Wuhan – recognized as a cultural, educational and transport centre of Central China – provided a grey backdrop as the All Whites filtered into the team hotel this afternoon.
Veteran All Whites midfielder Ivan Vicelich was among the bulk of the squad to arrive from New Zealand and said while the long journey was tough, the team were raring to go for the match at Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium.
“There are still some players to come in but we’re looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and training with the boys,” Vicelich said.
The team will train twice on Thursday local time having not played since two friendlies with Honduras and Paraguay back in October last year but Vicelich says that an opportunity to stake a claim in coach Ricki Herbert’s long-term plans will be motivation enough.
“Every time a player gets an opportunity to put on their national team shirt they always give their best and our group is keen and enthusiastic to do well against China,” he said.
Knocked out at the group stage of the Asian Cup in January, China are coming off a four-match winning streak in friendly internationals and could feature up to five players from the city of Wuhan itself. Wins over Latvia (1-0), Estonia (3-0), Macedonia (1-0) and Iraq (3-2) will ensure a sell-out crowd of 60,000 is ready to welcome Ricki Herbert’s new-look All Whites.
“Our newer players will fit into the group well as everyone knows each other and there is a good team spirit. It’s going to be a very difficult game. China is a very good side,” Vicelich said.
New Zealand was scheduled to play Japan on March 29 but the match was postponed because of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
China plays New Zealand on March 25 before facing Honduras on March 29 in Beijing.
Match Details
New Zealand v China
Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium
Wuhan, China
7.30pm March 25 (Local time)
12.30am March 26 (NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1
New Zealand (from): Glen MOSS (GK), Jacob SPOONLEY(GK), Tony LOCHHEAD, Andrew BOYENS, Michael FITZGERALD, Michael BOXALL, Tommy SMITH, Ivan VICELICH, David MULLIGAN, Michael McGLINCHEY, Aaron CLAPHAM, Marco ROJAS, Jeremy BROCKIE, Shane SMELTZ, Kosta BARBAROUSES, Chris KILLEN, Chris WOOD
Coach: Ricki HERBERT
China (from): Zeng CHENG (GK), Cheng YUELEI (GK), Teng SHANGKUN (GK); Li WEIFENG, Du WEI, Rong HAO, Zhao PENG, Liu JIANYE, Li XUEPENG, Liu YU; Hao JUNMIN, Deng ZHUOXIANG, Huang BOWEN, Yu TAO, Yu HANCHAO, Wang SONG, Yan XIANGCHUANG, Feng RENLIANG, Cui PENG; Yang XU, Yu DABAO, Liu XIAODONG.
Coach: Gao HONGBO
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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