New Zealand participate in this year's Confederations Cup for another time, portrayed as the team with the least chances to do any harm. However, their underdog status could cause some surprise, as the All Whites are still very much in a developing phase in football.
New Zealand don't have a lot to celebrate when it comes to World Cup history. The All Whites were there only once; that was in 1982. Three defeats on the trot - certainly due to the country's lack of knowledge and quality in football - are New Zealand's only memories from a disastrous and miserable World Cup campaign 27 years ago.
Nevertheless, the All Whites can turn the sight on their glorious side of football where cup success is a frequent thing. They've been in every single OFC Nations Cup tournament since it was founded in 1973 and are four-time winners of the OFC Nations Cup (1973, 1998, 2002, and 2008).
They country may boast of two Confederations Cup appearances in Mexico 1999 and in France 2003 but it also goes without saying that there is still room for improvement. After failing to progress to the next stage of the Confederations Cup at each attempt, New Zealand have another opportunity to go one better than they did previously.
Their coach, Ricki Herbert, has called up new-face Chris Wood for the upcoming Confederations Cup in South Africa. The 17-year-old West Bromwich Albion striker gets along side an experienced group of All Whites players who all participated in the France 2003 Confederations Cup.
About the team
The New Zealand squad certainly doesn't possess an array of star players. The modest club - coached by 48-year-old Ricki Herbert - might concentrate on playing team-soccer. Ranked 78th in the FIFA rankings, New Zealand will have nothing to lose when they affront big teams like Spain and even Iraq.
Coach Riki Herbert surely knows how sad it is to bow out from the group stages of a major tournament. The former New Zealand international was part of the country's squad that failed to get anything at all in Spain 1982. Matches against Botswana, Tanzania and World Champions Italy, before the tournament in June, will help Herbert assess the position of his New Zealand team.
New Zealand's 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Petone/Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix)
Defenders: Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls, USA), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), David Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (captain - Blackburn Rovers, England), Steven Old (Kilmarnock, Scotland), Aaron Scott (Melville United/Waitakere United), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix)
Midfielders: Andy Barron (Petone/Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Wellington Phoenix), Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Chris James (Tampere United, Finland), Duncan Oughton (Columbus Crew, USA)
Forwards: Kris Bright (Panserraikos, Greece), Jeremy Brockie (North Queensland Fury, Australia), Chris Killen (Celtic, Scotland), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United, Australia), Jarrod Smith (Seattle Sounders, USA), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion, England)
New Zealand are placed in Group A with hosts South Africa, Iraq and, Spain.
