Following the Socceroos exit from the World Cup, one can’t help but draw parallels with our closest sporting rivals, the Kiwis.
It’s in our nature to punch above our weight, two young sporting nations grafting their existence in the world’s most competitive sport. Both have come a long way in last decade, however, the All Whites are still our little brother.
Similar to a family situation, big brother forges the way for little brother through the actions and exploits of the older. I think the All Whites efforts at the World Cup are similar to those of the Socceroos in Germany, 2006.
Despite their shock 4-0 drubbing by Germany, the Socceroos showed great maturity, drawing with Ghana and beating a highly ranked Serbian outfit. Rather than dwell on the fact that we are not progressing through the group stage, Australian football is certainly in a better place than it was four years ago.
Crafty, shrewd and intelligent management were the key ingredients to success in Germany. This was coupled with a team full of enthusiasm, and a tidal wave of support from a nation that thrives on being the underdog.
The World Cup was something so foreign to Australians, we were proud of our boys however they performed, content with the achievement of beating Uruguay to qualify, and considering anything else a bonus. Now that four years have passed, and our road to the finals seemed rather effortless in comparison to previous campaigns, the tidal wave of support had turned into a tidal wave of expectation.
Suddenly, everyone is a football expert, and our national team is expected to magically defeat countries with talent pools double and triple the size of ours.
The All Whites qualified, and were given little to no chance of progressing through the group stages. They were grouped with a hand full of other nations as the tournaments easy beats.
Haven’t they proved the critics and football aficionados wrong.
A side thriving with enthusiasm, and supported by a management team able to inspire and instill confidence into a group of men who were expected to be back home quicker than you can say “fush and chups”.
The Kiwi’s have played world-class football, unlucky not to snare a victory against Italy – who seem to have a knack of ripping the heart out of Australasian opponents. Despite not progressing through the group stages, New Zealand as a nation will be satisfied, the players will return content and confident, ready to prepare and build a team that can take the leap to the next level.
This is where it’ll get nasty.
There underdog status has been beneficial up until now, however, will quickly transform into expectation. Football will grow in New Zealand, profiles will rise, salaries increase, and pressure heaped on players to perform now that they’ve shown that this football caper isn’t that hard after all.
I can’t help but emphasise that four years down the track, the All Whites are going to be a much more experienced and confident side. Players will gain greater skill and knowledge in Europe, development of younger players will excel after tons of money is poured into a sport that can captivate a nation.
I predict the All Whites ability will be somewhat similar to that of the current Socceroos, although, as a nation improves and progresses – particularly those younger countries in the southern hemisphere – so to do the hopes and aspirations of their supporters, who thought the rugby World Cup was all that mattered.
They’ve proved they can stick it to the big guns, they want more, and so do the fans.
Australia has provided them with a team in the A-League. Perhaps that one team will have increased in four years. Fans will be thinking, “if we’ve been able to achieve all this after having only one professional team, then we should definitely be capable of more next time round.” It can be assumed that with football booming across the ditch, little brother will continue to follow the path forged by their more experienced rivals.
The honeymoon period after the World Cup will come to an end, expectations will continue to rise before they begin to simmer, as boiling point approaches tensions will intensify. Lets hope Ricky Herbert’s ready for journey ahead, the Kiwis will soon realise this whole World Cup thing isn’t that easy after all.
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
Craig Johnson, Dasilva. Heard of him? Australian. Won the English League and Cup double with Liverpool, European Cup, a couple of other English league titles, and I think a couple of other cups too, but retired to look after his sister when she received terrible injuries from an accident at the age of 27 or 29 - in other words, in his prime. But yes, Wynton Rufer was a sensational player and deserves as many plaudits as he gets.
sharminator
Guest
Exactly ... as I said above, Py beat Slovakia ... the only non draw in the group .. so in the last games, if Py lost to NZ and Slovakia beat Italy .. all 3 would have been equal on points. To deny Py entry into the top 16 … NZ would have had to have won by 2 goals or more and Slovakia to have beaten Italy by 4 goals or more (their goal difference was bad from losing to Py). It wasnt going to happen … On CNN here the other day they were saying that Paraguay´s 17 shots on goal is actually some type of record. NZ´s only had 4 half chances. Py had a lot of shots but weren´t putting in 100% to define the goal ... With final 16 qualification all but guaranteed Py were in cruise control ..
sharminator
Guest
Im an Aussie living in Py. What Republican said is true. Py were saving themselves. They went into the game at the head of their group ... After drawing against Italy and beating Slovakia the assumption was we could play out the draw and advance. The reality is that even if NZ had beaten Py 1-0, Slovakia, Py and NZ would have been on equal points, and Paraguay would still have advanced on goal difference (which is the next factor if teams are equal on points). To deny Py entry into the top 16 ... NZ would have had to have won by 2 goals or more and Slovakia beaten Italy by 4 goals or more. Wasnt going to happen ... This can be seen by the resting of Lucas Barrios, one of our best attacking players, and Haedo also being taken off in the second half. The other point is NZ never even looked like scoring. In the game Py had 17 shots on goal and NZ 4. Paraguay were playing to attack ... but were not going at 100% as there was little chance they would not advance out of the group.
dasilva
Guest
Whilst all the talk about New Zealand being our little brother However what's sort of overlooked is that New Zealand produced the best player in Oceania history, a player whose career outstrip the achievement of Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell. In fact he won Oceania player of the Century Wynton Rufer was a striker that was top goal scorer of the Uefa champions league back in 1992-93. Unlike Kewell and VIduka he actually won a major league title winning the Bundesliga in that same year. His team Werder Bremen also won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup. Even though australian team were generally stronger then New Zealand over the last two decades, they still punched above their own weight and produced a player that was arguably better then any player Australia has produced.
Socboy
Guest
What a difference there is in rankings too Melanie 78 vs 31 20 vs 15
Socboy
Guest
How about you show some respect, Your pathetic rant is absolutely ludicrous.
Andrew Nichols
Guest
Rugger will continue to have major advantages over soccer here. The NZRFU controlsthe players availabilty the ABs play the best competitions and tests against the top nations in the world on a regular basis home and away and the kids can meet their heroes in the same town. whereas The clubs overseas own the soccer boys and restrict their availabilty, the A League is an enthusiastic but 3rd tier feeder of players to the real competitions in the UK and Europe, NZ is too far away for major nations to want to come here in their international windows and the kids cant meet the stars like Nelsen because they live overseas. The NZ media bandwagon cant help trying to run down rugger while praising the soccer boys. It all seems very PC to do so.
Harvey the Scouser
Roar Guru
you cut me to the core its one for Chuck
betty b
Guest
ignore the comments socboy. Kiwis deserve to celebrate. But I think now fans will expect you there (at WC) every time - if you don't qualify in 14 there will be a massive outcry at home. Will NZFA take some action to consolidate - more int'l games, buy a coach (works, but not guaranteed), poach a few more kiwis from abroad?
Simon Smith
Guest
Hey Scoboy, if it wasn't for the FFA New Zealand wouldn'tbe where it is today, show some credit on here or nick off.
Ivanhoe
Guest
Nice link betty. Thanks.
betty b
Guest
not sure that NZ lacked passion - but then I only saw last 20 mins of Paraguay game. But I think their supporters have the right to celebrate - a great result really. I recall Fox commentator after Aust friendly saying if NZ won a game it would be massive. They didn't do that but they didn't lose any, earnt a lot of respect for their passion and deserve the credit. They probably don't agree with the 'little brother' tag, but it's true.
AA
Guest
That's a celebration of mediocrity if ever I've seen one.
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
What a difference there was between the pace of play with the AUS V SER game in comparison with the NZ V PAR match! From what I watched, NZ never really took the initiative. Both Paraguay and NZ sat right back, never came up on the ball. Really it was quite a boring match to watch. Right from the get go, NZ lacked the fire, passion and attack that is so easy to see when the Australian side takes the field. And don't bring up Germany. That was PIm's fault.
AA
Guest
Scoboy why even compare what Australia's and New Zealand's expectations were, we all knew Australia had a tough group. IF they had got out of the group they would have done well, but this years' World up was always conditional on group performance first. Another useless, irrrelevant comparison for the sake of it, purely designed to pump up your tyres for no valid reason. To the Rar editors, can't we set up a www.theroar.co.nz site and let the Kiwi's post there? I'm sick of reading their useless over-competitive drivel. If they don't like us, then we'll campaign to kick their sporting teams out of our competitions. Enough of these wannabe peasants.
Spencer
Guest
NZ perform well with the underdog tag. They struggle somewhat if they are favourites - don't mention the rwc.
Spencer
Guest
It's the Brian and Betty show! I wonder if Chuck Culpepper is his real name?
Socboy
Guest
Going by the NZ Herald, there could be a parade on the cards albeit it a Month away
Republican
Guest
Sam Sport I thought Paraguay were undefeated and on top of their group, so even a loss would have meant they'd have moved through to the next round. I apologise if I am incorrect however the commentry I have heard on the game today stated that the South Americans were not pushed at all and if anything were saving themselves for the more intense second round of this WC in playing for a safe draw. Whatever the case, NZ are clearly not in their class, despite the score board but that's Soccer. It is highly likely that the final will be determined by a penalty shoot out, which affords any weaker side who has managed to come this far, a great opportunity to lift the global games WC - and that is also Soccer. Make of it what you will. Cheers
David V.
Guest
Before the World Cup we saw doom and gloom merchants say NZ would be whipping boys and possibly the worst team in the World Cup. They proved to be anything but, putting in one of the bravest, most phenomenal efforts ever seen to go undefeated. Look at the squad. It's not the worst to have played in a World Cup and has players who play or have played at a decent level like Nelsen and Vicelich, and those whose talents are perhaps capable of a higher level like Smeltz and Bertos. They even got part-timer Andy Barron (one of the best players in the NZFC) to come on v Italy. They deserve a hero's welcome when they return home.