New Zealand need to learn their place

Columnist

By Davidde Corran, 6 Dec 2009 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert

Tagged:: All Whites, football, frank van hattum, Socceroos, South Africa, World Cup

Related coverage

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert, left, and captain Ryan Nelsen reacts after their team's 1-0 win over Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying playoff second leg soccer match at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford)

For a guy who has never played in Australia’s old National Soccer League, New Zealand Football chief executive Frank van Hattum is sounding very old soccer at the moment.

With most of the world looking at New Zealand’s participation in South Africa with cynical eyes, van Huttum seems to have decided to forgo professionalism in his public comments.

Shortly after the World Cup draw was made, the former New Zealand international challenged Australia to a pre-tournament friendly.

“They keep running away from us, the buggers, they’re chicken shit,” said van Hattum.

“We’ve asked but they were qualified some time ago, there’s a possibility and we’ve got a great relationship with them, they help us quite a bit to be fair and we’d love to play them.

“We’d love to get the thing going again.

“Once again, they’ll probably get beaten by the odd goal and they’ll go back to all the excuses they used to do in the old days.”

Top stuff that. It’s like someone stole van Hutton’s lunch money and he’s now having a fit in the primary school play ground. Can you imagine Ben Buckley referring to another football nation as ‘chicken shit’ even if it was jokingly? It’s just not how someone in that position conducts themselves.

All White fans should also be worried about their football chief’s idea of an ideal opponent to prepare them for their first World Cup in 28 years. New Zealand needs to come to terms with the brand of football played by their Group F opponents (Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia), not the Socceroos’ style.

While a friendly between the two nations might be a bit of fun, I certainly don’t want Pim Verbeek preparing his team for a high quality competitive tournament by playing New Zealand. That would be a huge mistake.

Still van Huttun wasn’t yet done because he soon started bragging about ‘interest’ in playing New Zealand from other nations.

“I just whispered (to the German delegation) that we play very much like Australia and they said, ‘Yeah, we know that, we might be talking to you’,” van Huttun said.

“Slovenia want a game and China want a game, Mexico want a game, so there’s lots of opportunities coming forward and we’ve got a couple of other opportunities in Europe as well.

“We’re going to the biggest event in the world so we need to really start thinking and doing things 100 per cent professionally.”

Funny you should say that Frank. Having spoken privately with high-level staff at Football Federation Australia I know that they are already in talks with a number of nations about some pre-tournament friendlies, including the MCG send-off, but you don’t see Ben Buckley running around telling everyone. It’s just not the done thing.

I’ve never been too keen on the All Whites’ World Cup qualification to begin with as I feel that New Zealand would be better off moving into Asia then just making up the numbers in South Africa.

That said, the World Cup is an opportunity for the game in New Zealand to move forward and New Zealand Football needs to seize upon the momentum from qualifying.

One way they could do so is by trying to join Asia, but the region is hardly going to keel over and let them in. For that to happen van Hutton and his counterparts at New Zealand Football need to convince Asia they have something to gain out of allowing them in (in truth I don’t think they do). These recent comments from van Huttun are hardly the way to do that.

New Zealand football needs to do everything it can to earn respect and not let itself down at the World Cup. Lets hope van Hattum’s comments aren’t going to set the tone of the country’s journey to South Africa.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.

The Crowd Says (78) | Page 1 of Comments

Freud of Football said | December 6th 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment

@The Editors: Can you please stop using this picture, Nelsen looks like he has mental issues. Surely you can find something better?

Reply
- MyGeneration said | December 6th 2009 @ 7:33am | Report comment
  
  He looks like he just qualified for the World Cup finals. Leave him alone.
  
  Reply
Pippinu said | December 6th 2009 @ 7:41am | Report comment

Have we become all high and mighty all of a sudden, that we can’t even afford NZ one little friendly between now and June next year?? Not even a friendly with our A-League team as preparation for one of the Asian qualifiers?

Reply
- Mr cheese said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
  
  I agree.
  
  1) The word ‘forego’ has the letter ‘e’ in it. There may be a different spelling in Australia, but je ne crois pas.
  
  2) Is most of the world looking at NZ “with cynical eyes” ? Where’s the proof of that ? You will always have dodgy teams in the competition. I believe that the convicts were not great in 1974. It happens, but you get better with time.
  
  I am glad that the All Whites will be there. I had hoped that Canada would qualify: we all like Canadians because they’re not American. We all like New Zealanders because they’re not………………….you get the picture.
  
  On a serious note, I think they should be left alone. They met the criteria. That is all you can do.
  
  If you sit an exam and pass it, it’s not your fault that the exam was too easy.
  
  Good luck, New Zealand.
  
  Reply
  - Shahsan said | December 6th 2009 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
    
    Mr Cheese,
    Forgo means to do without, forego means to go before, or precede. Forgo is the correct word in this case.
    
    Davidde
    The Kiwi guy spounds exactly like how an Aussie would speak if they were taunting England. It’s a small rbrther, big brother thing. relax
    
    Reply
    - Jerry said | December 6th 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
      
      They both mean both those things. It’s the same word, just an alternative spelling.
      
      Reply
      - Shahsan said | December 7th 2009 @ 5:50am | Report comment
        
        nonsense.
        
        Reply
  - Davidde Corran said | December 7th 2009 @ 4:08am | Report comment
    
    Mr cheese – from The Times this week: “Ryan Nelson apart, (New Zealand) are no hopers who could be on the end of a couple of rugby scores.”
    
    That is one of the nicer things I have read, heard or seen since New Zealand qualified. Take it from someone who works in the football media in Europe that there are a lot of people who view their place cynically. I’m not saying it is right or even reasonable just that it is so. I even heard a few Irish journalists and fans pipe up about it after they were so harshly knocked out.
    
    Reply
Ora said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:03am | Report comment

Did Australia not only win 1-0 last time they played New Zealand?
I find it amusing that some Australians actually think their team is that good.
If Italy the current world champions can play New Zealand in a friendly whilst on a build up to a major international tournament why can’t Australia?
Do you really think you are that good and important in world soccer?
Or is it they are worried they could be upset by a country where football is normally consigned to the late night highlights?

Reply
- tifosi said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
  
  Thats because they were both in South Africa at the same time for the confederations cup
  
  I doubt italy would have played them otherwise.
  
  Saying that, Australia should play NZ. Would be good fun.
  
  Reply
  - Mr cheese said | December 6th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
    
    Are the All Whites allowed to do Le Haka ????
    
    The World Cup is nothing if not theatrical.
    
    The Haka is pure theatre. I love it. I once saw it in the flesh, at Anfield in 1993.
    
    The footballers should do it, How cool would that be ?? ??? ?
    
    Reply
    - Jerry said | December 6th 2009 @ 5:55pm | Report comment
      
      FIFA don’t allow the haka before games. There might be some sort of haka after their final match to thank the travelling supporters (I hope not, it always looks a bit dorky seeing a bunch of skinny white boys doing a haka – have a look at the likes of Stu Wilson and Allan Hewson for instance).
      
      Reply
    - Dan said | December 6th 2009 @ 6:44pm | Report comment
      
      Yeah, unfortunately the soccer boys don’t really have the physique for it… they’re too skinny for it to look intimidating. It’d be like when the “Tall Blacks” do it in basketball: just plain embarrassing. Leave the Haka to the All Blacks (and maybe the RL team “the Kiwis” too).
      
      Reply
    - Pippinu said | December 6th 2009 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
      
      I agree with the Haka ban on all non-rugby sports.
      
      Reply
      - Hammer said | December 7th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
        
        The Haka is not part of NZ football – it won’t happen – nothing to do with FIFA bans
        
        Reply
- mahony said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
  
  Ora – “their team” – so you are not from around here? Either way, Australia will choose who it plays for footballing and commercial reasons. On both counts playing New Zealand is a waste of time. We understand our place in the grand scheme of the world game – the Coca Cola FIFA Rankings remind us regularly.
  
  Reply
  - PastHisBest said | December 7th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
    
    Where’s ‘here’, Mahony??
    
    Reply
hammer said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:08am | Report comment

NZ need to learn their place – really ? and where would that be then ? .. what nasty piece this is – esp straight after the draw

Reply
- Pippinu said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:11am | Report comment
  
  It is a bit on the nasty side – it would almost be acceptable if it were slightly tongue in cheek – but I think he’s serious.
  
  Reply
  - Mr cheese said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
    
    It’s a good thing only if it gives the French an opportunity to write about “Les Neo-Zelandais”.
    
    That resonant prefix makes them sound like some kind of skinhead group.
    
    Ricki Herbet – C’est Un Genie !!!!!!!!!!
    
    Reply
    - Mr cheese said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:21am | Report comment
      
      Ricki Herbert, I think his name is.
      
      My mistake.
      
      Reply
VootballKid said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment

I totally agree that New Zealand should aim to join Asia for their own sake. They’re the only Oceanian country left with the resources to be able to e.g. fly half way round the world for continental fixtures. You mention: but what would be in it for AFC? I’m curious, what was in it for the AFC for Australia to join? Why did they let us in?

Reply
- AndyRoo said | December 6th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
  
  after the group draw that has AFC teams up agaisnt it the AFC will be looking for ways it can preserve it’s number of spots.
  
  that’s NZ’s in, but if they get thrashed at the World cup then they may be no good for that purpose.
  
  Reply
- Davidde Corran said | December 7th 2009 @ 3:33am | Report comment
  
  One of the reasons that Asia accepted Australia into the AFC was because it would help secure their World Cup spots and give them another reason to argue for more. The addition of another developing but strong professional domestic competition in the A-League was also a plus for the region and the Asian Champions League
  
  FFA also made promises to be a good member of the Asian football community, while not forgetting it’s Oceania roots. There was enough of a sense that Australia would offer more then it would take away (namely a position at the World Cup and Asian Cup).
  
  Reply
  - VootballKid said | December 7th 2009 @ 5:07am | Report comment
    
    Yeah, and I suppose our pedigree would raise the standards right across the AFC, whereas New Zealand can’t really offer that. Plus, were a good place to host the Asian Cup and AFC executives love a good junket.
    
    Reply
  - Steve said | December 9th 2009 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
    
    Some “West” Asian nations (and most of Europe) would look at many of your stated reasons (Australia joining the AFC) with “cynical eyes”.
    
    Reply
AndyRoo said | December 6th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment

We should be playing them in a 3 game series as something to keep the a league boys active in the time where the A league has finished and europe is still going on.

For the first game we pick all our A league players of Italian origin Colisimo is captain and so on
It might be a bit of a stretch when it comes to Paraguayans and Slovakians though…although 30 years ago we could have put out a handy Chzech team.

Reply
Peter Wilson said | December 6th 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment

Coming off Rugby for a while – could one of the World’s Reporters please tell me how 13 Countries from Europe appear to be in the World Cup Soccer – This is absolutely ridiculous. Among the Countries are France – England – Denmark – Netherlands. Then we have Italy – Switzerland – Portugal – Spain – Germany – Serbia – Slovakia – Slovenia. Let us have a play of for three teams only from that part of the World. We have New Zealand – Japan – South Korea – North Korea (I do not recall them playing off for a entry). This means that the European sides besides the South American – North American and South African Nations have a stronger chance of Qualifying. In other words the Soccer World Championship is a wrought made up of European Teams mostly. This was sent to Spiro who told me to write to you people

Reply
- Millster said | December 7th 2009 @ 7:43pm | Report comment
  
  Ummm… I suggest you go to http://www.fifa.com and look up the qualification structure in the differen continents. Over 200 teams started the adventure. While you’re on the FIFA site look at the current world rankings and them come back and tell me whether 13 European teams from 32 total is too many. For mine they are underdone if anything, and it makes it doubly sad for team like Ireland, Russia and the Ukraine to miss out while muppets like NZ get in.
  
  Reply
  - Pippinu said | December 7th 2009 @ 7:46pm | Report comment
    
    Someone recenlty came up with a very good suggestion – that we just let the top european and south american nations go for it – and leave the rest of the cannon fodder out of it.
    
    Reply
    - Shahsan said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:08pm | Report comment
      
      This is exactly the sort of exclusiveness for which the Amercians have been berated for over the years eg calling their baseball championships the World Series (yes, i know there is another reason it is called the “world” series, but the commonly believed reason makes sense nevertheless).
      Their rationale would be that, even if they opened it up to the rest of the world, it would still come down to their teams in the end. So why waste time? “Let’s just let our top teams go for it and leave the rest of the cannon fodder out of it.”
      
      Reply
marinerdiehard said | December 6th 2009 @ 9:56am | Report comment

that is just a bit harsh on NZ, but i guess after the way he spoke “chicken shit” then he was kinda asking for it, although i dont think you needed to have a dig at NZ as a whole, thats just stupid, dude seriously!

Reply
- Davidde Corran said | December 7th 2009 @ 3:35am | Report comment
  
  Hi marinerdiehard, I’m not sure where you think I had a dig at New Zealand “as a whole” but I haven’t. If Ben Buckley had of made the comments I would have written the exact same piece but with his and Football Federation Australia’s names instead of van Huttun’s and NZF.
  
  Reply
  - s2art said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
    
    How many different ways would you have spelt Buckley?
    
    Reply
Pippinu said | December 6th 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment

That’s a pretty good idea – watching Smeltz and Culina last night for the first 65 minutes – it seems to me they would both benefit from somethign like that.

Reply
Realfootball said | December 6th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment

Sorry for my ignorance, but is Van Hattum something official in NZ football?

If he is, then he is one monumental embarrassment.

But Davidde, “learn their place” is very unfortunate as a tag line.

Reply
- Mr cheese said | December 6th 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
  
  I just assumed that all of that was more in keeping with relaxed antipodean ways.
  
  In the Australian parliament, politicians occasionally call their opponents “snakes” or “liars” or something. Over here, that would be deemed rude because we have unelected Lords who were born before the Crimean War.
  
  All of these conventions are subject to local culture. In France, for example, the team has been managed in the past by at least one poet. That’s the French style, y’see.
  
  In Aussie and NZ, they call each other “chickenshit” because the hot weather induces a certain candour and plain-speaking.
  
  Countries are different. Isn’t that the explanation ?
  
  Best wishes,
  
  Monsieur Fromage
  
  Reply