Soccer: The unknown factor for All Whites - pressure

Ricki Herbert. Photo / AP

Pressure means different things to different people.

For golfer Lee Trevino it was, as he said, "playing for $10 when you don't have a dime in your pocket".

For former American baseballer Tommy Lasorda "pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started to think of failure."

No matter which way you look at it, the All Whites are under enormous pressure to win against Bahrain tomorrow night. Win, and New Zealand are through to the World Cup for the first time in 27 years. Lose, and it's all over. Even a scoring draw will see Bahrain qualify (0-0 will send the game to extra time and, if required, penalties).

The stakes couldn't be any higher and the All Whites players are absorbing the pressure in their own different ways.

For striker Chris Killen, he welcomes it.

"Pressure is good for all players," he said. "It's not something we are used to at home. It's what's needed for New Zealand football. We need expectations on the players. We need things demanded from outside more and hopefully that will raise our game."

Killen is more used to playing in high-stakes games than some of his team-mates. The Celtic striker has played Champions League qualifiers and Uefa Cup this season, as well as the Scottish Premier League, and has experienced the passion of an Old Firm derby against bitter rivals Rangers.

The New Zealand players have spoken about the fact the game against Bahrain will be the biggest of their careers. People can often freeze in these situations, consumed by a fear of what they have to lose rather than focus on what they have to gain.

"It's something we spoke about as a group the other night," fellow striker Shane Smeltz said of playing with fear. "We want to release that and go into the game with no fear and really take on the challenge. It's going to be a great day for everyone."

It's a day Ben Sigmund doesn't want to think about too much. The defender is a laid back customer at the best of times and he cut a relaxed figure at training this week.

"You might laugh but, to be honest, I haven't thought about [the match] that much," he said. "I plan on doing that on Saturday.

"I find that if I think too much about it, it mentally tires me out. I have little moments where it starts rushing in and I have these crazy thoughts but I have tried to block it out and wait for the big day on Saturday."

It is a massive day, the biggest for New Zealand football since the All Whites beat China 2-1 in Singapore in a tense playoff for the last spot at the 1982 World Cup.

More than 35,000 people will cram into the Cake Tin tomorrow night for what will be the biggest football crowd in this country's history. And a win would future-proof New Zealand Football with an estimated $10 million windfall expected with qualification.
No pressure, then.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY