Nelsen: Kiwis riding a wave

Ryan Nelsen is now just days away from being just the second man to lead New Zealand into a FIFA World Cup™. The long-serving Blackburn Rovers centre-half debuted for the All Whites eleven years ago, but no achievement in his long career has come close to last November’s play-off victory over Bahrain and qualification for South Africa 2010.

By far the highest-profile member of the All Whites squad, Nelsen is an inspirational figure for the national team and now follows in the footsteps of Steve Sumner, who donned the captain’s armband at Spain 1982. Injury prevented the Christchurch native from appearing at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, where his organisational skills in defence were sorely missed, but now Nelsen has the opportunity to make his mark in South Africa. And a creditable performance in a last-gasp defeat against Australia last week, combined with victory over Serbia on the weekend, suggests the Kiwis have reason for optimism.

FIFA.com chatted exclusively with the New Zealand skipper as the team prepares to create their own slice of history.

FIFA.com: The team preparations seem to have been going very well, with that unlucky last-minute defeat against Australia and a win against Serbia.
Ryan Nelsen: The result (against Serbia) wasn’t too bad but it was good to get a good 90 minutes under our belts. We had a disappointing result against Australia and we probably would have won it with good preparation, but it's just great to have a good run.

With those two matches behind you, how are the preparations coming together as South Africa 2010 approaches?
It was only this group of players who knew we were a decent team. Unfortunately now, with the results against Australia and Serbia, other teams are starting to realise that. We were hoping to fly under the radar a bit. Now teams will probably take us more seriously. We will keep going about our business. We are doing well but we have a lot of work to do before we get to South Africa.

You have had some injury concerns in recent times, missing some matches for Blackburn and also the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. How is the body feeling after a long English season?
I feel pretty good. I had a break of about five weeks when I injured my knee. I still played 30 to 35 games during the English season so it was one of those ones that is a blessing in disguise in the context of the World Cup schedule.

How do you find the leadership role with the national team, especially given you play in the English Premier League, while not all of the New Zealand squad are full-time professionals?
Everybody is pretty experienced in their own right. This team pretty much has 18 or so players that have been around the block a few times and know what is required. We only have two or three players that are semi-pro but they are young and learning and good, and it's only a matter of time before they become professional. Probably if they were playing in other countries they would be professional, it’s just that they don’t get as many opportunities to be noticed. So we have some good experience in the team and really I don’t have to do that much.

Your only the second man to lead New Zealand at a FIFA World Cup. How does that feel?
It’s an incredible feeling. At the moment we have a job to do, so it’s more stress and excitement because we want to do well. When I look back, maybe when I’m old and grey and with a walking stick, I might then look back and say ‘that was pretty unbelievable’.

How has the team improved over the course of the many years that you have been involved in the national team set-up?
This is by far the best team I have ever been involved in. We have players playing at a high level. Our four strikers are all playing at a really good level or have done well in their respective competition. We have experience at the back, we have keepers that are experienced and guys like Simon Elliot that have been around forever as well. We have a really nice balance around the squad now and we have a bit more depth as well.

How does the attention given to football in New Zealand leading up to South Africa compare to what you're used to, and how good has that been for the game domestically?
It's been fantastic for the game. It is not what we are used to in New Zealand, but in the few days we had at home before we left the whole country was really positive and really behind us. It is unprecedented compared to what we are used to. We are now riding a nice little wave with a couple of good results and the country believes that we are a decent team and can be really competitive so it’s really exciting.

What benefits are you expecting in New Zealand football as a spin-off from South Africa 2010?
More players playing, more interest in the game, more media, more public attention and more exposure. It’s a very athletic country but some fantastic players fall away at the younger age groups because there is not always the infrastructure in place, so that hopefully that will be sorted out and in the long run will benefit the national team.

Uruguay coach pleased with preparations

Uruguay will depart for South Africa after an ideal preparation for the FIFA World Cup™, according to coach Oscar Washington Tabarez. La Celeste have been training in Montevideo and Tabarez is pleased with how his side are progressing.

He said: "We have no injury concerns and everyone looks in good shape. Certain players that may have arrived with less playing time like (Juventus defender Martin) Caceres still have two weeks to improve their condition. We will begin working on Thursday focusing on the tactics and concepts before our opening game against France."

Uruguay, who are at the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time since 2002, are in Group A alongside host nation South Africa, Mexico and France.

"Our aim is to do a good job at the World Cup and I have it very clear in my mind what we need to do," said Tabarez.

Uruguay will train behind closed doors on Thursday before taking a charter flight 24 hours later to Johannesburg. The South American side will then move to their training camp in Kimberley.

Marin: We can go all the way

At barely 1.70m, Marko Marin may be one of the smallest German internationals, but his reputation is growing by the day. Since making his senior debut in May 2008, the 21-year-old winger has picked up seven caps under Joachim Low and cemented his place in the squad.

FIFA.com caught up with the UEFA European U-21 Championship winner at Germany’s training camp in the South Tyrol, where the squad is preparing for next month’s 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

FIFA.com: Marko, after a rollercoaster season, your club Werder Bremen finished third in the Bundesliga and reached the final of the German Cup. On balance, how would you sum up the year?
Marko Marin: It was a very positive season for us. The second half in particular went very well and we also produced some great performances in Europe. In the end we did well in the league as well as the cup, so I think it was a good showing.

You scored four goals and made 14 assists in 32 league appearances. How happy were you with your own performance?
For me personally, things went very well. I started almost every match and really raised my game in the second half of the campaign. I scored and set up goals in all competitions, which, when all is said and done, is what people measure you by. I also had the chance to gain some international experience in the Europa League, something that was extremely important to me.

You mentioned your strong second half of the season. What would you put that down to?
It’s quite simple really. When you arrive at a new club as a young player you need some time to get used to your new surroundings. Luckily, in my case it didn’t take me too long to settle. The coach had confidence in me and I put in some good performances in the first half of the season, something I was able to build on in 2010.

Having been named in the provisional squad for South Africa 2010, how would say preparations are going for the big event?
The mood within the squad is excellent and preparations are going really well. We’re now anxious for the tournament to start and can’t wait to get to get on the plane for South Africa. I try to do my best when I play, but ultimately it’s down to the coach to decide whether I‘m good enough.

How serious is the loss of your first-choice goalkeeper Rene Adler and captain Michael Ballack?
I think we’re still coming to terms with being without Michael. To lose a major figure like him is a huge blow for us, but there’s nothing we can do to change it. I still believe this team can be successful if we pull together. It is also very sad for Rene that he can’t be there, but we have some excellent keepers in the squad who can do a good job in his place. They have proved that time and again.

Competition for attacking midfield berths looks particularly intense with Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Lukas Podolski, Piotr Trochowski and yourself all vying for places in the starting XI. What’s your take on that situation?
I think that our system, with two defensive and three attacking midfielders, suits me because that’s the system we use at Bremen. I’m also happy playing on either flank. My strength is going forward, where I can put my dribbling skills to good use, and that’s something the coach knows as well.

Two years ago you were also in the provisional squad for UEFA EURO 2008 but did not make the final 23. What’s your gut feeling this year?
I was in a totally different position then. I was coming straight from the 2. Bundesliga (the second tier in German football) and it was a dream for me to be named in the squad for the first time. Since then I’ve had two years experience in the top flight and have played in Europe. I don’t worry about it too much though, I just put everything into training and believe I’ll be there in South Africa.

What would a ticket to South Africa mean to you at the age of 21?
I don’t think age really comes into it because a World Cup is something special for any player. It’s the biggest tournament in world football and everyone is looking forward to it. Moreover, I believe we have the potential to go all the way.

The year Korea DPR shocked football

Korea DPR 1 Italy 0. Four decades on, the sensational defeat of the two-time world champions by a team of unknowns from the insular nation ranks as perhaps the greatest shock in FIFA World Cup™ history.

The North Koreans, heading to South Africa for only their second appearance in football's showpiece, scripted their own fairytale in a remarkable campaign 44 years ago that gripped the imagination of the English public. Largely written off as exotic no-hopers, fans took the Chollima to their hearts as they reached the last eight, threatening another huge upset in the quarter-finals before bowing out.

Coming into the 1966 tournament, there was little to suggest that Korea DPR were about to rock the boat. They reached the finals by beating Australia in a play-off after African nations withdrew from qualifying, protesting against a decision to allow only one qualifier from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

When they arrived in Europe, Britain's Times newspaper gave them no hope. "Unless the Koreans turn out to be jugglers, with some unexpected ploy like running with the ball cushioned in the crook of their necks, it looks as though Italy and Russia should have the run of the place," its correspondent said.

Their first match, against Russia, resulted in a 3-0 defeat with The Times unimpressed with the team from the "land of the Morning Calm." In their second outing North Korea drew 1-1 with Chile, and the Times reported: "Rarely have supporters taken a team to their hearts as the football followers of Middlesbrough have taken these whimsical orientals."

But the match that defined their campaign was their 1-0 defeat of 10-man Italy, who lost their skipper, Giacomo Bulgarelli, to injury, through Pak Doo-Ik's solitary goal at Ayresome Park. Followed to Liverpool by swarms of fans from the north-east, Korea DPR were not done yet, almost penning an even more dramatic chapter at Goodison Park when they raced into a 3-0 lead before a Eusebio-inspired Portugal hit back to win 5-3.

Nick Bonner, an associate producer of a 2002 documentary about the feats of 44 years ago, said to this day the team is feted in North Korea and members were involved in football until recent years. "I think this was a team that was recast in the limelight when we made the documentary but they've always been well known," he said.

"When the current team came back after they'd qualified to go through there was a massive reception for them and there were the players of 1966 in the front row," he added.

For the team of 1966 it was more than just a game. "I learned that football is not only about the winning," said Pak in the film. "Wherever we go, playing football can improve diplomatic relations and promote peace."

Pirlo: We're starting from scratch

During Italy’s triumphant campaign at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, Andrea Pirlo earned the FIFA Technical Study Group’s vote as the best player in the team’s opener against Ghana, the semi-final against Germany and the Final against France. As a result of these accolades the AC Milan midfielder picked up the tournament’s adidas Bronze Ball award, behind France’s Zinedine Zidane and Azzurri team-mate Fabio Cannavaro. Four years on and just weeks before the start of South Africa 2010, FIFA.com sat down for an exclusive interview with the 31-year-old playmaker, to find out how it feels to be a reigning champion preparing to defend the most sought-after trophy in world football.

FIFA.com: Andrea, four years ago your eldest son was very young but perhaps now he is ready to experience his first World Cup as a fan. What are the expectations for this great event as seen through the eyes of a child?
Andrea Pirlo: Niccolo will be seven years old in a few days and for now he is avidly following the Italian championship and the UEFA Champions League. He doesn’t yet fully understand the concept of the FIFA World Cup and the importance of this event, but I’m certain that between June and July he will discover the magic of this tournament and will fall in love with it forever.

What are your own memories of the FIFA World Cup as a child?
I can only remember vague flashes of Mexico 1986, when the La Nazionale were knocked out quite early on, whereas I can vividly recall the magical moments of Italia ‘90. It was a tremendous atmosphere and I fondly remember the summer afternoons and evenings that I spent watching the matches. It was a very carefree experience and I was eager to celebrate just like everyone else my age, but unfortunately Italy didn’t manage to reach the Final and it was Germany that won.

Sixteen years after that bitter disappointment, the children and teenagers of that era – a generation born between 1970 (second-choice goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi) and 1983 (midfielder Daniele De Rossi) – made amends in the most spectacular fashion, winning the title on German soil of all places, after having overcome the hosts in the semi-final.
It’s an emotion I will never forget for the rest of my life, because I think there’s nothing better than winning in the last minute of extra time in a stadium packed with passionate German supporters. Another key moment on the road to victory in Berlin was the penalty that Totti scored against Australia in the Round of 16, which also came right at the end of the game. We had been playing with ten men and winning like that made us realise that the signs were promising. In Germany there was a fantastic atmosphere, even outside the stadiums. I hope this year will be no different!

What do you expect from the first edition to be played on the African continent?
I only got to know South Africa last year during the Confederations Cup and it’s a country which fascinates me. I hope that this World Cup will be a driving force and also that it draws large crowds. It might be a good thing to be playing in winter, because it won’t be very hot. As for the altitude problem we’ll try to overcome it with specific training in Sestriere, at high elevation. We’ll have to get ourselves in top condition in terms of our respiratory fitness. The trajectories change a bit because the speed of the ball increases and above all because it tends to lose height. I’ll have to train to get confident playing in those conditions, particularly with regard to set pieces.

Which countries are favourites to go all the way and who do you think might be the outstanding players of the 2010 edition?
I would say that England, Brazil and above all Spain are a cut above the rest as we head into the tournament. As for players, I think that Spain’s midfielder Xavi, who has been making his mark at the highest level for a number of years now, and England’s Wayne Rooney, who is still young but already so strong, have what it takes to put their teams in contention.

How about Italy and the Italian players?
The qualifying campaign went quite well. We didn’t set the competition on fire but our performances were more or less in keeping with predictions and the tradition of our national team. We stamped our ticket for South Africa with one match to spare just as we did four years ago, whereas last summer we did poorly in the Confederations Cup, perhaps because we approached it without the right level of concentration. Now going back to play in the World Cup as champions is great, but we have to start over from scratch and, from what I’ve heard, we’re not among the favourites. I have to say it doesn’t bother me in the slightest, because I prefer to start out without too much fanfare. The training sessions will be tailored to getting us in tip-top condition for the start of the tournament and our technical staff will certainly draw inspiration from the way we prepared in 2006 – even if this time around we’ll begin our build-up programme with high-altitude training, as I said. Before a World Cup even the aches and pains of a long season all go away, because it’s such a wonderful tournament to experience and play in that every ounce of tiredness goes away.

If you could take one player along with you to South Africa at all costs, who would it be?
I have tried everything to convince Alessandro Nesta to come out of international retirement and I’ll keep on trying to the last, but unfortunately his recent injuries haven’t helped and now I don’t think it’s going to happen. Decisions like these are very personal and difficult to make, which is why they must be respected and not commented on. As for myself, fingers crossed, I hope to play for La Nazionale for as long as possible. At this moment, I can’t see myself retiring for a long time yet.

Low: Klose must work hard

Germany coach Joachim Low admits out-of-sorts striker Miroslav Klose will find it tough to turn his form around in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

The 31-year-old, who has scored 48 times in 95 games for his country, struggled for games and goals with Bayern Munich last season. And he looked a shadow of the player who finished top scorer at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Saturday night's friendly win over Hungary in Budapest.

"It is clear that it will be no easy task to get Miro in form," Low said in the Bild newspaper. "It will be hard work, for him, for us. He has to work a lot. He still hasn't shown the form that he is actually capable of. For Miro it is now about becoming more certain in training."

Low, though, offered words of encouragement for Klose, who has scored five goals in each of the last two FIFA World Cups. "People have often written Miro off before," he added. "But when it comes to it, he is there."

Klose's last international goal came in the 1-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying win away to Russia last October.

11 days to go

The fastest goal in a FIFA World Cup™ was scored by Turkey's Hakan Sukur after only 11 seconds against Korea Republic in 2002.

Sukur's early strike paved the way for Turkey to run out 3-2 victors in Daegu in the third-place play-off. Lee Eul-Yong drew the sides level before Ilhan Mansiz's first-half brace put the game beyond the co-hosts, who pulled another goal back late on through Song Chong-Gug.

Sukur has since retired and his career achievements include winning the UEFA Cup and eight Turkish league titles with Galatasaray. He also had spells with Inter Milan, Blackburn and Parma.

Emerton back in action

Brett Emerton has returned to full training two weeks ahead of Australia's opening 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match against Germany.

A calf injury has limited Emerton's participation in the pre-tournament camps in Melbourne and Johannesburg, but the Blackburn midfielder was back in action on Sunday. The 31-year-old may not be risked in tomorrow's friendly against Denmark, while former Liverpool player Harry Kewell is also likely to sit out the game.

Kewell is continuing his rehabilitation from a groin injury and coach Pim Verbeek has said all along that Kewell will be focused on getting fit for the Germany game. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has recovered from the thumb sprain which kept him out of last week's friendly against New Zealand at the MCG.

Kwak ruled out of tournament

Korea Republic defender Kwak Tae-Hwi has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup™ finals after suffering a knee injury in yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Belarus in Austria.

The 28-year-old Kyoto Sanga player, who only returned to the squad last November following a lengthy lay-off with a similar injury, twisted knee ligaments during a challenge in the first half and was carried off on a stretcher.

Coach Huh Jung-Moo is set to call up either Suwon Bluewings defender Kang Min-Soo or Hwang Jae-Won of Asian champions Pohang Steelers to take Kwak's place in his 23-man World Cup squad.

"Kwak will need at least four weeks to recover from twisting a ligament in his left knee," said media officer Lee Won-Jae.

South Korea complete their preparations against European champions Spain on Thursday ahead of their opening game against Greece in Group B on 12 June.


Credit : fifa.com