But at 1.25pm in Rustenburg, as the New Zealand national anthem reverberated around the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Ryan Nelsen was fighting – and fighting hard – to hold back tears. For, following 11 years as an international footballer, he was finally set to appear on a stage few could have ever envisaged a Kiwi team gracing: the FIFA World Cup.
“I was very, very emotional,” he says.
“I’m always emotional when I play for my country but this is the World Cup. It doesn’t get any bigger. It’s something I’ve dreamt about for a long time.”
Nelsen was also consumed by emotion at the final whistle, although this time it was one of ecstasy. New Zealand, who had started as underdogs against Slovakia yet dominated the contest at times, had snatched a last-gasp equaliser for a 1-1 draw.
“It was just an unbelievable feeling. We never stopped believing. Even though they had most of the play, we knew that a chance could come our way,” Nelsen says.
“Even when we missed one late on [Shane Smeltz, unmarked at the back post, sent a close-range header wide in the 84th minute], we knew that in football it’s not over until the final whistle.”
It was a lesson Slovakia learned. Winston Reid, who had represented Denmark at U-21 level and only debuted for New Zealand last month, headed home in the 93rd minute.
“The atmosphere in the dressing room was really something. We’re obviously really pleased. There was a lot of singing, some traditional songs from back home, and the TV crew caught us dancing around,” Nelsen laughs. “Great times.”
Next up for New Zealand are reigning world champions Italy, and although it is a huge mis-match on paper, there are a few encouraging signs for the unfancied Kiwis. Indeed, the All Whites will be high on confidence following the result against Slovakia, while the pressure will be on Gli Azzurri after yesterday’s unconvincing 1-1 comeback draw with Paraguay.
This time last year Marcello Lippi’s charges only beat Ricky Herbert’s men 4-3 in a friendly in Atteridgeville, and the Oceania champions feel they have improved significantly since then.
Furthermore, Nelsen feels New Zealand have an aerial edge they can exploit.
“We’ve got some really tall players who know how to use their height and can cause opponents trouble,” the Blackburn Rovers defender explains.
“Italy are obviously a big team but we believe in ourselves. We’ve got to keep it tight at the back and put a few little things right from today. But we believe we can get a result,” he says.
“We’ve shown today that anything can happen in football. We’ve given ourselves a chance of making the last 16. We have two very difficult matches ahead against Italy and Paraguay but that’s our target. For us to get through would be the greatest sporting achievement in New Zealand’s history to be honest.”
Story and photo courtesy of www.fifa.com