Soccer: Herbert sure his boys will deliver

Ricki Herbert. Photo / AP

Ricki Herbert's game plan for the greatest challenge in his coaching career is simple. In his head, anyway.

"In the 4 years I have been involved with this team, I have seen enough to convince me that we have been the most successful when we have been on the front foot," Herbert said yesterday.

"We perform to our potential when the intensity is high.

"We have been able to match some of the best teams in the world when we have taken the game to them, been aggressive - not so much in a physical way but more in our intensity - and got 150 per cent from the players.

"In that mood we have given ourselves the best chance to win. I look back at games we played against Georgia in Germany, Iraq at the Confederations Cup and even Italy in South Africa this year and can honestly say we were very good for long periods."

Herbert's only real fear 36 hours out from this must-win game is that "we don't front up. If we don't, end of story".

Just as quickly, though, he says there has been no sign of anything but an absolute determination from his players to give their all.

"There has been not the slightest hint they won't front up to the task. Absolutely, there is pressure, not only on the players but the management as well.

"We all have to get it right."

Which team then does Herbert most concern himself with?

"More us. There is no real point in worrying about them. What are they going to do? Who knows? Who, for example, would have thought we would play three up front as we did in Bahrain? No one."

In preparing for this game, or any other, Herbert has a plan.

"You have to have a system. You have to employ the tactics to best fit that system and you have to have the players to apply themselves to both. That is what we have worked on this week.

"There is nothing physiologically that can be done at this late stage," said Herbert.

"There is absolutely no point in saying to a player, get out there and run, son. It is all now about what we want to do and how best to achieve it."

Questioned about where he saw the danger coming from, Herbert pointed to Bahrain's wide midfield players Mohamed Hubail and Salman Isa, while assistant coach Brian Turner said he felt captain and midfield general Mohammed Ahmed Saleem also poses a threat.

"They are all okay technically," said Turner. "They are an okay football team, make no mistake.

"But whether they can travel 10,000 miles and play the same is another question. We have to give them no room, no space and put them under pressure."

Of one thing Herbert is certain.

"The crowd will be a huge influence. The crowd in Bahrain was unbelievable. The noise was deafening but I expect it to be the same here only this time they will be behind us."

Of the on-going debate over the away-goal rule should the match be locked 0-0 after 90 minutes, Turner has his own theory.

"The bottom line is that we have to go out and win a game of football. Do that and who cares about away goals?" said Turner.

But other scores, he concedes, could throw a different complexion on the way both teams play.

"At 1-1 they would be thinking [under the away-goals rule] 'we are through'. At that score they would have options like 'do we sit on that' or 'do we press for another?' That could throw real doubt into the equation."

Herbert has his own theories including, no doubt, a call for a change of tactics - and structure - by his players should they get two goals ahead. He hopes he get the chance.

As part of this week's build-up Herbert, after talking to captain Ryan Nelsen, showed his players a video clip of the 1982 2-1 win over China - against the odds - in Singapore which launched the All Whites on to the world stage.

"Ryan agreed and said 'go for it'. There was a powerful message in it," said Herbert. "We were able to show the players just what emotion and euphoria came at the final whistle and how it brought a nation together. We want to do that again."