KEY POINTS:
Danny Hay will captain New Zealand on their soccer tour of Central America this month without Vaughan Coveny after the striker announced his international retirement today.
Coveny has opted to end his 14-year All Whites career in the hope of squeezing at least two more seasons of club soccer out of his 35-year-old body.
He bows out as New Zealand's leading all-time scorer with 30 goals from 75 internationals, the last of them against Brazil in Geneva last June.
His departure adds to the already intimidating challenge New Zealand face when they play World Cup finalists Costa Rica in San Jose and Venezuela in Maracaibo on March 25 and 29 (NZT) respectively.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has remained loyal to Hay for the two-match tour, with the Waitakere United defender having captained New Zealand in all 12 matches during Herbert's reign.
Ryan Nelsen has been named in the 20-player tour party and remains a captaincy contender as the current skipper of Blackburn Rovers and the leader when he last represented New Zealand at the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup in Adelaide.
But Herbert has plumed for the status quo -- at least until he names his 25-man World Cup squad just prior to the All Whites' mid-year tour of Europe where Wales and 2006 World Cup quarterfinalists Ukraine are confirmed opponents.
"A decision surrounding the World Cup squad and captain will be made at the appropriate time but for now Danny deserves the armband and has the teams full support," Herbert said, with an eye to the start of the Oceania World Cup qualifying series in October.
"When you reflect back on a difficult time for the national team around our sole international in 2005 against Australia, it was a big ask not only for me in my first game as coach but also from a captaincy point of view for Danny given the unavailability of up to 10 key players.
"As well as some success on the park, I've also been exceptionally pleased with the dedication and commitment of all the players we've used and a lot of that has been driven by Danny."
The recall of Nelsen and Fulham FC midfielder Simon Elliott and the absence of Brent Fisher, James Pritchett, Adrian Webster and goalkeeper James Bannatyne are features of Herbert's 20-man squad.
Nelsen's last international was the 2-0 win over Fiji at the ill-fated World Cup qualifiers in Adelaide in June, 2004.
Elliott, who is scheduled to make his comeback from injury, played his last match for New Zealand in the same tournament when the All Whites rebounded from their shock loss to Vanuatu with a 10-0 routing of Tahiti.
"Their performances in the (English) premiership, not withstanding periods on the sideline with injury, have been second to none and their experience will no doubt enhance the quality of the national team," Herbert said of Nelsen and Elliott.
Herbert said the quartet of Fisher, Pritchett, Webster and Bannatyne were "unlucky" and would remain on standby for the Costa Rica and Venezuela matches.
Coveny's retirement is untimely, with Hibernian striker Chris Killen sidelined by injury.
"While we wish him the very best for the future he's going to be sorely missed," Herbert said.
All Whites to Costa Rica and Venezuela, March 20-31:
Goalkeepers: Mark Paston (Unattached), Glen Moss (Unattached).
Defenders: Kris Bouckenooghe (Red Star Waasland), Che Bunce (Coventry City), Daniel Hay (Waitakere United), Noah Hickey (Unattached), Tony Lochhead (New England Revolution/USA), David Mulligan (Scunthorpe United), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Steven Old (Newcastle Jets).
Midfielders: Andrew Barron (Canterbury United), Tim Brown (Newcastle Jets), Jeremy Christie (Perth Glory), Simon Elliott (Fulham FC), Ivan Vicelich (RKC Waalwijk).
Forwards: Leo Bertos (Perth Glory), Jeremy Brockie (Sydney FC), Chris James (Fulham FC), Shane Smeltz (Halifax FC), Jarrod Smith (unattached).
- NZPA
