Soccer: A touch of irony in All Whites squad

One link with New Zealand's only successful World Cup campaign has been broken but another has surfaced in the naming of the All Whites team to play a one-off friendly against Jordan in Amman next month.

Kris Bright, son of 1982 World Cup defender Dave Bright, has been relegated to the non-travelling reserves - his place among the strikers taken by Rory Fallon, 27-year-old son of 1982 All Whites assistant coach Kevin Fallon.

The match in Jordan - it was originally planned as part of a two-game Middle East sortie with a second game against Iraq planned but later canned following their insistence it should be played in their country - is coach Ricki Herbert's last chance to assess his players before the winner-take-all World Cup play-offs in October and November.

"I'm not too concerned that we now have only the one game," said Herbert in naming his 18-man squad yesterday. "It is the opportunity to replicate what we will do in October. We have everything we need to get ready for that.

"We wanted to travel to the Middle East and prepare there. We are able to do that. All we don't know at this stage is whether we will be playing Bahrain or Saudi Arabia in the first leg in October.

"The side is pretty settled now after the Confederations Cup. The only new players are Rory Fallon and Michael McGlinchey while Ryan Nelsen comes back after missing the trip to South Africa through injury."

A change in Fifa rules opened the door for Fallon and McGlinchey who have played internationally at age group level for England and Scotland respectively. While he is some way from naming a starting lineup, Herbert said Fallon would get some game time.

"Obviously we are keen to play Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen together again but we also want to see what Fallon can give us."

Herbert might not have his assistant Brian Turner beside him on the bench for the game in Amman as he insists Turner will be at the first leg of the Asian play-offs when Bahrain hosts the Saudis. Herbert and Turner are both expected at the return leg in Riyadh on September 9.

Nelsen, Fallon and McGlinchey are the only players named to play Jordan who were not in South Africa for the Confederations Cup. Missing from that 23-strong squad are Glen Moss, suspended for the World Cup qualifiers, Jarrod Smith and Jeremy Brockie, injured, Bright, Duncan Oughton, Chris James and Jeremy Christie, named as non-travelling reserves, and Stephen Old, omitted.