Strong squad for Mexico

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9 Feb 2010

SOCCER - All Whites coach Ricki Herbert will have his strongest possible squad available for his side's World Cup warm-up match with Mexico in Los Angeles on March 3.

 

Only two members of the side which beat Bahrain to qualify for the World Cup finals, Ivan Vicelich (suspended) and Mark Paston (injured) were unavailable while Glen Moss returns from suspension and two newcomers, Tommy Smith and Craig Henderson, who had such an impressive Olympic Games campaign will get a chance to push for places in the 23 for South Africa.

Herbert said the game was very important for New Zealand.

"We haven't played for nearly four months now and we could be a little rusty.

"It's incredibly important that we get the players in now and set the tone for the future, and hence the reason why we've picked a very tough team to play against.

"Mexico won't do us any favours but that gets us back to the reality of what we're going to face in South Africa in June," Herbert said.

"It's the one opportunity we get [before May] so we haven't held back."

Moss, one of the All Whites' best performers at the FIFA Confederations Cup last year was the obvious replacement for Paston.

Smith, 19, is making himself available for New Zealand, a country in which he spent some of his childhood.

The left-sided central defender has been an England age-group international but threw in his lot with New Zealand.

"Anyone connected to a Championship club is extremely exciting in terms of building the squad. From an age standpoint, he can look forward to a few World Cup campaigns in the future and I think he could be a real talent for us," Herbert said.

Attacking midfielder Henderson (22) graduated from Dartmouth University and looked to Europe and gained a place with newly-promoted Swedish premier league side Mjaallby.

"I've worked with Craig a little bit in the past and by the recent recognition of a three-year contract at a big club in Sweden it is a strong way of waving the flag to be looked at.

"Athletically, and technically, he could fit in to what we're trying to do and be involved in future campaigns. We've got no hesitation," Herbert said.

The New Zealand squad for the Mexico game is: Glen Moss, James Bannatyne (goalkeepers), Tony Lochhead, Ryan Nelsen-captain, Andrew Boyens, Ben Sigmund, Tommy Smith (defenders), Andy Barron, Leo Bertos, Tim Brown, Simon Elliott, Michael McGlinchey, Craig Henderson (midfielders), Shane Smeltz, Rory Fallon, Chris Killen, Chris Wood (forwards).

SOURCE: Sportal

IMAGES : Getty Images

 

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