Soccer: All eyes on All Whites (and Brazil)

World Cup fever grows in Rio de Janeiro. Picture / Reuters

Danny Hay has one regret about the equalising goal he scored in Thursday's international against Estonia in Tallinn.

"I wished I had saved it for Brazil," joked Hay from the team bus as he and his fellow All Whites travelled from Frankfurt to Geneva early yesterday.

Hay, without much pre-tour football after falling out with the Knights and having only a handful of games for Perth before the matches against Chile and on this European tour, said "working on my technique in kickabouts with Jeremy Christie and Danny Milosevic at Madills Farm" had honed his skills and led to that "crashing volley" against Estonia.

"But," he quickly added, "let's not beat around the bush. The game against Brazil is going to be very difficult.

"My real hope is that we again play with pride and passion and can come off with our heads held high. The game has attracted a huge amount of attention. The German media are focusing almost entirely on it."

Why not?

With the all-star attack of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano and Kaka set to step out at Stade de Geneva there will be no favours for Hay and his cohorts.

Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has strongly hinted there will be few, if any, changes to the team who played the last World Cup qualifier against Venezuela (in October) and the one which will take the field against Croatia in their opening Cup game in Berlin on June 14.

He is almost certain to use Monday's game as a final hit-out for that group of players which, along with his magical attacking quartet, is likely to feature other stars including goalkeeper Dida, defenders Cafu and Roberto Carlos and Emerson in midfield.

Parreira further warned that player of the year Ronaldinho would be given the freedom to play in much the same way he did for Champions League winners Barcelona.

"It is absurd to say that he plays differently in the national team and Barcelona," said Parreira. "He has complete freedom in the Brazil team."

Hay tries not to be fazed at the prospect of facing such a star-studded line-up. "We will be as prepared as we can be. I'm sure our team, and what we have achieved, have caught the imagination.

"Our results have gained us a lot of credibility," said Hay who, like Ivan Vicelich, played every minute of the games against Hungary, Georgia and Estonia.

"I'm proud of what we have done. There is real pride in leading this team out."

Hay pointed to the win over Georgia as being necessary to make people take notice.

"We needed that to get credibility back home," said Hay. "A lot of people do not realise how good they were.

"They have one player at AC Milan, another who plays alongside Ryan Nelsen at Blackburn and another who is the second-top goalscorer in the Dutch league."

Asked about the refreshing change in the attitude of the team and the whole environment, Hay paid a huge compliment to the coaching staff.

"They have been absolutely top class," he said of coach Ricki Herbert, assistants Brian Turner and Stu Jacobs and goalkeeping coach Clint Gosling - all, incidentally, former internationals. "I have been with the best [at Leeds] but these guys have been fantastic.

"Their attitude has been great. In the past our teams have been sent out to sit back and soak up pressure but they have allowed, wanted us to attack - get out and enjoy our football.

"They have played a big part in the success we have enjoyed."

Looking ahead to Monday and a likely All Whites line-up, Hay said little had been revealed.

"Sure, everyone wants to play but nothing much has been said so far. There is no back-stabbing or other things that have plagued All Whites teams in the past.

"Not much has been discussed yet but I'm sure when the anthems are playing and we look across and see the Brazilians it will be something special."

Parreira has again defended his preference to play "lightweight friendlies" as final preparation for his team's Cup defence.

"If we wanted strong opponents, we would have them," he said. "But our philosophy is to give priority to the training, not to the games. It has proved to work in the past.

"We want the team in one piece, we want to recharge our batteries so that we are in form and ready to go when the competition starts."

Four years ago they beat Malaysia 4-0 in their final hit-out. In 1998 they beat Andorra 3-0 in a friendly at a fourth-division ground in a run-down Paris suburb.

Herbert is expected to name his starting XI today.

LINEUPS

Geneva, coverage starts Monday 3.30am Sky Sport 1

NEW ZEALAND: Glen Moss, Kris Bouckenooghe, Danny Hay, Steven Old, Noah Hickey, Ivan Vicelich, David Mulligan, Jeremy Christie, Raf de Gregorio, Leo Bertos, Chris Killen.

BRAZIL (likely): Dida, Cafu, Juan, Lucio, Roberto Carlos, Emerson, Ze Roberto, Adriano, Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho.