Olympics: Oly Whites loaded with experience

Olywhites captain Ryan Nelsen says defeat is the realistic outcome in New Zealand's first games, but the team thrive on adversity. Photo / Richard Richardson

The Oly Whites look very much like the All Whites, with New Zealand Olympic coach Neil Emblen able to play an entire starting XI with international experience in London.

Emblen announced his 18-man Olympic squad yesterday, with captain Ryan Nelsen, Shane Smeltz and Michael McGlinchey included as the three over-age players allowed for the otherwise under-23 tournament.

Emblen had initially planned to call up Winston Reid but the defender is unavailable as he tries to nail down a first team spot with West Ham. Midfielder McGlinchey will take his place, meaning experience in each third of the park.

Nelsen missed the recent failed Oceania Nations Cup campaign in the Solomon Islands with an ankle injury but has pledged he will be fit for his second Olympic campaign and will bring class and leadership to an exciting group.

Four played at the 2010 World Cup, 13 have played for the All Whites and 10 appeared in Honiara. Reserve goalkeeper Michael O'Keefe was also called in as an injury replacement for Mark Paston at the Nations Cup but didn't get on the park.

Up front, Emblen can run a largely first-choice All Whites strike-force with Smeltz, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses and Marco Rojas and Nelsen, Tommy Smith and McGlinchey are also automatic choices in Ricki Herbert's starting XI.

Adam Thomas (Waikato FC), Alex Feneridis (Auckland City), James Musa (Team Wellington) and Dakota Lucas (Team Wellington) are the only players other than O'Keefe who haven't appeared for the All Whites but Thomas, Musa and Lucas went to last year's Under-20 World Cup in Colombia and Feneridis has been to two Club World Cups.

"It's brilliant to have so many All Whites," Emblen said. "I hope we can boast the most internationally capped players of any side at the Olympics but we are a unique country because there's not the pool of players everybody else has to choose from.

"Our players get opportunities quicker than if they were playing for another nation.

"Look at Tim Payne. He's played for New Zealand under-17s, 20s, 23s and All Whites in a year. That wouldn't happen in many other nations no matter how good the player is.

"We have to use that to our advantage."

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jake Gleeson, Michael O'Keefe

Defenders: Ian Hogg, Tim Myers, Tommy Smith, Ryan Nelsen* (c), Adam Thomas, James Musa

Midfielders: Tim Payne, Michael McGlinchey*, Alex Feneridis, Cameron Howieson, Adam McGeorge

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Shane Smeltz*, Chris Wood, Marco Rojas, Dakota Lucas

*Denotes over-age players