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All Whites coach Ricki Herbet - Source: Photosport -
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The equation couldn't be simpler for New Zealand football coach Ricki Herbert two weeks out from their crucial second-leg World Cup qualifier against Bahrain in Wellington.
Herbert, who on Thursday named the same 18-strong squad which held on for a gutsy score-less draw in Manama three weeks ago, knows the All Whites need goals to become the first New Zealand team in 27 years to make the World Cup finals.
"It's come right down to the wire now... We have to win, that's quite clear for us. We need to score a goal, if not more, so it's up to us really, to take it to them," Herbert told reporters on Thursday.
He said the decision to stick with the same players who battled to a standstill in Manama on October 10 had been difficult.
"It was always going to be a tough one, but that's not a bad thing. They've done a good job, from the Jordan game through to the first leg away in Bahrain.
"This group has been very solid, and it would have been tough to leave any of those players out."
In Manama, the All Whites adopted a somewhat unfamiliar formation with three at the back led by skipper Ryan Nelsen, and three strikers, Shane Smeltz operating behind Chris Killen and Rory Fallon.
Herbert non-committal
Herbert was non-committal about the formation they would use to take on Bahrain in Wellington on November 14.
"We may change, we've made no certain decisions on that yet and we won't until the side comes together (on November 10).
"Bahrain have pace, they're very good technically and that's not going to change. They're still going to be a difficult side no matter where you play them, home or away."
However a sell-out home crowd at Wellington's Westpac Stadium can only help, Herbert said, adding that the Wellington Phoenix's 6-0 win over Gold Coast in their A-League clash last Sunday has created a real football buzz in the Capital.
"There's a really nice feel around football at the moment," said Herbert, who was part of the All Whites 1982 World Cup team.
"I'm not quite sure I've ever played in a full stadium myself. We asked for a big crowd and we've got one."
Injury and illness concerns over two key players have been allayed. Nelsen has avoided the swine flu scare at Blackburn Rovers and Fallon is recovering well from a calf strain that saw him hobble out of Plymouth Argyle's match against Ipswich Town last weekend.
As injury cover, Herbert has named five players on a non-travelling standby list comprising Steven Old, Jeremy Brockie, Jeremy Christie, Kris Bright and also Jacob Spoonley, who provided goalkeeping cover in Manama but did not make the matchday 18.
All Whites squad for the World Cup Asia-Oceania playoff in Wellington on November 14:
James Bannatyne, Mark Paston, Andrew Boyens, Tony Lochhead, David Mulligan, Ryan Nelsen, Aaron Scott, Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, Andy Barron, Leo Bertos, Tim Brown, Simon Elliott, Michael McGlinchey, Rory Fallon, Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz, Chris Wood.
