All Whites: Sudden-death clash couldn't be more serious

Ryan Nelsen's battle with Bahrain striker Jaycee John could determine tonight's winner. Photos / Mark Mitchell

Bahrain coach Milan Macala joked that Fifa's world rankings are like Playstation – as meaningless as a video game and put together with the same sort of thought.

It was just one of the many wisecracks Macala made in an often entertaining final press conference yesterday but tonight's World Cup playoff between New Zealand and Bahrain couldn't be any more serious.

The consequences for both sides are immense. Win (or draw in the case of Bahrain) and an invitation to the biggest show in South Africa next year awaits. Lose... well, that doesn't bear thinking about.

This is New Zealand's best chance of qualifying for 27 years. And it could be their best chance for another 27 years. Fifa often change the qualification path and they might not make it as straightforward for the All Whites for future World Cups when you consider Bahrain are playing their 20th game and New Zealand just their eighth (six of those were against weak Island nations).

But that is the format Fifa chose for this episode and the drama that goes with this playoff is intoxicating.

The pressure on New Zealand is enormous. Never before has a crowd of 35,000 watched them play at home – even the 1982ers didn't get that many – and a large part of the future direction of the game rests on the shoulders of the 11 players who will take to the pitch tonight.

"I have liked what I have seen from the players this week," All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said yesterday. "There is a spring in the step [of the players]. It's very positive. Why wouldn't you want a bit of pressure and tension and excitement around? It's a wonderful opportunity for the game. But they will handle [the pressure]."

That remains to be seen but the question is, will Bahrain be able to handle the situation? The pressure on the visitors is equally suffocating. They went out at this stage to Trinidad & Tobago four years ago and the country of just 800,000 expect them to deliver this time.

They are also in an unfamiliar environment and, while their record away from home is decent, playing in places like the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh is quite literally a world away from Wellington.

"We are under the same pressure as New Zealand," Macala admitted in his stilted English. "Pressure is responsibility. We have been under pressure in every game we play. Every game has been important. This is No 20. One more, inshallah (God willing).

"We have experience [of this situation] but we are also tired. Because you played in 1982 in Spain, I hope you give us this opportunity to go to the World Cup."

The All Whites won't be that generous. For many players like Ryan Nelsen, Ivan Vicelich and Simon Elliott, this is their last chance of playing in World Cup because age is against them. And the country is ready to move on from 1982 just as England needs to get over 1966.

Because of that, this is the biggest game these players will ever play. Even if New Zealand qualify for South Africa, it won't carry such importance because no one will expect them to progress to the second round.

Bahrain, though, are a good side - better than they showed in the first leg - and they will create opportunities. If they score first, New Zealand's chances reduce drastically because the All Whites need to win the match and would require two goals because of the away goals rule. That is potentially the biggest danger.

Both Herbert and Macala would love to be able to control the outcome like a Playstation game, but they will have little say in the matter.

It's down to the players and, as Herbert said, New Zealand have "every opportunity of going through".

- Herald on Sunday