Will All Whites get a shot at World Cup history?
0The New Zealand men’s national football team have not lost a game at a World Cup final since June 23, 1982, when they were humbled on Spanish soil by an iconic Brazilian side that included the likes of Falcao, Socrates and Zico.
Admittedly, they have only taken in three fixtures at a global sporting showpiece since then, but the point still stands. At the 2010 event in South Africa, the All Whites bowed out after taking a point apiece off Paraguay, Slovakia and reigning champions, Italy.
📅 #OnThisDay in 2010, 106 years on from their inaugural international match, New Zealand won their first @FIFAWorldCup point 🙌
🇳🇿 The All Whites famously ended South Africa 2010 as the tournament's only unbeaten team 💪@NZ_Football | #MondayMotivation | #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/jRd9Vxg1h2
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) June 15, 2020
Some 12 years on, collective sights are being locked on a return to the greatest show on turf. Hitting that target will always be difficult in an OFC section that technically has 0.5 qualification spots up for grabs. Any successful side has to go through an inter-confederation play-off with the team that finishes fourth in the CONCACAF standings of the North, Central America and Caribbean region.
Some serious trends must be bucked in order to book tickets to a major tournament, never mind go one step further and actually make a positive impact on said surroundings. New Zealanders are, however, well versed in punching above their weight and defying odds that are stacked against them.
Success on the football field has not been as prevalent as it has been on rugby and cricket pitches, but support from a passionate and patriotic fan base remains unwavering. Despite sitting in one of the most far-flung corners of the planet, the football bug has bitten New Zealand as hard as any other.
In a modern world, from Wellington to Washington, you cannot move for 24/7 sports news coverage. Documentaries and films hit big and small screens, with many of those dedicated to ball games and the superstars that grace them. An online boom sees competitors from all walks of life lock horns in virtual simulators such as FIFA and eFootball. The likes of https://www.bonus.net.nz/ are also on hand in gaming circles to nudge punters toward games like Football Frenzy and Champions Cup at LeoVegas. Everybody is seeking a helping hand when it comes to forming considered opinions and savouring the thrill of an ultimate winning feeling.
Will it be All White?
Danny Hay, as covered by https://www.nzherald.co.nz/, is the man currently charged with the task of delivering on hopes and expectations of an All Whites nation. As a man with 31 caps to his name from playing days, the former defender knows all about the trials and tribulations of trying to chase down a coveted World Cup berth.
He never achieved that when lacing up boots himself, but is in a position to influence proceedings after taking up a role in the dugout. For him, and all of those at his disposal, history is there for the making.
Some back three 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qkdxGLYqpL
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) March 29, 2022
As mentioned previously, and reported on by https://www.stuff.co.nz/, some considerable time has passed since New Zealand last came unstuck at FIFA’s flagship event. It is, however, impossible to ignore the fact that a winning habit has proved impossible to come by as well.
Through six matches at World Cup finals, New Zealand has never emerged victorious – with only four goals scored against 14 conceded. There is clearly room for improvement there along with an opportunity for 23 players, as well as management and coaching teams, to add their own notable entries to the record books.
There is one more sizeable hurdle to clear before then. Hay’s men must extend a winning habit through a play-off clash with Costa Rica in June for dreams of claiming competitive scalps of Spain, Germany or Japan on a World Cup stage to truly form.