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Goalkeeper Richard Gillespie, in green, of New Zealand's Waitakere United tries to save a goal scored by Daniel Mullen, unseen, of Australia's Adelaide United FC during their opening match at the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. Adelaide United FC won the match, 2-1. AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama
Although it goes against our countries sporting ethos, we should all be cheering for the All Whites as they prepare for battle in the Confederations Cup starting tonight. After all, they are taking over the mantle we once held as the underdogs from Oceania. They are also flying the A-League flag on the world stage.
While some dismiss the Confederations Cup as FIFA and Sepp Blatter tokenism, it is an important tournament for countries such as New Zealand, Iraq and Egypt, especially the All Whites.
With few truly competitive matches in what is, let’s face it, the backwater of Oceania, the All Whites need such tournaments to strengthen their squad, vital preparation for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against the best of the rest from Asia, either Bahrain, Saudi Arabia or Iran, later this year.
It is a story familiar to Australian fans.
With the Socceroos successfully assimilated into Asia, it is easy to forget about our former home in Oceania.
Now left alone in Oceania, New Zealand finds itself in a difficult quagmire.
While some Kiwi officials wish to see the All Whites follow Australia’s path into Asia, there are some obvious benefits of being the big fish in a small pond in Oceania with qualification for tournaments such as the Confederations Cup and the Club World Cup all but assured.
In addition, once they have overcome their Oceania opponents, they are only ever two games away from a World Cup.
But as we know all too well, a national side can only hope to develop with regular and competitive fixtures, the most obvious benefit of assimilation into Asia.
The Confederations Cup is an all too infrequent opportunity for the All Whites to come together against challenging opposition.
Politically, without Australia, there is not the weight to force FIFA into coming up with some solution to Oceania, and despite the much-discussed integration into the AFC, Oceania seems very much forgotten.
However, we have a stake in the All Whites, as we are the custodians of the cream of New Zealand’s football talent being the closest professional league for them.
Of the starting 11 who played against Italy in a pre tournament friendly, seven ply their trade in the A-League.
While many of them come from the Wellington Phoenix, amazingly the most represented club side at the tournament with more players in South Africa than the likes of Liverpool, AC Milan, Barcelona and Juventus, an increasing amount of Kiwi’s are spreading themselves around the A-League.
With leading goal scorer from last season Shane Smeltz leading the charge, the All Whites will be representing the A-League on the international stage and for that we should all be hoping they serve the league and their country well.
Ricki Herbert’s men face Spain first up, the team many consider the most complete in the world and favourites for the tournament.
While few expect the All Whites to make a peep at the tournament, especially against Spain, their performance against Italy, leading three times but eventually going down 4-3, was a spirited one and highlighted the combined attacking threat of Smeltz and Chris Killen.
Beyond Spain, the clashes against Iraq and South Africa will prove the best barometer to how the All Whites chances of World Cup qualification look come the end of this year.
As they compete on the international stage in a role we once filled, cheer for the underdog even though they are from New Zealand for they are representing Australia too.
They just may be back in South Africa in a year’s time.