rest - the disastrous 4-2 loss to Vanuatu in 2004 which essentially buried New Zealand's chances of qualifying for Germany before the campaign had even got started.

"Vanuatu," All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said with a shake of the head. "Jeez, if there was one thing you would ever want to forget, it would be that. 2005 was pretty bleak for us."

Bleak is one way of putting it. Virtually non-existent is another considering the national side played only one game in the calendar year - the 1-0 loss to Australia in London in June.

The win over Australia in 2002 saw the All Whites take on the likes of Estonia (now 76th in the world), Poland, (22) Scotland (60) and the US (7) before lining up against Japan (15), Colombia (24) and France (5) at the Confederations Cup in 2003.

In 2004, the fixture list was dominated by the Oceania Nations Cup, which doubled as qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

It was also the setting for New Zealand Soccer's entry onto the wall of shame with that tragic loss to Vanuatu.

Today's game against Malaysia not only marks the start of the All Whites' 'Road to South Africa', but also their journey up the world rankings. After all, it has been difficult to arrest the freefall when they've been inactive.

"The rankings are pretty hard to work out at times but we've got to aim to be a side that stays at a ranking of 70 or below," Herbert said.

If this was achieved, it would also be significant for the players because anyone who plays 75 per cent of a country's internationals in a two-year period is eligible to play in Europe.

"We could be ranked about 80 now so we haven't fallen to the great heights people think we might have," Herbert added. "Inactivity has contributed to it more than anything."

Herbert knows all about inactivity. Since taking over from Mick Waitt last February, he's had six days on the training ground as an active coach. This year he's aiming for 60 and has dusted off the chalkboard in readiness for Malaysia this week and mighty Brazil in June.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY