Bahrain media demand victory against 'bruisers'

Desperation in Bahrain is soaring that their national soccer team beat New Zealand in Saturday's World Cup soccer qualifier, if their local media is any guide.

A report in the Gulf Weekly newspaper speculated that Bahrainis in their thousands will rise on Saturday morning to watch the game on television " knowing our football-crazy country could be just 90 minutes away from making the dream of playing in next year's finals in South Africa a reality".

After a goalless encounter in Manama last month, the report said coach Milan Macala's men "simply must not lose" the return leg in Wellington.

The scale of the challenge was given a colourful spin by the newspaper.

"The game will be played in gusting winds, on a boggy pitch against a bunch of bruisers who want to stamp their authority on the tie," the report read.

"Groundsmen are understood to be planning to further soak the pitch should it look like drying because they believe playing on a heavy surface will prove advantageous to the home side."

Macala, 65, said he and his team won't be affected by any pre-match mind games or difficult conditions at Westpac Stadium, which will seat a New Zealand record crowd of 35,500.

"The players do not feel intimidated at all about the new environment or the weather conditions. In fact, it is easier for footballers to play in the cold. They soon warm up!" he said.

"Everyone is feeling good about the upcoming game and I believe we have a pretty good chance."

Macala was disappointed his team aren't bringing the advantage of a home victory with them after dominating most of the first game but said it left the tie on a knife-edge.

"If we score once it means they have to score twice. This is an important moment for us and we cannot afford to lose," he said.

"We have to forget about what happened in Bahrain and the missed chances and focus on our next game."

Bahrain are undergoing a three-day training camp in Sydney and are due to arrive in Wellington tomorrow.

Just before leaving home, they cantered to a 5-1 defeat of Togo in a warmup match, with Abdullah Fatai and Ismail Abdullateef both scoring twice while Hussain Baba grabbed the other.

- NZPA