Terry Maddaford: Asian route the best way to go

New Zealand and Oceania soccer bosses must act quickly to cash in on rekindled glory.

Australia, in Germany as the Oceania representative (the first in a World Cup finals since the All Whites, 24 years ago), are setting the standard.

In cutting their ties for future Fifa tournaments with Oceania and joining Asia, Australia have, hopefully, laid the foundation for a change of route to future finals for the OFC champion.

A return to the route through Asia, taken by the All Whites in 1982, makes good sense for football and commercial reasons.

And Australia's win over Japan gives a sense of added anticipation. Home and away matches with Asian countries would offer a better option than the current tall ask of playing off with the fifth-best South American team for the last place at the finals.

Playing off with, say, seven Asian teams in whatever format for five places at the big show would hold real appeal for New Zealand fans.

Australia have shown that, with inspirational coaching and their best players available, they can foot it with higher-ranked opponents.

A result of any kind against Brazil on Monday would only underline their new-found status as a top-50 nation.

And, we should recall, in their last three outings against the Socceroos, the All Whites have beaten their transtasman rivals 1-0 (in Auckland), lost 1-0 (in Adelaide) and lost 1-0 (to a late goal in London).

At full strength and with the wizardry of coach Guus Hiddink, Australia might be a vastly different proposition, but at least their win over Japan gives some sense of anticipation here. The Asians will, no doubt press for an extra spot for their confederation in future but they would not be too happy if two places were taken by Oceania sides.

The good results the All Whites posted on their just-completed European tour have further raised stocks here. The win and draw and two solid efforts in the remaining games showed Ricki Herbert and his players are on course and deserve their chance.

With the national under-20 women already qualified for their World Cup later in the year performing well in South America and Auckland City Japan-bound for Fifa's World Club Cup, New Zealand's stocks are on the rise.

We must now hope Fifa will give their hoped-for stamp of approval and let that momentum continue.