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It has really come to something when a kid jumping over other
kids on a hill raises more of a cheer than the game of live, actual
football being played - but this was the case when the New
Zealand A took on the NZFC All Stars in Auckland on Sunday.
Interesting then, that on the same day All Whites coach Ricki
Herbert was trying to put the finishing touches to the 23-man squad
that will eventually be South Africa bound, assistant coach Brian
Turner launched a scathing attack on the state of New Zealand
football.
Turner was said to be "shocked and alarmed" by Waitakere United's
defeat at the hands of Papa New Guniea side Hekari United in the
O-League final last weekend - arguing that the gap between New
Zealand club football and international has become a "chasm."
So what must he have thought about a game where many of New
Zealand's supposed best players looked tired and at sometimes
heartless against a team made-up of New Zealand's domestic
players?
Admittedly this was a training game, a run out where you wouldn't
see players hoping to reach the World Cup flying into tackles, but
still, although the NZ A dominated, it took until the 34th minute
for New Zealand A to break down the All Stars defence after Jeremy
Brockie got on the end of a failed Shane Smeltz effort courtesy of
some poor All Stars defending.
The game was given some fire with the inclusion of Leo Bertos in
the second half, with Barbarouses adding the second in the 73
minute, and it was his obvious desire to impress that gave the
lacklustre clash a bit of spark.
After a decent showing and linking up well with Shane Smeltz in a
partnership that, if nurtured, could become crucial to the All
Whites goalscoring form, the 20-year-old pint-sized striker has
arguably claimed his ticket to the World Cup.
Aaron Clapham was also proving to be a handful in midfield, which
could give Herbert a selection headache, while the Neil Emblen
coached All Stars' Seule Soromon provided some tense moments for
the more experienced side.
And while many may point to the fact that New Zealand A were
missing their more experience stars like that of UK based players
Ryan Nelsen, Rory Fallon, Chris Wood and Chris Killen, the fact is,
if this game was meant to be a 'showcase' of talent, and of what is
to come at the World Cup, then Turner's fears are well-founded and
New Zealand could find themselves in serious trouble.
So it comes to Monday where dreams will either be made, or
shattered as Herbert and his assistants must make their final
decision on who to take to football's biggest show, one just hopes
than when they get there, there is no kids on hills to steal the
spotlight.
