As a kid I was always much more interested in rugby than soccer (I did not even know to call it football). But in 1982 I was swept along with the rest of the country in the All Whites Road to Spain.
Like comedy and politics- sometimes in sport timing can be everything. In the wake of the divisive Springbok Tour in 1981, the sporting public was looking for something to believe in. Parents were keen to see their kids play and follow something other than the national game. And then there was the coaching team- John Adshead and Kevin Fallon- the former in the mould of the classic English professional manager, the latter in the mould of a nightclub bouncer. Together they fashioned a team that stunned, staggered and ultimately starred to make our first ever World Cup Finals.
27 years on our chance comes again tomorrow morning, with the first of a two leg playoff against Bahrain to decide who goes to the World Cup in South Africa next year. The build-up does not have the epic journey of 27 years ago, but frankly it is time to put that nostalgia behind us. Under coach Rikki Herbert, a key player in 1982, this All Whites side qualified top of the Oceania group under the radar earlier in the year, and now have 180 minutes to make history repeat.
It will be no easy task, particularly in the first leg. Herbert is betting the house on playing three strikers. Goals scored away from home are everything in a two-leg tie (they count double in the event of on overall draw). But you can bet your bottom dollar there will be a stack of defenders on the bench in the event we do score early goals to defend that.
And then it all comes to Wellington for the second leg on the 14th of November. What a night it could be. If you are a sports fan of any sort this is the night to get along. There is no bigger sporting event on this mortal coil that the football world cup, and we are all but there.
Follow the game tomorrow morning, and then get along for the one shot at glory. The uniforms aren’t as skimpy, the hair not as long, but hopefully the spirit is as willing as 27 years ago. Me, excited, never….
It it on the box?
Thomas it’s on Sky 3.30am kick off, although there is delayed coverage starting at 9.00am.
thanks for that I haven’t got sky, unfortunately
I shall have to do what I always do when I watch PL football,namely trawl the web to try and find a dodgy Chinese site that streams illegally
kick off is 4.30am, as noted on Sky. I see Stuff are going to have some kind of “rolling coverage” whatever that is, so might be worth checking out if you can’t get Sky
Let’s hope we win!
so, it was not as good as it might have been (i.e no goals scored) but nowhere near as bad as it could have been (no goals conceded). All to play for at the Cake Tin on the 14th of November. Get your tickets at http://www.oneshotforglory.co.nz and lets fill the stadium.
[...] I have said before this All Whites campaign does not have the epic journey drama of the 1982 campaign, but