World's media rich in praise for All Whites

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - Stuff
Last updated 10:00 25/06/2010

ATTENTION GRABBERS: The All Whites have become the fairytale story of the World Cup, earning them praise from the media.

New Zealand did enough at the World Cup to convince the international football media that "the All Whites can go home with their heads held high".

New Zealand's unbeaten run at the tournament following their third draw overnight - 0-0 against Paraguay - wasn't enough to get them through to the knockout stage.

But it was clearly enough to suggest Ricki Herbert's side had given the country enormous respect in the world's biggest game.

The Times of London were rich in their praise for New Zealand on the same night that defending champions Italy crashed out of the tournament.

"Italy, eh? Slightly more newsworthy than a goalless draw between Paraguay and New Zealand. But stay with us, because this was a bit special, too. Tedious, yes. But a bit special all the same," Tom Dart wrote in The Times.

"Proof comes with a glance at the group F standings and the realisation that the words 'New Zealand' are above 'Italy'.

"The rank outsiders, derided before the tournament as fruitless Kiwis, were better over the past three games than the world champions. Three draws for the nation whose only previous finals appearance, in 1982, brought three defeats.

"That is a triumph, even if the dominant emotion in the immediate aftermath of yesterday's game was dejection that New Zealand failed to turn a minor miracle into a major one. One goal, one solitary goal, and Ricki Herbert's men would have won the group.

"However, while superb at frustrating, New Zealand are not good at creating. They had four shots against Paraguay, none accurate. With a total of three efforts on target all tournament, it is amazing they managed to score twice."

British tabloid The Sun joined the theme, saying: " New Zealand, written off by everyone before the finals began, go home with their heads held high..

The Guardian liked New Zealand's playing strip. "Playing for the first time in the tournament in the black shirts so synonymous with the country's rugby team, Ricki Herbert's side began well against the South Americans. Shane Smeltz, who attained hero status when he scored in the 1-1 draw with Italy, blazed wildly over from outside the penalty area in the fifth minute.

"New Zealand's gameplan, however, as it had been for their previous two matches, was to keep things tight at the back."

Britain's Independent newspaper enjoyed New Zealand's contribution to the tournament.
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"New Zealand's World Cup fairytale came to an end ... but they return home better for the experience.

"In the end it was not All White on the night for Ricki Herbert's side as Slovakia's win over Italy meant the Europeans sneaked into second spot.

"Another resolute performance by a nation playing at only their second World Cup will have at least given the fans back home who stayed up for the 2am kick-off New Zealand time something to cheer.

"They finished above four-time World Cup winners Italy in third place and that does them great credit."

The BBC described the match as "uneventful".

"New Zealand, ranked 77 (sic) in the world, also had the chance of reaching the last 16 but wasted their golden opportunity by failing to trouble Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar even once in the match," wrote Saj Chowdhury for the BBC.

"New Zealand will rue not having made the most of their chance to cause a World Cup sensation.

"But three draws from three matches and finishing one place above 2006 tournament winners Italy means the All Whites travel back east from Polokwane with both pride intact and reputation enhanced."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-world-cup/all-whites/3853702/Worlds-media-rich-in-praise-for-All-Whites

All Whites now hot property

By AMELIA ROMANOS - NZPA
Last updated 20:51 25/06/2010

All Whites will be hot property after performing so well at the World Cup, but New Zealand soccer can live with that says its boss Frank van Hattum.

New Zealand opened eyes with gritty draws with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay in South Africa, and the feats of their players would have been recognised by talent scouts seeking to bolster the ranks of top clubs.

New Zealand were eliminated from the tournament this morning after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay left them in third place in their group - albeit above world champions Italy.

Paraguay advanced to the top 16 with Slovakia, who beat Italy 3-2 in today's other group F match.

New Zealand still celebrated a better campaign than anyone could have expected, and now players would face approaches from international clubs.

That could only do good things for the sport, New Zealand Football chairman van Hattum said,

"If they can get into the English first division, or the Italian, Spanish or German leagues then that's got to be good for New Zealand," van Hattum told NZPA from South Africa today.

"For our people to now be wanted on the world stage, it's going to be great for the game and we should celebrate that."

Among those reportedly being head hunted was coach Ricki Herbert.

Van Hattum said he believed Herbert's allegiance was to New Zealand.

"Ricki is absolutely, passionately wanting to coach the team through to 2014, so we've given him the option to do that," he said.

"We want to keep Ricki, New Zealand wants to keep Ricki, Ricki wants to stay. Whether that all comes together that's a story for another day, but right now Ricki's intention is to keep coaching the New Zealand team."

Van Hattum said he hoped the team's performance at the World Cup would create more opportunities for international fixtures in New Zealand.

"The biggest problem with that is trying to get teams, that are free to play, all the way down to New Zealand. That's always been a big challenge, but the management team will be working on organising that, taking opportunities when we can."

John Adshead, who coached the All Whites at the 1982 World Cup, said the tournament had improved New Zealand's reputation in the sport significantly.

"Anybody who plays New Zealand in the future, will look at us with a great deal of caution, and that's possibly something we've never done in the past."

Herbert had been a great part of that success, Adshead said, but if he had to be replaced he would be.

"We're now in an era of professional sport. The game's professional - you go where you want to work and where the money is going to be provided for you to do the job that you want to do," he said.

"If Ricki starts getting approached now to move up the ladder away from New Zealand then that's his prerogative. If he wants to leave New Zealand with his family and get a good payday out of this then that's great for him. He deserves it."

Investing more money in the sport was not the answer to holding on to players and coaches because it could not be sustained, Adshead said.

"We're seeing exactly the same thing now with the All Blacks. We can't afford to keep them here. European clubs can pay them a lot more money, and that's professional sport," he said.

"It's like setting your budget at home - you've always got to live within your means. If we start to live outside our means, the game is going to go broke.

"You've got to assess what your income is and what you can afford to pay, and if you can't afford to keep certain players or coaches, then that's the problem with being a small nation."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-world-cup/all-whites/3856787/All-Whites-now-hot-property