The Phoenix have yet to record a win this season under Ernie Merrick (left) and are desperate for three points.. Photo / APN
The fact that five Phoenix All Whites are playing this evening, a few hours before they fly to North America, is ridiculous. It's the worst possible preparation before the 12-hour flight across the Pacific to only three days in camp before taking on Mexico.
Given the obstacles the All Whites
already face, this is one more they don't need. Playing at altitude, in the heat of the day amid the infamous Mexico City smog, every last reserve of energy will be needed. The New Zealanders will be pushed to the limit physically against El Tri and will want to be as fresh as possible - allowing for the travel demands - but they probably won't be.
Much of the blame is with Football Federation Australia. There is no reason this fixture must be played this weekend but the FFA has consistently failed to give scheduling leeway to the Phoenix. Surely it would have been reasonable to postpone this match, given the Phoenix's large number of international players and the fact that such crucial World Cup qualifiers occur once every four years?
Much bigger leagues around the world - like the English Premier League - have no problem shifting fixtures and the A League season is relatively short. And you can be sure that if Australia had an equivalent World Cup playoff - and there was an Australian A League club with six Socceroos - their match would be moved in a heartbeat.
But the FFA have a strange attitude towards New Zealand. They have welcomed the Phoenix (and also the Kingz and the Knights) into their professional league, which has been a significant boost for the sport in this country. But New Zealanders are still classed as imports - while Australians playing for the Phoenix are classified as locals - which makes it extremely difficult for Kiwi players to be picked up by Australian clubs. They also don't allow the Phoenix to have a reserve side or be eligible for the Asian Champions League.
