Soccer: Herbert tackles one hurdle at a time

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has his eye on the crucial South Africa match but first... there's Spain. Photo / Brett Phibbs

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has some tough decisions to make as he contemplates his team's Confederations Cup opener against Spain on Monday morning.

He is keen to maintain the momentum his players took from their spirited 4-3 loss to world champions Italy two days ago but is realistic enough to know his chances of victory against a team who have now gone 30-plus matches without defeat since November 2006 are, at best, slim. More realistically, non-existent.

Herbert would never say he expects to lose but he knows New Zealand's second game, at the same stadium against hosts South Africa on Wednesday, could be the most crucial of their campaign.

If New Zealand lose to Spain and South Africa and Iraq draw the tournament opener in Johannesburg a couple of hours earlier on Monday, the winner of the New Zealand v South Africa game could join Spain in next week's semifinals by taking a point in their last group match. New Zealand face Iraq and South Africa, the more daunting challenge against Spain.

Herbert would not be drawn on who he will put out against a Spanish team which boasts, among others, stars like Liverpool's Fernando Torres and has four players from the Barcelona team who stunned Manchester United in the Champions League final. He must be tempted to stick with the players who did so well against Italy.

The stats back the effort in that game. In scoring three goals, the All Whites, with 42 per cent of possession and only half the shots on goals (seven against 14) of the Italians joined the Netherlands (2008), Hungary (2007), France (2006), Belarus (2004), Poland (2003) and Demark (1999) as the only teams to score three against the classy Italians in the past decade. No side in that time has managed four.

In perhaps a more amazing effort, the All Whites forced nine corners, the Italians none. But that, Herbert agrees, is in the past. He now looks forward.

"Spain, what a challenge. Their quality is obvious. They are European champions and have the depth in their squad to clearly mark them as the best team in the world," said Herbert. "For us it is different. In three days we have to back up and play like we did against Italy. We have never had to do that against two such quality teams ...

"Given the realism of the situation, you have to admit it is highly unlikely you are going to win so you then have to look at it and ask yourself: Do you play your best team and hope you can come away with a credible performance or do you look ahead to the game against South Africa and save some legs?

"It is not an easy call. Players who played against Italy and might expect to play again should not be too concerned if their names are not read out this time. As an example, it is obvious Mark Paston in goal has to have some game time. Whenever I decide to play him, Glen Moss should read nothing into it.

"It is much the same story for Ben Sigmund," said Herbert. "He has done really well since coming back from hip surgery. He has been on a hell of a programme but he needs to get back on the pitch. But then you have to look at how well Ivan Vicelich and Andy Boyens did against Italy in only their second game together."

Does Spain hold any real fears for Herbert?

"They are the type of side who could destroy any team. I am honest and realistic," he said. "My biggest fear is in having to back up and not being able to retain the same level of intensity as we showed against Italy."

Without that, it might happen. But, does it really matter?

NZ v SPAIN
Rustenburg, Monday 6am (NZ time) live SS3

New Zealand (likely): Mark Paston, David Mulligan, Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, Tony Lochhead, Jeremy Brockie, Tim Brown (c), Simon Elliott, Leo Bertos, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen.