Much has been made of the All Whites’ desire to redeem themselves after that semi-final defeat in Honiara in June put paid to hopes of qualifying for next year’s FIFA Confederations Cup.
Indeed, Herbert says the team still feels driven to make amends by reaching the World Cup finals in Brazil – via a November 2013 intercontinental play-off between the winner of Stage 3 and the fourth-placed team in CONCACAF qualifying – but feels any lingering disappointment needs to be channelled into a positive opening statement to this chapter of the qualifying campaign.
“I think we’ve got to be very professional about it and make sure the minds are right,” Herbert says.
“The emotion that came out of the Nations Cup is something that will be around for a long time. It would be disappointing if people didn’t have a strong feeling about it and wanting to put it right. It’s about how you manage that now and put in a performance that is good enough to win over here. We’re very keen to get it back on track with strong, positive and winning performances.”
With skipper Ryan Nelsen and in-form West Ham United defender Winston Reid available after missing the Nations Cup through injury, Herbert is tending towards reuniting the pair with Tommy Smith in a reprisal of his 2010 World Cup back three.
“When we have everyone available, and this is probably the first time since the World Cup we’ve had that, then it’s been a successful system for us,” he says.
Elsewhere, Herbert has plenty of options to choose from with Michael McGlinchey, Dan Keat, Tim Payne and Ivan Vicelich competing for two central midfield berths. There is also a log jam of talent in the front third where Shane Smeltz, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses, Jeremy Brockie, Marco Rojas and Chris Killen – who arrived in Noumea on Thursday – are all pieces of a selection puzzle.
“The variety we have now is certainly more than we’ve had historically. There are choices now not only on who we play but how we play,” Herbert says.
“The middle of the park is starting to grow. Tim Payne was very good at the Olympics and is just adding to the volume of quality in that area of the pitch.
“There are more choices which is a challenging but very good position to be in. We’re not going to have a lot of time with the team so that may shape our thinking somewhat as well.”
Herbert and his charges are fully aware of the dangers posed by a New Caledonia outfit containing the likes of captain Olivier Dokunengo, France-based professional Georges Gope-Fenepej and 2011 OFC Player of the Year Bertrand Kai but still plan to stamp their mark on this stage of the qualifying campaign early.
“There will always be respect for what sides can do after what happened in the Nations Cup and we know that if we make mistakes the chance of being punished is higher now,” he says.
“But we have to be on the front foot and be confident. We have all our senior players back which is a great help. We will have to be careful and do things very well but we have to be confident and have the mindset of coming here and winning. “
The other match day one encounter sees Solomon Islands – who the All Whites play in Auckland on Tuesday night – host Oceania champions Tahiti in Honiara at 3pm local time.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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