Soccer: Nelsen upbeat despite All Whites defeat

Ryan Nelsen. Photo / Getty Images

Ryan Nelsen hates losing, but the All Whites' captain was remarkably upbeat after last night's loss to Jamaica.

The first international match in nearly a year was all about "laying a foundation" towards the 2014 World Cup and Nelsen liked what he saw in spite of the 3-2 defeat at Mt Smart Stadium.

"It's energising to see the potential around you," the skipper said after his 46th international. "If we have four of five games under our belt it could have been a whole different result."

The Tottenham defender, however, refused to use the rushed preparation as an excuse but admitted that he was not too happy with his own performance.

The Jamaicans had played two games against Cuba in the previous week and it showed according to Nelsen. "They just looked a bit sharper."

Nelsen did not put much weight on the result against a potential play-off opponent for the 2014 World Cup and felt his young charges had matched up well. "And I felt that all their three goals were really soft."

Jamaica's opener was a mistimed cross that drifted agonisingly over the head of Mark Paston while two second-half breaks caught the New Zealand defence napping.

"All the mistakes we made can easily be tightened up, but you can see the potential of these young players coming through.

"We were rusty in the back and no matter how often you play together in the past these games show you what you have to work on. And it's better to make mistakes in games like this and not when it counts in June," said Nelsen, referring to the Oceania Nations Cup he hopes to play in.

Nelsen concluded that there were far more positives than negatives and was impressed with the attacking play and how many chances his team created.

He singled out his baby-faced strike force of Marco Rojas, 20, Kosta Barbarouses, 22, and Chris Wood, 20, and defender Tommy Smith, 21, for special praise.

Nelsen said New Zealand's first goal after a nifty one-two between Rojas and Wood was "fantastic".

The skipper himself could have added to his personal tally of six following his famous 2002 winner against Australia at the same venue "but maybe I should have used my shin pad again".

Despite criticising his own performance and facing another long trip back to England, Nelsen had no regrets about the quick-fire visit.

"Every minute together as a team is valuable that's why I came over. I did not play well personally but it's about the team. It's about laying a new foundation."