Soccer: Home-based players likely to bear load

A largely home-based All Whites squad will be handed the responsibility of bringing soccer back to the home fans in two matches against Malaysia next month.

While the 20-man squad for the matches in Christchurch (February 19) and North Harbour Stadium four days later will not be revealed until February 7, national coach Ricki Herbert will next week name his 35-player squad from which the team to play Malaysia will be chosen.

That enlarged squad is certain to include European-based players Ryan Nelsen, Simon Elliott and Ivan Vicelich but it is unlikely they will be released for the matches that fall outside an official Fifa window.

It is likely, however, that Adrian Webster, who made his All Whites debut against the Socceroos in London last year, will play as he is finding game time with his English League Two side Darlington hard to come by.

Herbert has hinted up to a third of the larger squad will come from New Zealand Football Championship clubs, with a number of current or former internationals including Brent Fisher, Raf de Gregorio, James Pritchett, Paul Urlovic, Ross Nicholson, Craig Wylie and maybe Simon Eaddy all on that list.

Some of the New Zealand-eligible players in the New Zealand Knights will be considered, with Glen Moss a certainty. He could be joined in the squad by Noah Hickey and younger players including Jeremy Brockie, Cole Tinkler and Jeremy Christie.

The only All Whites with Australian A-League clubs - Danny Hay, who is being touted as the likely captain, and Vaughan Coveny - are others sure to be on the short list.

Steven Old, who splits his time between his American university and YoungHeart Manawatu, is another whom Herbert will want to see in action but, like other US-based players Duncan Oughton, Tim Brown and Tony Lochhead, will need a clearance to play.

European-based Mark Paston, David Mulligan, Leo Bertos and Shane Smeltz will also warrant some attention.

Herbert will be looking to put out a team capable of repeating the brave showing when the All Whites held the Australians for all but the last couple of minutes to lose 1-0 at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground last June.

New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter has welcomed the confirmation of the matches that will end a 3 1/2-year drought of home matches for the national side.

In their last home game, the All Whites beat the Socceroos 1-0 at Ericsson Stadium in the July 2003 final of the Oceania Cup to earn a place in the 2003 Confederations Cup.

"We are quite well advanced on a number of other fixtures," said Seatter. "But we don't want to announce anything until we have contracts."

English clubs Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace have already agreed to games in England in late July. Seatter is also hoping to play a couple of games against World Cup-bound nations but will not reveal who until he has the deals signed.

"We view the games against Malaysia as a fresh start for the All Whites," said Seatter, who came up short in plans for 10 internationals last year but remains hopeful of reaching that target this year.

"We agree it has been too long between home internationals."

In a determined bid to attract big crowds to the matches ticket prices have been set at $10 for adults and $5 for children.

ALL WHITES V MALAYSIA

February 19: QEII Park, Christchurch, 4pm (preceded by NZFC match between Canterbury United and Auckland City at 1pm).

February 23: North Harbour Stadium 7.35pm.