Seedykiwi
21-10-2010, 05:13
More commonly associated with Rugby Union and the mighty All Blacks, New Zealand is a country where football, or soccer as it is referred to in NZ has always struggled for popularity.
As a result the New Zealand National team The All Whites have always struggled for respect on the world stage. As with most sports, Australia is NZ's main rival although matches between the two countries are not as common as with most other sports.
NZ football was given a much needed shot in the arm with the team managing to managing to qualify for only its second world cup appearance at the 2010 Fifa World Cup. NZ were out after the first round but they went out with the only unbeaten record of the tournament managing to draw all three of the group games on the back of some very solid defending.
New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert also coaches New Zealands only fully professional club side, the Wellington Phoenix who play in Australia's A-League competition. The Phoenix have recently broken the australian League record for most consecutive matches unbeaten at a venue - going unbeaten at their home ground - Westpac Stadium in Wellington -for 24 games.
NZ currently have 2 players playing in the English Premier League in:
Ryan Nelsen for Blackburn Rovers
Winston Reid signed for West Ham after the 2010 World Cup
Also 18 Year old Chris Wood is contracted recently promoted West Bromwich Albion, however is currently loan to Barnsley.
The NZ domestic competition is the NZFC and is an amateur competition.
As a result the New Zealand National team The All Whites have always struggled for respect on the world stage. As with most sports, Australia is NZ's main rival although matches between the two countries are not as common as with most other sports.
NZ football was given a much needed shot in the arm with the team managing to managing to qualify for only its second world cup appearance at the 2010 Fifa World Cup. NZ were out after the first round but they went out with the only unbeaten record of the tournament managing to draw all three of the group games on the back of some very solid defending.
New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert also coaches New Zealands only fully professional club side, the Wellington Phoenix who play in Australia's A-League competition. The Phoenix have recently broken the australian League record for most consecutive matches unbeaten at a venue - going unbeaten at their home ground - Westpac Stadium in Wellington -for 24 games.
NZ currently have 2 players playing in the English Premier League in:
Ryan Nelsen for Blackburn Rovers
Winston Reid signed for West Ham after the 2010 World Cup
Also 18 Year old Chris Wood is contracted recently promoted West Bromwich Albion, however is currently loan to Barnsley.
The NZ domestic competition is the NZFC and is an amateur competition.