Michael Burgess: City's success raises the crossbar for others

Auckland City FC players celebrate after defeating Cruz Azul during the third place match between Cruz Azul and Auckland City FC at the Club World Cup soccer tournament in Marrakech. Photo / AP

Auckland City's success at the Club World Cup might have one negative aspect for New Zealand football.

The ASB Premiership club have set a new standard for teams from this country competing overseas, one that other sides will have to follow. Expectations will rise.

In Morocco, Auckland City were over-matched in every way. There was a significant gulf in playing and financial resources, and it was a massive step up from their weekly standard. They also played more matches than anyone else, in a shorter time frame, with a thinner squad and also carried the biggest travel burden.

These are all familiar challenges - it's what our national age-group sides, the All Whites and Football Ferns, have to deal with on a consistent basis. But Auckland City have shown that, with extensive preparation, a defined style, good levels of fitness, astute scouting and game smarts, much is possible.

From now on, it will be harder to tolerate performances like last year's New Zealand under-17 team when, after an extensive build-up, they lost 7-0 to Uruguay in their first World Cup match. It was possums-in-the-headlights stuff. The Young All Whites were also beaten by Italy and Ivory Coast, without scoring.

Those displays are generally accepted - coach Darren Bazeley was promoted to the under-20s role after the tournament - but might not be any more.

While New Zealand might never match the technical skills of other countries - at least not for a while - there's no reason this country can't foot it in other areas.

Auckland City looked the fittest team in the tournament, despite playing fully-fledged professionals.

They pressed high, tracked back quickly, held their structure and were never found wanting aerobically, even though three of their four matches went to extra time and coach Ramon Tribulietx stuck with essentially the same starting XI.

Auckland City were also well disciplined. They received just four yellow cards and gave away few free kicks in dangerous areas, so often crucial at the higher level. And there was a lack of individual errors.

There seemed to be an individual and collective belief from the moment they walked on the field in Rabat for the first game.

Crucially, they were solid, and didn't concede an early goal in any of their matches.

Contrast that with the Junior All Whites' campaign in Turkey in 2013, when a goalkeeping error early in the first game gifted Uzbekistan a goal.

The pressure was immediately off Turkey, and it was downhill for the rest of New Zealand's campaign.

Morocco also stands out for the game smarts employed. Auckland tried to slow the game, frustrate their opponents, get in their heads - all the intangible factors that go towards getting a win.

The litmus test for NZF will come in June at the Under-20 World Cup. The draw will be done on February 10 so Bazeley and his management team will have three months to scout their opponents and learn as much as possible.

Having the team play as the Wanderers in the ASB Premiership (albeit without the overseas-based players) means they have had two seasons to build a style before their crunch group games at North Harbour Stadium on May 30 and June 2 and Wellington on June 5.