Four of the starting XI made their All Whites debuts against South Korea this week, as did another two off the bench.
Four of the starting XI made their All Whites debuts against South Korea this week, as did another two off the bench.
One of the least experienced New Zealand teams ever fielded took on South Korea this week. Michael Burgess was in camp with the All Whites in the days before the game, the fourth under new coach Anthony Hudson.
We are a few kilo-metres from the North Korean border and All Whites coach Anthony Hudson is getting excited.
Not about seeing the Korean demilitarised zone — we are driving parallel to the famed area — but about what he is seeing on his laptop.
"Look at this — this is quality," he says, showing a member of the coaching staff. "This is good stuff."
The New Zealand team have just completed a training session and are returning to their hotel, a plush complex in the north-west corner of Seoul. Hudson is already looking for clips from the session, to be used in subsequent team talks, and has found some gold.
Further down the bus, senior players have taken over the back row, while unofficial team DJ Michael Boxall plays Sunday Morning by Maroon 5.
At the hotel Back at the Most Valuable Life Hotel, staff are preparing the team dinner. The large team room is covered with photos of every player in the squad, from Marco Rojas against Mexico at the Azteca and Deklan Wynne defending against China to some of the new caps playing for Auckland City.
Posters implore the team to 'Make History in this Cycle', listing the World Cup, Olympics and Confederations Cup as targets. The four key values of the team (Professionalism, Pride, Accountability, Never Say Die) are listed on a large whiteboard at one end of the room — with a detailed list under each one.
At dinner, nobody can start serving until every member of the squad is present.
"It's all part of discipline and being a team," explains Hudson. "It's good for bonding as well."
The next day, Hudson begins one-to-one meetings with the squad and there are also daily team meetings.
Hudson plays clips of teams from around the world to prompt discussion of the expectations around playing style.
"This is black and white with us — no grey areas," says Hudson, as he outlines defending in their own half. "If teams have the ball here, we don't sit and wait, the nearest man attacks the ball."
The team are kept busy. They attend a function with Prime Minister John Key, in town for a free trade deal. After a meet-and-greet session, Key takes a penalty against keeper Max Crocombe reminiscent of Diana Ross' effort in 1994, and the playing group coach some local school kids.
Coach Anthony Hudson is interviewed by Korean media.
After breakfast there are stretching sessions in the gym, followed by dips in the hot and cold pools. Ahead of afternoon training, there are video sessions where expectations are laid out.
"You know what you have to do," says Tyler Boyd. "It's very clear, so you just have to perform."
On the bus, Stefan Marinovic entertains team-mates with stories from Germany, while Greek-born Themistoklis Tzimpoulous is deep in thought, processing his remarkable journey to the All Whites.
"It's incredible that I am here," he says. "New Zealand gave my grandparents a new life - now is my chance to give something back."
Training The training sessions are at the immaculate Korean Football Association headquarters. Assistant coach Alex Armstrong bounces off the bus, happy to be "back in the office". Armstrong and New Zealand under-20s coach Darren Bazeley run the warm-ups and grid sessions before Hudson takes over for specific drills.
"Be brave - show us why you are here," says Hudson. "This is how you are going to stay in the team.
"Do it again," he admonishes at one stage. "Do it properly this time."
They do, and later exhibit some good skills in a one-touch game.
After training Less than two hours after training has finished, the team are watching clips from the session. Hudson and his video analyst have cut up the footage on the way back to the hotel and after dinner — and a birthday cake for Bill Tuiloma — the coach presents again.
He starts with footage of Universidad de Chile and Bayern Munich, showing their high pressing styles.
"We are doing this so we can beat teams bigger than us," says Hudson. "We are going to be a team that no one likes to play."
He then brings in clips from that afternoon. The players seem engaged, reminded that there is no room for shortcuts at training.
Anthony discusses training with Prime Minister John key.
"We are seeing everything," says Hudson. "Even if you haven't been part of the first team yet, be ready because anything can happen. Whether it is one minute or one hour, it's all important to the team."
This young team are a quiet bunch. Boxall, Chris Wood, Michael McGlinchey, Tzimpoulos and a few others might raise questions but the rest is down to Hudson. Things might change as senior players return for future camps but, for now, Hudson has the floor, delivering his football sermons.
"We all come from different clubs and the role of the wide midfielder can be different," continues Hudson. "Here it's black and white — you come back and support your fullbacks. We don't want one-on-ones."
To reinforce his point, he shows examples of Lionel Messi and others tracking back.
"These are the top players in the world doing this — so it is not like we are asking you to do something out of the ordinary. While you are with the national team, this is what you are expected to do."
In the past, the All Whites would see limited footage of their upcoming opponents. At the 2012 Oceania Nations Cup in Honiara, the team saw only brief highlights of New Caledonia the afternoon before their semifinal loss.
Things have changed. In previous weeks, players were emailed clips of Korea in action, as well as viewing plenty of footage in camp. They watch their own training sessions and previous games.
"This is us against China," says Hudson. "Look at Marco [Rojas], great pressure on the ball, Bill [Tuiloma] squeezing up ... good ... back four squeezing up. But there's too much space in there, centre half should be winning it ... but listen ... look at this, great recovery, good defending, good commitment."
Korea are formidable opponents. They have played eight games since the last Fifa window and boast several players from the Bundesliga and Premier League. But confidence in the New Zealand camp seems to be building.
"We know a lot about them," says Tuiloma, sitting in the hotel coffee lounge. "You feel very prepared, no stone is left unturned."
Hudson is yet to win as All Whites coach but seems unconcerned about what could happen in the game.
"We have to play the big teams," he says. "We could play the Philippines or Malaysia but what are we going to learn?"
Eighteen year-old Clayton Lewis is learning plenty. Less than 12 months ago, he was playing alongside his father at Wellington Olympic.
"It's incredible," says Lewis. "Things have happened fast. Anthony said he would give young players a chance and it has happened."
The day before It's now 24 hours from game day. On the drive to the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Moses Dyer (as the youngest player) is pushed on to the bus microphone to pass on some facts about the arena, the biggest football-specific ground in Asia, with a capacity of almost 70,000.
The final session is snappy, plenty of shooting, crosses, free kicks and corners.
"We have to be a threat to them," Hudson tells his team. "It has never just been about what we do without the ball. We have to be confident, positive, make things happen. And we are. Every session since that first one has been better. We are now becoming — in a short space of time — a real strong team. China didn't enjoy playing us and neither will Korea."
The game The team arrive at the stadium at 6.30pm, 90 minutes before kickoff. The dressing room has been prepared, kit laid out, drinks, snacks, lollies and medical supplies ready. Printouts of a power point presentation are fixed across one wall, detailing set pieces.
The starting XI features four debutantes and eight players with just 26 caps among them. But they seem ready.
"We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could compete," explains captain Wood before the game. "A lot of youngsters are getting a chance and they'll take it."
Hudson reinforced that message at the pre-match dinner.
The All Whites warm up at the captain's run before the clash with South Korea. The players were shown video clips from their training sessions within hours of finishing.
"This game is about us," said Hudson. "Forget age, forget experience, that's irrelevant ... we need to trust each other, trust in our quality. It's not about them. It's about us, constantly progressing, our team getting stronger. But we need to play with total trust for each other.
"They are going to carve us open at times but as long as we don't lose our shape, or get our shape back quickly, we'll be OK."
A glance down the team sheet indicates the potential gulf. On one side, Wanderers FC, Wellington Olympic, Auckland City; on the other Swansea City, Bayer Leverkusen, Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic.
But this New Zealand team exhibit their belief. They perform well and match the Koreans before going down to a late goal.
The mood on the bus afterwards is sombre, but not desolate, as the team returns to the hotel for a midnight dinner.
"We showed what we are about tonight," says Wood. "We showed the future is bright."
• Michael Burgess travelled to Korea with assistance from ASB Bank, the principal partner of New Zealand Football.
