Soccer: Vicelich back in white strip after two-year break

Ivan Vicelich

It was a case of meet and re-greet when Ivan Vicelich turned up in Budapest to meet the All Whites ahead of the first match of European tour.

There were a few "hi's" and "howdydo's" for some new faces for Vicelich as he returned to the international stage after a break - forced by club commitments - of a couple of years.

"There were a few new faces but names I knew from the past," said Vicelich.

"I have kept in touch with [coach] Ricki Herbert so I was aware of what players would be here."

Quickly displaying his undoubted professionalism, it was down to work and a case of taking over from where he had left off.

"From the first day I could see the spirit in this team and it was obvious they had been working well and getting some good results," said Vicelich, now looking ahead to the much-awaited tour-ending finale against Brazil. "It is great to be able to play for the All Whites again."

Asked whether he felt the Danny Hay-led side had exceeded expectations, Vicelich said: "I don't know about that. Everything has been very positive. From the outset - the first half against Hungary - it has been very good.

"They have done well both in the training sessions and in the matches."

Asked about the role - a defensive midfield job in front of the central defenders - Herbert has him playing, Vicelich said he was enjoying it.

And the likely challenge in marking Ronaldinho?

"I think he might be worried about me," quipped Vicelich who comes up against Fifa's Footballer of the Year again after first playing against him at the Confederations Cup in Mexico in 1999.

In that game both Ronaldinho (64 min) and Vicelich (82) came on as substitutes. After holding the Brazilians scoreless in the first half, they went ahead two minutes after the break but did not make it safe until the 88th minute when the 19-year-old Ronaldinho scored.

Of the squad preparing for this third showdown with the South Americans, Ross Nicholson, Che Bunce (whom Vicelich replaced) and Kris Bouckenooghe (who played the full 90 minutes in Guadalajara) were at the Mexican tournament.

Then a 22-year-old and now seven years on, Vicelich enjoys the challenge international football brings.

"I love to play for my country," said Vicelich, who has just ended a six-year stint with Roda JC in the Dutch league to join RKC Waalwijk. "I like to pull on the white shirt."

And, come Monday morning, pull it off and swap it for a yellow one.

* New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter is preparing to haul in the spoils of another World Cup campaign.

Under the arrangement sports have with the TAB, a share of the turnover/profits from betting on all soccer matches goes to the national body.

"Last year we received about $13,000 a month and a final payout of $200,000 from the TAB," said Seatter.

"This year it will be even greater." It is likely NZS will collect around $750,000 this year from the TAB.