All Whites are our second team at the World Cup
Columnist
By Adrian Musolino, 9 May 2010 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
New Zealand's Shane Smeltz against Italy in their friendly match at the Super stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday June 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
This is a subject that we’ve broached previously but deserves further examination: do we support the New Zealand All Whites at the World Cup as representatives of the A-League or should we treat them as we would the All Blacks?
It’s a fascinating quandary to ponder as we approach the Socceroos’ home farewell match against the All Whites at the MCG on May 24 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The farewell match represents a new beginning in the rivalry between the two countries that has suffered an inevitable lull since Australia’s move into Asia.
But with New Zealand’s qualification to the World Cup – where they will be at the finals alongside Australia for the first time ever – the rise of football across the Tasman, manifested through the continued rise of the Wellington Phoenix as well as the World Cup qualification, has set the scene for the rebirth of meaningful contests between the two nations.
And it will be fascinating to see how the crowd at the MCG and the players approach the friendly – their first clash in five years, let’s not forget.
In rugby, for example, where the All Blacks ply their trade in the New Zealand based franchises in an international competition as opposed to an Australian one, the lines are so clearly defined between the two nations.
In football, they are far from it.
The All Whites are, in the main, products of Australia’s footballing structures
Within the New Zealand football community there is a sense of gratitude to the Australian game for providing the platform for its own game to rise in standard to the point where World Cup qualification was possible – and without which it’s unlikely the All Whites would be there in the first place.
Meanwhile, the majority of Australian football fans wished the Phoenix well as they emerged as genuine contenders in the A-League last season, and were relieved when they were given a stay of execution and allowed to continue playing in a foreign league by the AFC, especially considering the Phoenix were one of the few shining lights of the season for the competition with bumper crowds saving the blushes of crowd-watchers.
The All Whites qualifying for South Africa was a success for the A-League, and the fact was not lost on Aussie fans.
At club level, at least, there is no real trans-Tasman animosity, and no real bitter or acrimonious tensions on the international arena.
But for how long will that goodwill continue and does the MCG friendly represent a turning point?
The consensus among many Socceroos fans is that they wish the All Whites well in South Africa, knowing they will be representing the A-League to a far greater extent than the Socceroos.
None of the three A-League representatives for the Socceroos in Germany 2006 (Archie Thompson, Mark Milligan and Michael Beauchamp) saw any game time, and with Jason Culina the only likely A-League Socceroo to feature in South Africa, the All Whites’ World Cup tour will be the A-League’s biggest chance yet to showcase its worth, with Shane Smeltz and the core of the Wellington Phoenix making up the majority of the likely starting XI.
World Soccer’s World Cup preview magazine describes Smeltz as “the record-breaking A-League striker” who “will carry the weight of the All Whites’ attacking burden.”
For many football fans around the world it’ll be the first time they’ve heard of the A-League.
And for this reason we should wish New Zealand well in South Africa and hope they do themselves and the A-League proud.
A fighting and spirited performance from the underdogs will reflect positively on the A-League around the world.
The rivalry between the Socceroos and All Whites should be put aside in June, and it will inevitably develop with time, particularly if an annual meeting between the two eventuates.
The competition between the two dates back to 1922 when they first met on the football field in Dunedin, and their previous battles in Oceania and rich rivalry in other sporting endeavors should ensure the MCG match is the rejuvenation of the rivalry.
Perhaps if the Phoenix continue their rise in the A-League, the rivalry will also foster at the club level between Wellington and their Australian rivals.
But the fact remains that Australia benefits enormously from the talent that emerges in New Zealand as it helps to contribute to a better A-League, so we shouldn’t begrudge them a good tournament in South Africa and hope they do us proud.
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.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Phoenix need more than flash in the pan crowds (133)
- ‘New football’ fans may help save the game in Australia (124)
- Does Tasmania have a case for A-League inclusion? (119)
- What happened in Port Said was not a football riot (118)
- Magilton struggling to make a mark (68)
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour? (44)
- Socceroos screwed over by FIFA, again (41)
- Heavy-handed Bernstein the trouble for English football
- Victory, Mariners deliver hope, glory and entertainment (6)
- Sydney and Perth eye A-League crunch game
- Victory beat Mariners with Kewell winner
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (97)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (9)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (7)
- Heavy-handed Bernstein the trouble for English football (0)
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (97)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (9)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (7)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (8)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (2)
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys (3)
- Explore:
- A-League, football, new zealand all whites, Shane Smeltz, Socceroos, world cup 2010
Forgetmenot said | May 9th 2010 @ 2:21am | Report comment
With the risk of turning this into another ‘code war’ thread ill ask the following question.
Are the same ‘code wars’ happening in New Zealand as are happening in Australia?
Is it a case of Black versus White (All-Blacks versus All-Whites) perhaps …
Alders said | May 9th 2010 @ 3:44am | Report comment
No, not really. Kids have always played soccer a lot in NZ.
Eastboy said | May 9th 2010 @ 7:51am | Report comment
Not at all, we don’t really have code wars here, Kiwis generally support all the national teams
katzilla said | May 9th 2010 @ 8:14am | Report comment
None of the other codes really try to take on Unions position in NZ, they just endeavour to grab a piece of the action and take what they can get. In saying that Kiwis love a winner more then any sport. You’ll be amazed how many Shot Put fans came out of the closet once Valerie Vili came along. Or how rowing moves to our number one sport during the middle days of the Olympics.
Ill be supporting 3 teams I have ties to at the football world cup, firstly NZ, secondly Australia and thirdly England. Quite a good scenario really because I expect 1 of those teams to drop out at each level of the World Cup thereby focusing my attention on one team past the round of 16. It might be Australia
Robb said | May 9th 2010 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
At an org. level it’s mostly co-operative, the Hurricanes and the Phoenix even did cross-code promotion recently when both teams played Perth-based teams on the same weekend.
As for the race issue, I doubt it. There’s some talk of it in regards to rugby, with some outside of the sport blaming bigger Maori/Pasifika players for (allegedly) bullying white kids out of rugby, and some within the sport blaming the parents of white kids for being overprotective because of this (again alleged) behaviour. I can’t say too much as I’m an expat Aussie, but I didn’t see it at all when I coached junior rugby. I had kids of both groups who only cared about playing rugby, not the skin colour of their team-mates.
As for football, there’s also a growing African community that seems to gravitate towards football. Maybe they play rugby as well, I dunno, but I coach football now and in both of my years of it I’ve seen plenty of African kids, having some with Ethiopian parents on my team.
Greg said | May 10th 2010 @ 5:59pm | Report comment
Adrianne needs to get his hand off it – NZ in the World Cup thanks to the A-league – i don’t think Fallon or Nelsen are in the Average League – players plying their trade in England and Europe helped us in the play -offs, and it will be Reid and Smith who keep the score down in Africa. Australia moving to Asiain WC qualifying helped the kiwis qualify more than any A-league fantasy.
eastperthroyals said | May 9th 2010 @ 4:09am | Report comment
forgetmenot
No there are no code wars in nz as everybody knows theyre place
1 rugby
2 football Aussie Rules
3 netball
4 criceket
5 sailing
6 soccer
7 rowing
8 ironman
9 v8′s
10 basketball
AndyRoo said | May 9th 2010 @ 8:24am | Report comment
I’m not quite someone who doesn’t know about the existence of Rugby league and has aussie rules as the second most popular sport in NZ is the most qualified to judge.
Emperor Penguin said | May 9th 2010 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
Looks and smells like bait that comment.
AFL at 2? Seriously?
From what I have seen in travels in NZ, they love Union, League, Netball, Cricket, and Soccer in no particular order.
All others are lol.
Robb said | May 9th 2010 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
Take out AFL and ironman, add golf and league, expand V8 to motorsport in general, then put them in the correct order
eastperthroyals said | May 9th 2010 @ 4:11am | Report comment
but we should still support them as they support all our teams
Cpaaa said | May 9th 2010 @ 7:21am | Report comment
So it will actually be New Zealand flying the flag for the A-League in South Africa. WooooW. I can just picture Spanish, Italian and Slovakian commentators saying “A-Lig” throughout the matches. This is great, also thinking of the possibility of calls for a second team in NZ, they to deserve a local derby. If the Wello boys manage to bag a couple of goals, then the “A-League” will be known in more countries faster than you could put a decent highlights football reel on channel 7.
Come on New Zealand, were Bro’s now, were with you all the way.
Come May 24 though, i hoping for a draw or better, a Kiwi Victory. Thats right i said it. Our boys need a kick up the arse and the Kiwis need a confidence booster….oh dammit it i still cant do it, got a little carried away, come on Australia…
Emperor Penguin said | May 9th 2010 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
AFC would never allow it. They want either Australia out of Asia, or NZ out of the A-League… possibly both.
Thankfully FIFA sees things differently.
Mister Football said | May 9th 2010 @ 7:54am | Report comment
I would think the majority of Australian soccer fans already have a preferred second team.
In many cases (but not all), that’s Australia.
Joe FC said | May 9th 2010 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
For sure Adrian the Kiwis will be my 2nd team in Sth Africa especially when they play the conniving Italians (although I might have to revisit that if they beat us in Melbourne). Unlike katzilla I’d be quite happy to see England make an early exit.
True Tah said | May 9th 2010 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
I have no doubts that the locals will back the team (despite being called the All Whites!), remembering that the All Blacks drew a lot of support from the black population for a long time, and this should transfer across to futbol…if only NZ were playing a game in Cape Town.
And I will certainly be going for the Tri Nations at the FIFA WC – Australia, NZ and South Africa…remembering 1995, I hope that Bafana Bafana can do something similar. Like Joe FC, wouldnt mind seeing England getting booted out early on.
David V. said | May 9th 2010 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Do you really think so? The Bafana Bafana draw their support from all sectors in South Africa- the game is far more of a unifying force since it was the first sport to end the racial barriers before Apartheid ended.
True Tah said | May 9th 2010 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
David, both the All Blacks and Crusaders have heaps of support in the Cape, and by depriving white South Africans the chance of seeing the Boks play the All Blacks in the 1980s through a refusal to tour there by NZ, contributed to the end to minority rule.
David V. said | May 9th 2010 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Yes but this won’t necessarily translate to football support. Football is deeply rooted in black communities in the Cape too.
AA said | May 9th 2010 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
Adrian, the only thing you got right in your article was this:
“The All Whites are, in the main, products of Australia’s footballing structures
Within the New Zealand football community there is a sense of gratitude to the Australian game for providing the platform for its own game to rise in standard to the point where World Cup qualification was possible – and without which it’s unlikely the All Whites would be there in the first place.”
The rest was a waste of space. Ticket sales for the MCG are low. Do you want to pay $95 for a premium seat to watch Snahe Smeltz and Chad Coombes (who?) run around the MCG?
I can tell you’re not from Victoria by the very tone of your article. The game at the MCG is a flop and don’t try to tell us any different.
Marsh said | May 9th 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
What’s that got to do with the article about the rivalry between the two which would still exist even if there were 10 people watching at the G?
AA said | May 9th 2010 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
An Aus vs NZ game won’t happen again if there were 10 people at the MCG. Are you going to put up $3 million to host the game if you don’t get a return? No you wouldn’t.
Most people with an international football brian know that the best football teams in the world are teams such as Italy, Argentina, Holland, Brazil and so on.
The NZ “rivalry” is one way traffic only, NZ wants to beat Oz in everything it does. Small man’s syndrome.
Our football is different to rugby and cricket, we know that the best football is not played between Australia* (*=yet) or New Zealand.
It’s a mickey mouse game at the MCG and I for one do not miss playing New Zealand regularly in round-ball football.
Let sleeping dogs lie I say. Asia is Australia’s Confederation now, not New Zealand. Stop helping them FFA and look after Australia’s backyard first.
katzilla said | May 9th 2010 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
Whats a football brian? and where can i get one?
AA said | May 9th 2010 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
Aha, the classic spelling error. Football brain it is meant to say…
Mister Football said | May 9th 2010 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
Why is AA a troll?
He is making two points that are patently obvious:
1. in soccer, we don’t feel any great rivalry with NZ (we did a bit about 25 years ago); and
2. it’s a farcical situation that such a fixture would have been chosen to fairwell the Socceroos.
Playing NZ in soccer is a bit like the Wallabies playing Uruguay in rugby – both are of very little interest to anyone.
David said | May 9th 2010 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
I think AA has a really strong point i typed and Article on this Theroar when i heard NZ were to play the Socceroos for the farewell game. It basically said it was going to be a massive flop, i stand by that, I don’t know if people having ‘football brains’ has anything to do with it. Most people in Melbourne follow soccer(football) in a overseas leagues. The Majority don’t believe in the A-league due to the poor standard. People from Melbourne would gladly go to watch Socceroos play, Japan, Greece, arg etc because they know it will be a quality match which most people in melbourne rarely see. Im glad no one in Melbourne is going to the Farewell game it will teach the FFA a lesson they gave the Holland game to Syd a match everyone in Melbourne wanted to go to if they had that at the MCG 90K+ 4sure instead they give melbourne the worst friendly they’ve organized in 10 years. FFAs mediocre attitude will win them nothing in Melbourne go to Adel, Perth or Qld for a rubbish match like this. You will get more people a fed.square at 12 am to watch the Socceroos play Ghana then u will get ppl to go watch the socceroos play NZ.
It might be harsh but it’s a reality, listen to the fans FFA because they won’t listen to you!
We’re part of Asia now and as much as i welcome WPFC to the A-league no one cares about NZ football and personally im not going to get up to watch them get smashed in the WC.
Eastboy said | May 9th 2010 @ 6:16pm | Report comment
Letas put it this way the last time NZ and Australia meet it was a one nil win to Australia, hardly a world beating thrashing now was it.
What AA isd doing as he is always doing is finding some way to stick a boot into New Zealand at every chance he gets. To be honest he’s probably Republican reincarnated.
So what gives Australia the right to demand higher opposition?
It seems no one wanted to come and Play Australia so that speaks volumes in itself, the World doesn’t think Australian soccer is as important as Australians think it is.
The amazing thing is it’s going to be New Zealansders flying the flag for the A-League as many have written it what an absolute irony that it will be the lowly All Whites giving the A-League any Credit.
Yes the A- League has helped NZ soccer immensely but so has New Zealand helped the A-League and there is no denying that.
What might be harsh is who gives a rats that you won’t get people to watch the game it is a final hit out for both teams before they head off to SA.
Reality is the world doesn’t really give a rats about either country and realistic neither have a chance of winning this tournament, if they did quality opposition would have been lining up to play Australia. But unfortunately they aren’t
Ben of Phnom Penh said | May 10th 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
He’s not a football brian, he’s a very naughty boy
AA said | May 12th 2010 @ 10:59am | Report comment
And I love every second of it.
Realfootball said | May 9th 2010 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
The MCG game against NZ is a serious banana skin for Buckley and FFA – yet another piece of BB mismanagement – and has the very real potential to be a major embarressment to the code and FFA. We face the likelihood of an almost empty MCG farewelling the Socceroos. Bec Wilson must be delighted.
More and more, I’m starting to think that Buckley is an AFL mole. His administration has been a litany of bad decisions.
Axel V said | May 9th 2010 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
Once Australia qualified for the World Cup , my focus turned towards watching how the other nations go. I was excited to see New Zealand would play the 3rd place playoff of Asia and it would be better for them if they played Bahrain instead of Saudi Arabia
(thanks to a change of lead twice in added time of that Bahrain-Saudi Arabia playoff). It was really awesome to see A-League names dominating the NZ football team on the world stage.
I’ll be watching every match and following Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand closely!