All you need to know about All Whites v Slovakia

All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The All Whites' moment of truth has arrived.

After months of intense build-up, Ricki Herbert's men finally get a taste of World Cup football tonight when they play Slovakia in their Group F opener at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

Tonight's match will be an historic moment for New Zealand, who have not been to a World Cup in 28 years. And while the 1982 side failed to register a point in Spain, many experts believe the current crop of players can come away with a victory.

Headed by our in team in South Africa, nzherald.co.nz has everything you need to know for tonight's clash.

The Herald on Sunday's Michael Brown and the Herald's Chris Rattue have all the latest news out of the New Zealand camp, former All White Harry Ngata gives his expert opinion on what they need to do to win and current goalkeeper Glen Moss lets us know how the team is coping ahead of the biggest game of their lives.

Read what members of the 1982 side have to say, watch what the fans think and don't forget to send the team a message of support through our Your Views function.

There's also plenty of video and photos to keep you occupied until kick-off at 11.30pm, when we'll have live coverage throughout the night.

ALL WHITES v SLOVAKIA
11.30pm (NZT)
Royal Bafokeng Stadium,
Rustenburg

TAB odds: NZ $8, Slovakia $1.40, draw $4.10

All Whites
Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead, Winston Reid, Ivan Viceleich, Ryan Nelsen (captain), Simon Elliott, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen, Leo Bertos, Rory Fallon, Tommy Smith.

Substitutes: Ben Sigmund, Tim Brown, Andy Barron, Michael Mcglinchey, Aaron Clapham, David Mulligan, Andrew Boyens, Chris Wood, Jeremy Christie, Jeremy Brockie, James Bannatyne.
Suspended: Glen Moss.

Coach: Ricki Herbert

Slovakia
(from) Jan Mucha, Peter Pekarik, Martin Skrtel, Marek Cech, Radoslav Zabavnik, Zdenko Strba, Vladimir Weiss, Jan Kozak, Stanislav Sestak, Marek Sapara, Robert Vittek, Dusan Pernis, Filip Holosko, Martin Jakubko, Miroslav Stoch, Jan Durica, Marek Hamsik, Erik Jendrisek, Juraj Kucka, Kamil Kopunek, Kornel Salata, Martin Petras, Dusan Kuciak (GK),

Coach: Vladimir Weiss

Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)