The crucial match against New Caledonia at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on 22 March is Herbert’s focus with a win guaranteeing the All Whites a place in the intercontinental playoff in November.
The All Whites currently top the Oceania standings with four wins from four matches, but a resurgent New Caledonia have pulled up behind New Zealand on the table following a pair of wins in the October window.
The All Whites accounted for New Caledonia 2-0 in Noumea last September but despite their dominance at regional level Herbert isn’t taking the game lightly.
“There are no easy games in international football – we’ve proved that in recent years and also had a timely reminder of it from New Caledonia at the OFC Nations Cup in Honiara last year,” Herbert said.
Herbert has resisted the urge to name his captain, preferring to wait until the squad assembles in Dunedin on 19 March.
Suspensions could be an issue for Herbert who already has Ben Sigmund sidelined for the New Caledonia match after he picked up his second caution of the qualifying campaign against Tahiti in Christchurch last year. Sigmund will be available for selection in the Solomon Islands.
In fact, no fewer than ten All Whites in the squad are walking the suspension tightrope with Winston Reid, Tommy Smith, Ian Hogg, Tony Lochhead, Michael McGlinchey, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen, Ivan Vicelich, Jeremy Brockie and Chris Wood all sitting on a yellow card.
A further caution during any of the remaining qualifying matches will result in a suspension from the next fixture, including the intercontinental playoff.
The core of the squad is retained from previous world cup matches with Hogg earning a recall into the group. Teenager Cameron Howieson, who was called into the All Whites squad for the November international with China, has been named in the Junior All Whites squad to contest the OFC U-20 Championship which will be held in Fiji during the international window.
Herbert has selected Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante in the squad, subject to FIFA approval, with New Zealand Football high performance director Fred de Jong erring on the side of caution with regard to his eligibility.
“Andrew is now a New Zealand citizen and New Zealand Football will continue to work through the process to allow him to play for the All Whites as soon as possible,” said de Jong.
The winner of the four-team Oceania round robin stage will progress to a two-legged intercontinental playoff against a North and Central American nation for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
New Zealand squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Goalkeepers
1-Mark PASTON (Wellington Phoenix – 35/0)
12-Glen MOSS (Wellington Phoenix – 21/0)
Defenders
2-Winston REID (West Ham United, ENG – 13/1)
3-Tony LOCHHEAD (Wellington Phoenix – 43/1)
4-Ben SIGMUND (Wellington Phoenix – 28/2)
5-Tommy SMITH (Ipswich Town, ENG – 19/1)
14-Ian HOGG (Wellington Phoenix – 4/1)
22-Andrew DURANTE* (Wellington Phoenix – 0/0)
Midfielders
7-Leo BERTOS (Wellington Phoenix – 50/0)
8-Michael McGLINCHEY (Central Coast Mariners, AUS – 21/3)
13-Dan KEAT (Unattached – 4/0)
15-Ivan VICELICH (Auckland City – 85/6)
18-Tim PAYNE (Blackburn Rovers, ENG – 7/0)
Forwards
9-Shane SMELTZ (Perth Glory, AUS – 48/23)
10-Chris KILLEN (Chongqing, CHN – 46/14)
11-Marco ROJAS (Melbourne Victory, AUS – 13/1)
16-Jeremy BROCKIE (Wellington Phoenix – 35/0)
17-Kosta BARBAROUSES (Panathinaikos, GRE – 17/2)
20-Chris WOOD (Leicester City, ENG – 29/10)
*subject to FIFA approval
Coach: Ricki HERBERT
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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