KEY POINTS:
The huge expectation hanging over New Zealand soccer teams has eased a little but there are still huge hurdles to be cleared.
Justifiably regarded as the No 1 nation in the Oceania Football Confederation, New Zealand teams step on to the world stage knowing they must perform credibly or risk the confederation's much-coveted direct entry to most Fifa tournaments.
New Zealand's under-20 women were given a pass mark at last year's World Cup tournament in Russia. Then, against many expectations, the national under-20 men, while not picking up a point (as the women had done), fared reasonably well in their World Cup in Canada.
With the eyes of the footballing world on them and with Fifa hierarchy holding a watching brief, the Dan Peat/Jack Pelter-led team left with heads held reasonably high.
They were joined in the final analysis (after group play) by hosts Canada and Scotland as the only teams not to pick up a point but they fared better in the goal-difference stakes with a 1-5 record as against Canada's 0-6, Scotland's 2-7 and Panama (who did pick up one point) who had a 1-8 goal count.
The calibre of New Zealand's opposition in group C was among the best with Mexico, 2-1 winners over New Zealand, beating Congo 3-0 in the round of 16. Portugal, 2-0 winners over New Zealand, bowed out at the same stage beaten 1-0 by Chile, and Gambia, who edged New Zealand 2-0, bowed out, also in the first post-section round, 2-1 to Austria.
Attention now switches to the under-17 men and the senior women as their world cups date nears.
The under-17s are regarded as a reasonable prospect and perhaps the most likely to match the 1999 effort at the same tournament when the Kevin Fallon-coached side beat Poland 2-1 - New Zealand's only victory on Fifa's big stage.
The women face a daunting task at their World Cup in China. Hammered 3-0 and 5-0 by Canada, the pressure is on coach John Herdman and his team.
Lacking players capable of imposing a physical presence in any match they play, the women will need a huge step up with a team expected to go on and win direct entry to next year's Beijing Olympics.
New Zealand hold sway now Australia have turned away from Oceania to join Asia but they must produce on the field to convince Fifa they deserve direct entry to all but the men's World Cup.
New Zealand bowed to the Solomon Islands in last weekend's OFC beach soccer qualifier but have resolved to step up next year.
New Zealand Football have poured big money into the preparation of national teams - and even called for some player contributions along the way - but that will count for nothing if they don't front when it counts.
Some estimates suggest around $5 million has been poured into the game in recent times. In watching the All Whites world ranking drop alarmingly, many are asking whether it has been money well spent.
Only results - including the All Whites' efforts at their World Cup qualifiers later this year - will provide that answer.
