The final eight players of a 19-man All Whites squad touched down in the UAE early Tuesday morning and were soon lacing up their boots for the first of six precious trainings before Saturday night’s mammoth playoff for a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
“Every second we have together is priceless,” said All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, “and so it’s important to get everyone into the environment and switched on to what we need to do on Saturday night.”
Herbert, Shane Smeltz and five Wellington Phoenix players arrived in Dubai on Sunday, joined by five US- and UK-based squad members a day later.
Influential captain Ryan Nelsen – who missed Blackburn’s weekend fixture through injury – took part in light activities in a positive start to his race to be fit for Bahrain.
Temperatures topped 30 degrees centigrade in a short but sharp mid morning session, not that fazed Herbert or the players.
“We’ve played in similar conditions – if not more humid – during the qualifying campaign in the Pacific so we’ll adjust quickly, and it’ll be a productive week on the training pitch,” Herbert added.
FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Playoff
First Leg
Bahrain v New Zealand
October 10, kick-off 6.30pm local (4.30am Oct 11 NZDST)
National Stadium, Manama
Live on Sky Sport
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Second Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Tickets from www.oneshotforglory.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK
Story courtesy of NZF Media
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