Now to make sure that we make it to Brazil
By TIM BROWN - The Dominion Post
OPINION: A few weeks ago, around the world, people pulled New Zealand out of the hat in their office World Cup sweepstakes and probably walked away very disappointed.
Fast forward a few weeks and while we might not have turned their initial fiver into something bigger, we certainly gave them value for money and the chance to laugh at the co-worker who pulled out defending world champions Italy.
It is very special for me to say I was a part of that New Zealand team that surprised so many people, made the whole country so proud, and for a brief moment, had the whole world supporting them. It is something I know I will tell my grandchildren about.
Personally, not getting on the field ranks as one of the biggest disappointments of my sporting career. But it is just one of those things. Myself, Siggy [Ben Sigmund] and the other guys that didn't get to play, know that we were part of a great team that performed outstandingly. We just don't feel that at the moment. That will change over time as we have the ability to look at the bigger picture and reflect on all the magnificent memories from the World Cup.
Chief among them for me will be our fans in South Africa. They were outstanding and backed us at every stage. One of the signs I remember in the crowd was "Vuvuzela: Horn? No, beer bong" and that sort of sums up the mood of the Kiwi fans.
I am sure they made their mark on the whole tournament. I know many of the boys were wondering at different times if it wouldn't be more fun being with them than playing! At some stage it would be great to be on the other side of the fence but all I can think about at the moment is how to get back to another World Cup and experience it all over again.
So, how do we get to Brazil in 2014? How do we capitalise on the groundswell of support that this latest campaign has generated for the sport? I think for me the answer is simple; Asia. Regular, challenging games for the All Whites would follow. As, I imagine, would sponsorship dollars and corporate support.
It could lead maybe to Christchurch joining Wellington's party and getting an A-League side. This could mean a couple of Kiwi youth teams playing week in, week out, in the Aussie National Youth League, and the possibility of Asian Champions league football for the Phoenix.
Most importantly, entry to Asia, would present an opportunity for home fans to watch the All Whites at home, every year, in meaningful fixtures. I hope we can make that jump sooner rather than later.
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I believe the key to the success of this team, apart from good players, coaches and leadership, was making a plan some years ago to get to South Africa.
Once that bold statement was made it became a reference point for everything we did. At every turn, when things went wrong, or things went right, as a collective group we asked ourselves what we could do better to make World Cup qualification a reality.
That's what the game in this country needs to do right now; dare to dream about something even greater than where we are now and what we have just achieved. That's how we'll find a way back to the World Cup in 2014, and that's how we'll qualify for the second round for the first time.
See you in Brazil in four years.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/world-cup/opinion/3867679/Now-to-make-sure-that-we-make-it-to-Brazil