Soccer: All Whites to stick with attacking formation

Midfielder Simon Elliott is the All Whites’ only injury concern. Photo / Getty Images

The All Whites will employ the same 3-4-3 formation against Bahrain on Saturday night as they did in the first leg of their World Cup playoff.

The squad had their first full training run in Porirua this morning where Ricki Herbert showed his hand. The players lined up with three at the back, four midfielders and three strikers.

Many had hoped Herbert would opt for a 4-4-2 instead, which would allow New Zealand's most dangerous ball player, Leo Bertos, to get further forward without having to worry quite so much about his defensive duties.

But Herbert resisted this, believing he wanted his best 11 players on the park and then building a system to work around that.

Only Simon Elliott is an injury concern. The central midfielder is suffering from a hip strain picked up in training in the US 10 days ago and trained by himself this morning. He appeared to be running reasonably freely but a decision will be made on his fitness later in the week.

Michael McGlinchey slotted into central midfield in his place and would be the obvious replacement. The Wellington-born former Scottish youth international was excellent coming off the bench in the first leg in Manama, which ended 0-0, and is a more creative player than Elliott who controls things through midfield.

Although McGlinchey missed last weekend's A-League match for Central Coast with an ankle injury, he trained freely this morning, as did goalkeeper Mark Paston who has missed two Wellington Phoenix games with a hip injury.

The formation Herbert has opted for is certain to cause debate among football fans. New Zealand rode their luck at times in the first leg when playing a 3-4-3 but often this shape resembled something closer to a 5-2-2-1.

Bertos was required to get through a lot of defensive work, nullifying his effectiveness going forward. He is most effective running at players and whipping in crosses and while it is hoped he will get forward more often in the second leg, which New Zealand realistically need to win to qualify for the World Cup (a scoring draw would see Bahrain go through on the away goals rule), he would still be required to defend.

Playing with a right-back behind him would have allowed him to get forward more often but New Zealand don't have a quality right-back, which has prompted Herbert to stick with his 3-4-3.

Changing to a 4-4-2 would also have meant dropping one of Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen and Rory Fallon up front, something Herbert was loathe to do. All three offer something different and Fallon, in particular, proved a handful with his height in the first game.

Bahrain arrive in the capital tomorrow afternoon ahead of Saturday night's match.

Likely side (3-4-3): Paston, Sigmund, Nelsen (c), Vicelich; Bertos, Brown, Elliott, Lochhead; Smeltz, Fallon, Killen.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY