All Whites selections a balancing act for Herbert

Momentum, suspensions, formations and recovery are all in the mind of All Whites coach Ricki Herbert as he ponders his team selection for New Zealand’s second match of the OFC Nations Cup, against Papua New Guinea tomorrow in Honiara.

All WHites coach Ricki Herbert.

June 3, 2012

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS – Momentum, suspensions, formations and recovery are all in the mind of All Whites coach Ricki Herbert as he ponders his team selection for New Zealand’s second match of the OFC Nations Cup, against Papua New Guinea tomorrow in Honiara.

A win over Papua New Guinea, who have improved greatly under the stewardship of former AUtralia coach Frank Farina, could book New Zealand’s place in the semi finals of the eight nation tournament, and with it a place in stage three of World Cup qualifying – to be played from September to March.

Herbert may elect to rest tired bodies from the win over Fiji or hold back the three players – Leo Bertos, Ivan Vicelich and Rory Fallon – who picked up yellow cards and would be suspended from a final group match against the host nation on Wednesday if they picked up a further caution tomorrow.

“It’s all a balancing act,” said Herbert.

“There are some players we might need to hold back because of the cards situation or because how they came through Saturday’s match.

“We have got plenty of players who are champing at the bit to be involved and who are close to starting places anyway so we can make a few changes and not lose quality.

“However I have got full respect for what all the teams here are capable of doing, and we are taking absolutely nothing for granted. There is a bigger picture but every match and every team must be played on its merits.
Herbert may also look to mix things up tactically to combat team’s congested defences.

“We may need a little bit more support in the front third of the pitch given the way teams are likely to line up against us, but nothing is set in stone yet.”

Goalkeeper Mark Paston, one of New Zealand’s best performers on Saturday before he groggily left the field following a knee to the head, has not been ruled out of backing up tomorrow with Herbert giving the World Cup hero as long as he can to recover.

If he is ruled out, then Jake Gleeson, who replaced Paston on Saturday, and Glen Moss, who is nearing full fitness after a torn adductor muscle suffered during the A-League season are the options for replacements.

The match kicks off at 1pm New Zealand time and is streamed in New Zealand on www.oceaniafootball.com. Solomon Islands meet Fiji in a must win clash for the Fijians at 4pm (NZT) in the day’s other match.

Today in Group A, Vanuatu’s 4-0 win over Samoa kept their hopes and ended Samoa’s, while Tahiti and New Caledonia squared off in the late match for the outright lead in the group.

OFC Nations Cup / FIFA World Cup qualifying
New Zealand v PNG
June 4, 12pm (1pm NZT)
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Matches streamed online at www.oceaniafootball.com 

New Zealand (from): 1-Mark PASTON (GK), 2-Tim MYERS, 3-Tony LOCHHEAD, 4-Ben SIGMUND, 5-Tommy SMITH (captain), 6-Ian HOGG, 7-Leo BERTOS, 8-Michael MCGLINCHEY, 9-Shane SMELTZ, 10-Chris KILLEN, 11-Marco ROJAS, 12-Glen MOSS (RGK), 13-Jake GLEESON (GK), 14-Rory FALLON, 15-Ivan VICELICH, 16-Jeremy BROCKIE, 17-Kosta BARBAROUSES, 18-Aaron CLAPHAM, 19-Michael BOXALL, 20-Chris WOOD, 21-Cameron HOWIESON, 22-Tim PAYNE, 23-Adam MCGEORGE.
Coach: Ricki HERBERT

Papua New Guinea (from): 1-Leslie KALAI (GK), 2-Kila IARAVAI, 3-Valantine NELSON, 4-Daniel JOE, 5-Kelly JAMPU, 6-Samuel KINI, 7-Raymond GUNEMBA, 8-Michael FOSTER, 9-Kema JACK, 10-Reginald DAVANI, 11-Felix BONDALUKE, 12-David MUTA, 13-Andrew LEPANI, 14-Neil HANS, 15-Jamal SEETO, 16-Jeremy YASASA, 17-Mauri WASI, 18-Eric KOMENG, 19-Koriak UPAIGA, 20-Godfrey BANIAU (GK), 21-Ronald CONN , 22-Wira WAMA, 23-Paul KAWIK (GK)
Coach: Frank FARINA

OFC Nations Cup / FIFA World Cup qualifying
2-10 June 2012
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Matches streamed online at www.oceaniafootball.com

New Zealand v PNG
June 4, 12pm (1pm NZT)

New Zealand v Solomon Islands
June 6, 3pm (4pm NZT)

Semi finals
June 8, 11am & 3pm (12pm & 4pm)

Final
June 10, 3pm (4pm)