Soccer: The year it came right

All Whites (from left) Ivan Vicelich, Ryan Nelsen and Simon Elliott celebrate their World Cup qualifying win. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The year 2010 will be the one that enters the annals of New Zealand football history but 2009 was the breakthrough year, writes Michael Brown.

Ricki Herbert can talk in riddles at times but never before was he quite so incomprehensible. It didn't really matter. Everyone was trying to comprehend what they had just seen, too, when Herbert was interviewed sideline on television by former All White Harry Ngata.

"I'm absolutely speechless, H [Harry]. This group behind me, they've given it absolutely everything. Four years of total commitment. I said if I could see you on the f***ing pitch, when you win this game; I didn't see it in Singapore being on the pitch, but ah... Mate, that's an incredible group, we're back, mate, we're there, mate, South Afri-CA!"

Among that rabble were the words we're there... South Africa'. It was the only thing that mattered. After 28 years of football wilderness, New Zealand will play in another World Cup when they will take on world champions Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia.

There were times when that didn't seem possible, especially as the game repeatedly shot itself in the foot both on and off the field. It had become a focus for derision.

Now, however, football is being taken seriously because of 90 minutes played in front of a raucous crowd of more than 35,000 at the Cake Tin. It was a special night and, it is hoped, a night that will reignite football in this country.

Good things were being done in the background but football was never going to enjoy a true renaissance without something special happening.

2009 will be remembered for the All Whites' incredible 1-0 victory over Bahrain that saw them qualify for the World Cup - and so it should be - but there was so much more to the year than that.

The Big One

Nothing will top World Cup qualification. The women's team had a breakthrough win against the Netherlands (2-0) in March; Shane Smeltz was judged the A-League's best player; Chris Wood became just the fifth Kiwi to play in the English Premier League (behind Lee Norfolk, Danny Hay, Ryan Nelsen and Simon Elliott); the All Whites picked up their first point at a world tournament with a 0-0 draw with Iraq at June's Confederations Cup; and the men's under-17s became the first team to progress through to the second round at their World Cup. But the All Whites' 1-0 win over Bahrain in Wellington last month stopped the nation. Football was cool again. All of a sudden, people talked 3-4-3 around the water cooler, kids wanted to be Rory Fallon or Mark Paston and most were willing to forgive Herbert for swearing live on national TV.

It even started the utterly ridiculous debates about whether football would ever usurp rugby in this country.

The Big Decision

Even more important than Herbert's decision to go with a 3-4-3 formation in both legs against Bahrain was an edict from Fifa which allowed the All Whites coach to pick Rory Fallon and Michael McGlinchey. The pair had previously been lost to New Zealand because of strict eligibility rules - they needed to elect this country before their 21st birthday.

But a relaxation of that rule infinitely improved the All Whites' chances against Bahrain.

Fallon, of course, scored the winning goal against Bahrain but, perhaps more importantly, he and McGlinchey added much-needed depth to a side which struggled in two of their three games at the Confederations Cup. Fallon is a genuine target man with a good strike on him while McGlinchey is that rare breed of footballer in this country, a creative midfielder.

The Big Surprise

Oceania's presence at the Club World Cup has been a topic of debate for some time. For many, they were seen as a bit of a nuisance at a competition involving some of the biggest clubs in the world - last year Manchester United triumphed and Barcelona won this month's final against Argentina's Estudiantes.

This time around, though, Auckland City were allowed to play in the main event after beating hosts Al Ahli 2-0 in their final qualifying match. They deserved to win, too, with goals to Adam Dickinson and Chad Coombes. While that was a good result, their dramatic 3-2 win over African champions TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo) in the fifth-placed playoff last week was the biggest surprise. The tournament's relocation to the UAE gave Auckland a much better chance of getting past the hosts but beating a continental champion stacked with professional players was fantastic.

"It's a sensational result for us," Auckland coach Paul Posa enthused afterwards. "The greatest night in Auckland City football club history."

A cheque for US$1.5 million wasn't too bad either but, significantly, the what-to-do-with-Oceania question hasn't been raised around the Fifa table this year. And that is a triumph in itself.

The Big Breakthrough

The All Whites created history with a 0-0 draw with Iraq at the Confederations Cup, the first time the senior men's team had won a point at a Fifa tournament. But they were outshone by the under-17s, who became the first New Zealand side to progress to the second round of a world tournament. The Young All Whites had much work still to do when coach Colin Tuaa departed for Samoa just 10 months before the under-17 World Cup. Steve Cain was brought in as his replacement and built a resolute young side that could compete with more fancied opposition.

They had luck on their side, undoubtedly, but posted three 1-1 draws against Costa Rica, Burkina Faso and Turkey before they were brought back down to Earth with a resounding 5-0 defeat to eventual runners-up Nigeria in the second round.

The Big Surplus

It wasn't that big but any surplus was one to celebrate. In February, NZF announced a $360,000 surplus for 2008 after a deficit of $499,000 in 2007 - a number that cost former chief executive Graham Seatter his job. This represented an $859,000 turnaround and, among all the backslapping, was one from Sparc who had arranged a hefty loan for the national body.

In the afterglow of World Cup qualification, it was often conveniently overlooked that Seatter had also played a part in getting the team to South Africa. His model of playing up to 10 internationals might have been unsustainable but it got the All Whites playing again and ready for the pressure of World Cup playoffs.

NZF's balance sheet will look extremely healthy in 2010. The All Whites earned an estimated $10 million with qualification - $4 million will go to the players - and additional cheques from Auckland City's surprise result at the Club World Cup means they might now be able to afford another couple of footballs.

The Big Player

Ryan Nelsen is New Zealand's highest paid sportsman with annual earnings said to be in the region of $8 million. In two games against Bahrain, he showed why. The 33-year-old All Whites skipper was immense in the World Cup playoff and his presence in South Africa is vital if the All Whites are to be competitive against Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia. Nelsen reads the game better than anyone else in New Zealand and his mere presence sends confidence throughout the squad. It's not unreasonable to suggest the All Whites would have performed infinitely better in the Confederations Cup had he been there.

The Archie Gemmell Award for Best Goal

Chad Coombes' winner against Al Ahli at the Club World Cup was spectacular. The Angry One - barely a game goes by without Coombes firing up about something - earned his club US$1 million with a sweetly-struck left-footed shot from 30 metres.

Honourable mentions: Wellington goalkeeper James Bannatyne's free-kick from inside his own half embarrassed everyone, especially his opposite, while Jack Hobson-McVeigh's late strike against Turkey to get the under-17s to the second round in Nigeria was special.

The Serena Williams Award for Best Aftermatch Speech

Ricki Herbert (see above). No question.

Honourable mentions: Mark Paston for his "I basically just guessed," comment after his penalty save against Bahrain and Chris Milicich's "they should be embarrassed" barb after his side's 5-0 defeat of Wellington in March's NZFC semifinal.

The Lazarus Award for Meritorious Comeback

Ivan Vicelich retired from international football to seek a quieter life. In reality, he was in semi-retirement. But a calf injury to Ryan Nelsen on the eve of the Confederations Cup saw Herbert issue the SOS. Vicelich is a pace slower than in his prime but played a major role in helping the All Whites qualify for South Africa.

Honourable mention: Steven Old limped out of the Wellington Phoenix with his reputation, and career, in tatters. His stocks are rising, though, after signing a three-year deal with Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock. Grant Young has retired about as many times as his age, 38, but he continues to be one of the top strikers around.