New Zealand are set to experiment with the back three for the first time in coach Ricki Herbert’s reign when the All Whites face World Cup finalists Costa Rica in San Jose on Sunday (NZT).
Herbert has opted for a back four in all 12 of his previous matches in charge of the national team but is likely to test a three-man defensive line of Che Bunce, captain Danny Hay and Steven Old against the world’s 50th ranked team.
The untried trio are poised to start behind a midfield five with Noah Hickey and Tony Lochhead to play on the flanks ahead of holding midfielders Tim Brown and Ivan Vicelich.
Leo Bertos is expected to round out the flooded midfield with the Wellington A-League target likely to play centrally in the “hole” behind strikers Shane Smeltz and Jeremy Brockie.
Story courtesy of NZS Media…