Lack of pace a problem for All Whites
NZPA
Last updated 18:15 02/06/2010

The present All Whites are better than his class of 1982, but former international defender Adrian Elrick says they could suffer from a lack of pace at the Football World Cup.

Elrick, who played in all three matches of New Zealand's campaign in Spain 28 years ago, said today that the All Whites had a pretty good draw awaiting them in South Africa.

While they had to face defending champions Italy, their other pool opponents are Slovakia, whom they meet first-up on June 16 (NZT), and Paraguay.

"If we get a result in the first game, we could possibly sneak into the second round," Elrick said.

"On any given day, any team can win."

He said the Ryan Nelsen-skippered 23-man squad, who are in Europe preparing for a friendly against Slovenia on Saturday morning (NZT), were a level up from the All Whites who went to Spain.

"They have a lot more composure than we had," he said.

"They hold the ball better, they distribute better, they play to feet."

With Rory Fallon up front, they had someone who was big and physical, liked to put himself about and whom fellow strikers Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz could play off.

Midfielder Simon Elliott, when given time and space, had the ability to deliver a good ball, while at the back, Nelsen was a class apart and an excellent reader of the game.

"The only drawback is that we don't have genuine pace," Elrick said.

"There is no genuine speed in any position."

In defence, that could leave New Zealand vulnerable to raids down the flank.

Elrick was speaking at a World Cup preview event hosted by Fifa partner Emirates in Auckland. He is one of the airline's three "media ambassadors" in New Zealand for the tournament, along with former teammates Keith Mackay and Duncan Cole.

He said it was "absolutely fantastic" that the 1982 All Whites were not longer the only New Zealand team to qualify for a World Cup.

"It's taken the weight off our shoulders," he said.

"Twenty-eight years is a long time."

Mackay agreed that it was time for a new page in New Zealand World Cup football history, joking that he was tired of seeing clips of Elrick getting beaten by Brazilian great Zico.

"Plus we need some new classic moments we can show along with Wynton Rufer scoring against China," he said of the goal that got the All Whites to Spain.

"We want Smeltzy and Killen and Rory Fallon getting a goal each and that will put us into the second round."


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/3768741/Lack-of-pace-a-problem-for-All-Whites