OFC Nations Cup - Stage Two Teams

NEW ZEALAND

Eight players from Ricki Herbert’s (pictured below)Wellington Phoenix squad have been named in his All White squad for the Oceania FIFA World Cup qualifiers in October.

All three Phoenix goalkeepers make the cut, with U-20 stopper Jacob Spoonley making his first full international squad alongside his Wellington teammates Glen Moss and Mark Paston.

Goal scoring hero from the All Whites’ last match – a 2-2 draw in Wales - Shane Smeltz is another Phoenix player to be included while the Hyundai A-League also has a ninth representative in Leo Bertos, who has been in fine pre-season form for the Perth Glory.

Seven players will return from Europe for the home and away matches including a predictable return for Blackburn captain Ryan Nelson, and Celtic’s Chris Killen. Simon Elliot, David Mulligan and Chris James will join them on the plane from Britain while Kris Bouckenooghe and Ivan Vicelich return from their Belgian and Dutch clubs respectively.

Waitakere’s Jeff Campbell keeps his place in the squad that travelled to Wales – and is one of three players – along with Canterbury’s Andy Barron and Auckland’s James Prichett – from the NZFC in Herbert’s squad.

Andy Boyens and Duncan Oughton return from Major League Soccer commitments in the US and Canada, and Jarrod Smith will also return from the US where he is close to finalising a deal with a new club.

Danny Hay’s international retirement leaves the captaincy temporarily open, while the last two places in the squad will be announced at a later date.

New Zealand Squad for World Cup Qualifiers (club – caps/goals)
Glen MOSS, Mark PASTON, Jacob SPOONLEY; Andrew BOYENS, Tony LOCHHEAD, David MULLIGAN, Ryan NELSEN, Steven OLD, James PRITCHETT, Ben SIGMUND; Andrew BARRON, Leo BERTOS, Chris BOUCKENOOGHE, Tim BROWN, Jeff CAMPBELL, Jeremy CHRISTIE, Simon ELLIOTT, Chris JAMES, Duncan OUGHTON, Ivan VICELICH; Chris KILLEN, Shane SMELTZ, Jarrod SMITH.

VANUATU

Vanuatu secured a berth in the OFC Nations Cup/FIFA World Cup qualifying Stage 2 thanks to an upset 2-0 victory over Solomon Islands at Toleafoa J.S.Blatter Football Field in the bronze medal match at the XIII South Pacific Games - Samoa 2007.

Striker Suele Soromon (pictured below, right)and midfield starlet Francois Sakama were both on target during the 2-0 victory as coach Robert Calvo delivered the most significant result in Vanuatu's history since the momentous 4-2 win over New Zealand nearly 3 years ago.

Veteran goalkeeper David Chilia (pictured above, left) is excited about the prospect of meeting New Zealand again and admitted he had considered retirement if Vanuatu were eliminated from the XIII South Pacific Games - Samoa 2007. Understandably, Chilia changed his tune once the bronze medal dangled from his neck.

"No, I won't retire, I am excited now," Chilia said immediately after the victory over Solomon Islands, "we knew we could beat Solomon Islands if everything in our team went right on the day. I'm very proud of this achievement."

Vanuatu football has received a massive boost in recent times with club champions Tafea FC qualifying for the OFC O-League thanks to winning the OFC O-League Preliminary competition in New Caledonia earlier this year. Vanuatu U-12 also qualified for the 2007 Danone Nations Cup as OFC U-12 Festival of Football champions after a heartwarming performance in Papua New Guinea in April, 2007.

Vanuatu's chances of progressing will depend on whether or not they can have their stadium ready in time for their November kick-off with the current pitch and seating in desperate need of work.

FIJI 

Fijian football is experiencing its brightest period in living memory with the national team's recent 1-0 victory over New Zealand A in Lautoka backed up by a South Pacific Games silver medal performance in which the rampant Fijians defeated Cook Islands (4-0), Tuvalu (16-0), Tahiti (4-0), Vanuatu (3-0) and earning a draw against New Caledonia (1-1) in Pool play.

The defeat against New Caledonia (0-1) in the XIII South Pacific Games Final was the first time Fiji had been held scoreless by any international line-up this year and there is a feeling that Fiji can offer a serious challenge for the OFC Nations Cup title and OFC's FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against the 5th placed team in Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

An ominous striking combination featuring the talent of Labasa's Roy Krishna, Ba's Osea Vakatalesau and Josaia Bukalidi, and the powerful Pita Baleitoga could possess the firepower to realise coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti's dreams of repeating an upset.

In defence, captain Peni Finau (pictured above) will be a crucial figure with the solidly built defender the rock upon which both club and country have been built.

"We have a belief in how we play and we have faith in our coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti. Our main strength is our teamwork and the closeness we have developed in our squad.

When Roy Krishna came into the senior ranks it was important to make him feel welcomed. Josaia Bukalidi helped this process and it is an important quality to our success to make each player feel like he is part of a family," Finau said during the XIII South Pacific Games.

NEW CALEDONIA

New Caledonia sealed the XIII South Pacific Games gold medal by playing a fast counter attack game hatched by young French coach Didier Chambaron. Influential midfield playmaker Pierre Wajoka (pictured below)was a crucial part of New Caledonia's golden run with outstanding performances against Fiji and Solomon Islands helping guide the team to a deserved final appearance.

"We have a team that depends upon the strength of the group, not individuals. If I play well, this is only because everybody else in this team is also doing their job and playing well. Without this our team would not be what it is," Wajoka declared at the XIII South Pacific Games prior to the semi-final win against Solomon Islands.

Other outstanding performers for New Caledonia include Marc Ounemoa and Marius Mapou with the talismanic figure of former AS Pirae midfielder Jose Hmae a constant danger on either flank. Hmae's talents have seen the diminutive player return to New Caledonia to play for AS Mont Dore in the New Caledonia Super League where he can be closer to the national team.

Coach Didier Chambaron downplays his team's achievements in winning the gold medal.

"We have a system the players believe in but we needed to instil a sense of discipline and organisation. Sometimes the mentality is not as strong as it needs to be in our football in this country. The approach is more akin to recreational rather than international or professional football standards which is not good enough to win games," Chambaron said.

Although New Caledonia has recorded creditable performances at international level at the XIII South Pacific Games and OFC U-20 Men's Championship the club team's have struggled in the OFC O-League and OFC O-League Preliminary tournaments.

AS Mont Dore were totally outclassed by Auckland City (0-4 and 0-2) and Waitakere United (1-6 and 0-3) in 2007 whilst JS Baco, AS Mont Dore's Super League successors, were humbled by Vanuatu club champions Tafea FC (0-5) in Noumea.

Chambaron is adamant that international results will not reflect the paucity of success at club level but admitted qualification for the FIFA World Cup - South Africa 2010 would represent an achievement bordering on the miraculous.