-
Ryan Nelsen models the new All Whites away kit - Source: Getty Images -
Related
The All Whites have unveiled their new "away" shirts for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, leading skipper Ryan Nelsen to hope that the national side's new style may help pip his rugby counterparts in the popularity stakes.
The new all black away kit was revealed at a glitzy launch along with eight other Nike sponsored international teams in London on Friday.
And, along with praising the new kit made from 100% recyclable material, Nelsen also talked about the All Whites upcoming World Cup campaign, and his hopes that the football fever currently sweeping the country will help raise the profile of the game above that of New Zealand's first love - rugby.
"What Wellington (Phoenix) have done to add to what happened with the New Zealand, Bahrain game is just fantastic and it's put the game on a different level," Nelson, also a Blackburn Rovers star, told ONE News.
Nelsen said he felt that wearing the kit made the Kiwis' impending trip to South Africa that more real.
"You get caught up in the club stuff. But when you put on the New Zealand strip and you are standing beside the other guys in their strip, you feel like you just want to go out and play a game. It's exciting."
WATCH: Ryan Nelsen's interview with ONE Sport Extra
But before the big test comes the friendlies.
New Zealand face Mexico on Wednesday in the first of four warm-up clashes before taking centre stage against Slovakia in their World Cup opener on June 15.
Unfortunately, injury has ruled the Blackburn Rovers skipper out of the Mexico game, although he is pragmatic about the situation and is hopeful to be fit for the highly anticipated Australia clash.
"It was the worst case, or the best case scenario. Luckily it was the best case scenario. (I'll be out for) four to six weeks&I would have bitten someone's hand off if they had told me that when I first did it. I was a bit worried. But it is getting better each day."
With news that star All Whites striker Rory Fallon's English club Plymouth Argyle are worried about him travelling to Mexico in what has been reported as economy class, Nelsen was also quizzed about the apparent lack of funding at the NZFC.
"We are asked to play world class players, on a world clash stage and we have to be treated as complete professionals.
"New Zealand soccer understands that but we'll be playing Mexico in front of thousands and to not be able to fly the players business there and back is a bit disappointing."
The new all black, All Whites shirts go on sale next
month.
