27 years of All White hurt (part 2) 

Source: PhotosportSteve Woodin, All Whites v Indonesia 1982

It's all around us. The All Whites and their one shot for glory.

An inspired marketing campaign, as everyone is well aware that this is the best chance of making a World Cup since that famous journey to Spain in 1982.

But what has unfolded in the previous 27 years?

In part two, tvnz.co.nz takes a look back at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cup campaigns. Click here to read part one.

Road to France 1998
Coach: Joe McGrath.
Key players: Danny Hay, Vaughan Coveny, Wynton Rufer.

For New Zealand football fans this campaign was extremely disappointing. After accounting for Fiji (1-0, 5-0) and Papua New Guinea (1-0, 7-0) the All Whites were turned over 3-0 by Australia at North Harbour Stadium, with the Socceroos completing the formalities with a 2-0 victory a week later.
Oceania representative: Australia.

This was the granddaddy of all sporting heartbreak. Terry Venables, fresh from his Euro '96 heroics with England, was seen as the man to end a World Cup drought which stretched back to 1974. Australia would face Iran and ground out a 0-0 draw in front of 128,000 fanatical fans in Tehran. The Socceroos had all but booked their tickets to France when they led 2-0 in Melbourne with just 20 minutes on the clock before Iran conjured up two late strikes and progressed on the away goals rule to the utter disbelief of the record crowd.

Road to Korea/Japan 2002
Coach: Ken Dugdale
Key Players: Chris Zoricich, Chris Jackson, Ivan Vicelich

Dugdale had assembled a strong-looking squad but again came up short to a powerful Australian side. The All Whites beat Vanatu, Tahiti, Cook Island and Papua New Guinea but lost 6-1 on aggregrate over two legs to their trans tasman neighbours. The Socceroos didn't even need to call upon England-based superstars Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka. All Whites Simon Elliot, Chris Killen, Ryan Nelsen and Ivan Vicelich are the 2009 survivors from that campaign.

Dugdale's stubborn refusal to select striker Wynton Rufer puzzled many observers. The evergreen 38-year-old had been starring in the A-League for the Kingz and was widely seen as the one player that could strike fear into the Australian defence. The coach professed fitness issues but most realised it was a personality clash.
Oceania representative: Australia

A new twist on an old tale saw the fifth-placed South American team become the final obstacle once again. Two-time World Champions Uruguay were a formidable opposition but antipodeans' hopes were raised with a 1-0 result in Melbourne. The Australians were given a hostile reception in Uruguay, with chanting fans and bands outside their hotel all night. It was all too much for the Socceroos who went down 3-0 in the intimidating Montevideo cauldron.

Road to Germany 2006
Coach Mick Waitt
Key Players: Raf De Gregorio, Simon Elliot, Vaughan Coveny

This was definitely the lowest point in the modern history of New Zealand football. A new format saw an Oceania qualifying tournament played in Brisbane, with the top two teams progressing to a two legged playoff a few months later. An early 0-1 loss to Australia gave no hint of what was to come as the All Whites then succumbed 4-2 to Vanatu. Wins over Tahiti (10-0) and Fiji (2-0) were too little too late as the Solomon Islands, after a surprise 2-2 draw with Australia, gained the second spot. Coach Mick Waitt was gone, though assistant coach Ricki Herbert survived the carnage and was able to assume the top spot.

Australia would once again face off against Uruguay. There was no love lost between these two nations, and after the Sky blues of South America prevailed 1-0 at home the scene was set for a classic encounter in Melbourne. Australia netted to level the aggregrate score and after near misses by both sides the tie was sent to penalties. Guus Huddink's men held their nerves and the Socceroos were off to their first World Cup since 1974.

Don't forget you can watch delayed coverage of the All Whites v Bahrain on TV ONE at 10.45pm on Saturday November 14, you can also catch the match in full on tvnz.co.nz Ondemand