Defender Winston Reid was poached from overseas for the All Whites' campaigns. Photo / Dustin Bradford/Icon SMI
Calling all footballers - can you defend and do you have a link to New Zealand? If so, the All Whites may have a job for you.
Two weeks ago All Whites coach Anthony Hudson dialled into British radio station talkSPORT with a crying call for any UK-based Kiwi footballers who may have fallen through the cracks.
"Are there one or two players out there who could help create a little more competition?" he asked an international audience, a week before experienced defender Ben Sigmund thinned the stock more by calling time on his international career.
Hudson's major issue is player depth. The All Whites are spoiled for choice in attack, but the defensive cupboard is worryingly bare.
In fact, the only capable options New Zealand have at centre back are Winston Reid, Andrew Durante and an untested Michael Boxall. Unless ... you're a big tall lad, you don't play do you?
Frontrunner for a starting spot at left back is Tom Doyle, a 22-year-old yet to play his first game of professional football, and 21-year-old Storm Roux seems unchallenged for the right back spot, after only four caps.
So how does Hudson create a bank of two or three quality defenders that can create competition and help New Zealand get to the World Cup? The short-term answer, as he knows, is to go scouting for them overseas.
Last week he left for Europe to strengthen relationships with Reid (West Ham), Chris Wood (Leicester City), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town) and Bill Tuiloma (Olympique Marseille), but he also plans to track down New Zealand-eligible players that have "fallen off the radar". And if he can track down another Smith, Reid or Durante on his travels, the trip will be a huge success.
The long-term solution is much more complicated.
It requires a close examination of nationwide age group coaching programmes and the quality of our National League, which in strategic terms is still considered a stepping stone to professional and international football (despite now also seemingly being an outlet for youth and reserve teams).
Hudson has already lamented the dearth of quality players aged between 23-27 in New Zealand and as the man in charge of overseeing all age group teams, will be desperate to avoid development mistakes made in the past.
New Zealand Football domestic structure was unsettled and turbulent during the "lost generation's" key formative years from 2000-2004.
During that era the national league went from winter back to summer for the second time, clubs made way for franchised entities, and the code's organisational structure morphed from the traditional base of 22 provinces to seven federations.
While energy went into reinventing political structures and overhauling the national league, youth development programmes of the day were arguably of dubious, haphazard quality.
Ten years on and Hudson is contemplating a comparatively lean harvest of talent from those muddled, chaotic years.
Boxall is the only current international defender over 23 that New Zealand Football has produced. Reid, Smith and Durante were all poached from overseas.
Marco Rojas, Ryan Thomas and Chris Wood all owe more to the individual zeal of mentors Roddi Rojas, Declan Edge and Roger Wilkinson - and the curious magic of being a footballer in Hamilton - rather than any national youth development programme.
New Zealand Football must do better.
The good news is that the attacking stocks are as healthy as ever. Wood, Rojas and Thomas represent the most exciting attacking trio New Zealand has ever produced and they will be 25, 25 and 22 during New Zealand's key World Cup qualifiers in 2017.
If Hudson can find a couple of long lost defensive Kiwi relatives on his trip, the boys up top will be grateful.
... thoughts on the New Zealand game
1 Tommy Smith needs game time
What a shame Tommy Smith went into international exile, because by the time the next international break rolls around in November he might be desperate for a game. Smith was dropped by Ipswich Town five weeks ago and hasn't been able to force his way back into the Championship side since. A time may come where Smith needs the All Whites as much as they need him.
2 New Zealand needs Tom Doyle to be great
The Wellington Phoenix are just as eager for Tom Doyle to succeed as the All Whites are. The Phoenix conceded eight goals more than any team in the A-League last year. Step forward Tom Doyle, a 22-year-old left back plucked from the Wellington domestic league who has locked up a starting spot as a defender. So much hope rests on such inexperienced shoulders.
3 Kiwis missing out on the best
What do Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and Gareth Bale have in common? Kiwi football fans can't see them play each week. What a shame no New Zealand provider has picked up the Spanish La Liga package this season. We get a glimpse of Barcelona and Real Madrid on Sky Sport in the Champions League but are robbed of seeing the stars week in, week out.
4 Siggy can't be replaced
Has anyone embodied the spirit of a Kiwi football defender better than Ben Sigmund? He played rugby for a year in his mid-20s, signed his first pro contract aged 27, was first into the all-in team brawls and made up for any technical deficiencies with some of the most spirited, heart-on-the-sleeve performances New Zealand football has seen. He won the Phoenix player of the year award twice and amassed 32 international caps before announcing his retirement from the All Whites last week. He will be missed.