Herbert backs experience and form

Ivan Vicelich will reprise his World Cup holding midfield role against New Caledonia tonight with Ricki Herbert backing a mixture of experience and form in his starting eleven.

Chris Wood and Shane Smeltz will be joined by Jeremy Brockie in attack.

September 7, 2012

AUCKLAND – Ivan Vicelich will reprise his World Cup holding midfield role against New Caledonia tonight with Ricki Herbert backing a mixture of experience and form in his starting eleven.

Vicelich will earn his 81st cap alongside Michael McGlinchey in the centre of midfield, with Herbert also able to reunite his midfield defensive trio of Tommy Smith, Ryan Nelsen and Winston Reid for just the second time since the campaign in South Africa.

Mark Paston retains the gloves ahead of a fit-again Glenn Moss while Tony Lochhead and Leo Bertos will operate in wide roles.

Up front the form of Wellington Phoenix signing Jeremy Brockie, who netted eight goals in three pre-season games, has proved irresistible for Herbert who has named the 24 –year-old with Shane Smeltz and 20-year-old Chris Wood in attack.

With only seven players able to sit on the substitutes bench in this opening stage 3 FIFA World Cup Qualifier one of the remaining players in the travelling party will be left of the card.

The match kicks off at 7pm New Zealand time with live updates available at www.oceaniafootball.com

Match Day 1
New Caledonia v New Zealand
Friday 7 September
6pm (7pm NZT)
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia
Live play by play updates on www.oceaniafootball.com

Referee: Norbert HAUATA (TAH)
Assistant Referee 1: Tevita MAKASINI (TGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Philippe REVEL (TAH)
4th Official: Averii JACQUES (TAH)

New Caledonia: (from) 1-Rocky NYIKEINE (GK), 2-Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 3-Emile BEARUNE, 4-Georges BEARUNE, 5-Kalaje GNIPATE, 6-Olivier DOKUNENGO, 7-Dominique WACALIE, 8-Miguel KAYARA, 9-Jacques HAEKO, 10-Cesar LOLOHEA, 11-Bertrand KAI, 12-Roy KAYARA, 13-Noel KAUDRE, 14-Jean-Patrick WAKANUMUNE, 15-Dick KAUMA, 16-Iamel KABEU, 17-Joel WAKANUMUNE, 18-Yohann MERCIER, 19-Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ, 20-Steeve IXOEE (GK), 21-Luther WAHNYAMALLA, 22-Marc OUNEMOA (GK), 23-Pierre NYIKEINE.
Coach: Alain MOIZAN

New Zealand: 1-Mark PASTON (GK), 2-Winston REID, 3-Tony LOCHHEAD, 5-Tommy SMITH, 6-Ryan NELSEN (captain), 7-Leo BERTOS, 8-Michael MCGLINCHEY, 9-Shane SMELTZ, 15-Ivan VICELICH, 16-Jeremy BROCKIE, 20-Chris WOOD.
Substitutes: 4-Ben SIGMUND, 10-Chris KILLEN, 11-Marco ROJAS, 12-Glen MOSS (GK), 13-Dan KEAT, 17-Kosta BARBAROUSES, 18-Tim PAYNE, 19-Michael BOXALL (one to be omitted).
Coach: Ricki HERBERT