Reflections And Visions

The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home

Relief For Reflective Herbert Ahead Of Exciting Month

by Jeremy Ruane

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert happily admitted to a feeling of relief following the May 10 naming of the squad to contest the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals, and with good reason.

"It is a weight off the shoulders, to be honest. I think it was always going to be a big day, a big decision on who that group was going to be, but we’ve made that decision now.

"And it’s been a big decision right across the board. Logistics, admin, planning, programmes, financial involvement to a certain degree … all in all, it’s been fascinating, wonderful. I hate the word journey, but it’s been a great journey for me personally. And there’s a lot to look forward to over the next month too".

While there were 23 delighted individuals, there were also another ten or so who came very close to sharing their joy, but who will most likely be like the vast majority of us, on the outside looking in, as the greatest show on earth unfolds from June 12, NZ time.

Herbert was reluctant to single out any individuals when asked if anyone was unlucky to miss out, but was able to relate to their disappointment, having experienced it himself during the 1982 World Cup Finals.

"I spoke to the players about this with real emotion on Sunday. When I went to the World Cup, I’d played every single game - fifteen of them - during qualifying, and at that stage you think you’re never going to miss out on anything. You’re bullet-proof, albeit you’re young and reasonably inexperienced.

"The team got named (to play Scotland in New Zealand’s opening match in Spain) and I wasn’t in it. That was a really hard thing to take back then, but it was a strong experience that I could share with the players on Sunday. I hopped on the team bus and I bawled my eyes out all the way back to the hotel".

Steve Sumner, the All Whites’ captain, sat down alongside Herbert on that bus trip, "and he gave me one word of advice. ‘Make sure that you do everything right, Ricki’, he said, and probably a few other things, as Steve would do. I’ve always cherished that, always appreciated that, always remembered that.

"Fortunately I took that advice, ‘cause there were two ways I could have gone, and I elected to take the right way, the professional way, and I got myself back involved for the balance of the campaign.

"I could only echo that when in conversation with the players about the final selection", continued the coach. "A professional stance is taken in or out of the team, and there should be a humble approach by the players that are in the team, that they’re sensitive in return to their colleagues, who have been very supportive over a long period of time to get the nation back to a World Cup, and who will be feeling pretty down at the moment".

Sharing his own experience wasn’t the only message Herbert relayed to the Australasian-based players as their camp drew to a close. There was also some

advice which is applicable to anyone who’s ever kicked a ball in anger.

"There’s always hope. Some players that we’ve brought back into the side have probably come as a little bit of a surprise to you. There are players who’ve made it as professional footballers at 25, 26. So whilst it’s not what you want to hear today, who knows what tomorrow might bring for them?"

Having named his squad, Herbert’s focus now is on the build-up to the Finals, for which the All Whites have a good programme in place, with games against Australia, Serbia, Slovenia and Chile on the agenda. "The teams we’re pitted against are all World Cup teams, all highly ranked.

"I think the first game will hopefully reflect near to what we consider to be the best starting eleven. The problem that we have is that we haven’t played as a collective group since November 14. When we took on Mexico in March, we had a side with a lot of different players attached to it".

The squad gathers in Auckland on May 19. "We’ll train for two days then we’ll travel across", says Herbert. "We’ll probably only have 3-4 session before the Australia game so I think it’ll be a familiar look and shape to what we had against Bahrain. There might be a little personnel change, but we’ll progress things from there.

"They’ll have their side in place - they’re all gathering in Australia. When we last played them, in 2005 at Craven Cottage, they had their best team but we were at the start of this cycle. I’m looking forward to it - I think it’s great. We know what it’s like in all sports when New Zealand takes on Australia", beams Herbert, ahead of the Melbourne Cricket Ground encounter.

Following that match, the All Whites head to their Austrian camp, during which they’ll play their two European opponents. "We sent Kenny McMillan, our Sports Scientist - he’s with Aston Villa - across a couple of times", says Herbert of how this location was settled on.

"It’s at altitude, and there are different variances of everything. We’ve got a combination of a place that’s a little bit remote and another one that’s a bit more centralised, so hopefully we get the balance of time right in both environments".

Then, it’s destination South Africa, where the All Whites will play Chile in a training match prior to the Finals. "We’ve got a nice little set-up there, which is good. We’re very fortunate that we’ve had some support there to get that.

"I think it’ll be good for the players", says Ricki Herbert. "I know what it’s been like myself, cooped up in a hotel for a month or so. Relationships get fraught at times, and that’s to be expected, but the set-up lends itself to diffusing that, I would hope.

"Overall, I think there’s a real need to be strong and focused now, and be positive in what we’ve done, which we are, and we now look forward to the programme starting during what is personally a very proud time, and a proud time for football in New Zealand".

2010 World Cup