Following on from my chat with Craig Ireson in the previous post, I have collated the additional information sent to me by Oska from the Yellow Fever forum. Same questions as before, with equally interesting answers.
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Do you think you are better or worse off not playing Australia to qualify? I guess it's a trade off between certain qualification and poorer tournament preparation by playing poorer opposition?
Without Australia around, the weakest confederation has been weakened significantly, and despite the almost direct qualification for international youth and women's tournaments (including the Olympics) most football fans in NZ agree that a reorganisation of the Asian and Oceanian confederations is pretty key for the progression of Oceanian football. If New Zealand football teams were able to get the amount of competition Australia are now getting, we could shoot up the football world in terms of competitiveness.
Do you agree with having to be involved in a play-off after winning your regions qualification?
The play-off system that is currently applied to Oceanian nations is a bit ridiculous really. Only one tough game (Bahrain) to qualify for a World Cup isn't really sufficient at all, and people definately have the right to say we don't deserve to be there. However, until FIFA step up and tackle the confederation issue, it's a pretty tough logistical problem. An initial step could be that the winner of the Oceanian World Cup Qualifying enters the final Asian group stage.
Has the shine been taken away from the OFC Nations Cup as only NZL and AUS have won it (4 each)?
In my lifetime the OFC Nations Cup has barely flickered on the radar, I'm unsure how much it means to Island teams, but it's usually been combined with World Cup qualifying and been a pretty straightforward battle between two teams, so not very significant. Now that Australia won't be competing for it, it won't mean a thing. There is a tournament for just Island nations I think, which is far more signfiicant.
What was the reaction like when you got your 1st ever WC point?
It was incredible really, over 750000 people watched the game and there has been a media frenzy. It has been the topic of chocie throughout all sorts of people and one of the most significant displays of excitement is a spray painted image of Reid on the Ian Curtis wall in Wellington, alongside the words "REID U LEGEND".
Do New Zealand home games generate a good atmosphere?
New Zealand football games generate a brilliant atmosphere, particularly in Wellington. Football is fast becoming famous in New Zealand for it's atmosphere in comparison to the relatively dull atmospheres at rugby and cricket. In 2007, Vanuatu played the All Whites at Westpac stadium and about 2500 people turned up to watch us win 4-1, but the noise created in the massive, round stadium was impressive, with the fans (White Noise) switching ends at half time so the boys could keep playing toward them. 2 years later, 35000 turned up at the same venue to cheer the win over Bahrain, and the atmosphere was unlike anything I know of in New Zealand sport, ever.
What's the atmosphere like at Wellington Phoenix games, presumably you wont get many away fans?
Wellington Phoenix fans, in particular the Yellow Fever (Of which I am a part), are one of the best in the A-League at generating atmosphere, and it's been 19 games since we last lost a game at the Ring of Fire (as the Westpac is affectionately known). We stand and sing for the whole game, and have a couple of special traditions, singing on the concourse as we exit (after clapping off the Phoenix) and, rather infamously, removing our shirts and baring our chests if we are winning after 80 minutes, often against bitter Wellington weather.
Away fans are pretty few, although Melbourne Victory and Sydney have both sent over groups large enough for games against Yellow Fever XIs, not enough to make significant noise against the Fever, however travelling Phoenix fans often make an impact at less vocal grounds in Australia, and a massive group went to Sydney for our semi final there earlier this year, and made a terrific amount of noise up against the fantastic Sydney fans (known as the Cove).
What was national expectation before the tournament?
Before the World Cup, national expectation was basically, be credible, don't get beaten badly by anyone and if we get a point, be very happy with it. Being young and deluded I have believed, since before the Bahrain match, that we can get the rub of the green and be one of those massive sporting stories, and get to the quarter finals. I still think we can beat Italy.
With so many players plying their trade abroad do you get to see as many friendlies at home as you would like?
We get no where near enough friendlies at all, let alone ones at home. To put something that resembles a top Kiwi side out in games against decent opposition within FIFA windows is extremely difficult, largely due to NZF being pretty unsuccesful when trying to organise such games, and players (both for us and whoever we play) not being willing to travel as far as New Zealand.
Who are you tipping to win the world cup?
At this stage, Argentina look most likely to me, however Portuguese connections means I'll support them.
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