Allan Jones: First-up side huge task for Herbert

Ricki Herbert. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Now the acid test has arrived. The first game of the World Cup is nigh - and Ricki Herbert has his most important task: selection.

If he gets this wrong, then all the excellent build-up and coaching sessions go out the window. Much of the team selects itself and, as we have seen over the past few international matches, we are competing well.

Winning games, however, will be so much more difficult than the friendly build-up games we have observed.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston does not seem to be under any threat from James Bannatyne, and with Glen Moss unavailable, Paston is very much the sitting tenant. The back three will be headed and organised by Ryan Nelsen with probably Tommy Smith alongside.

But who will be third member of that important trio? The choice would seem to lie between a young and relatively inexperienced Winston Reid or an older and more battle-hardened Ben Sigmund.

Reid has a tendency to be erratic and lunge at opponents when a cool head is very much required in the opening match.

For this reason I would go with Sigmund. He can slide over to right back quite comfortably as he has done for many Phoenix matches. This would give a better defensive balance on the right, if needed, allowing Bertos to get forward with greater effect.

An even greater mystery surrounds the midfield. Tony Lochhead and Leo Bertos will occupy the flank positions but clever selection will be needed to get the right combination in the two central spots.

I feel Herbert will want the experienced Simon Elliott for his usual varied passing range but will he opt for an energetic Jeremy Christie or the know-how of Ivan Vicelich?

Whilst Vicelich is a good reader of the game, the question is whether he has still got the legs to do for New Zealand what he did so effectively for Roda J.C. and RKC Waalwijk in the Dutch League for many seasons.

Maybe the training match against Chile, supposedly behind closed doors earlier this week, held the answer to that conundrum.

For me, energy wins. There is going to be a lot of unselfish running required in the first match and a fair proportion of tracking of opposition midfield players into our deep defensive areas. Vicelich could be brought on later when the sting is out of the game and calmness is key.

The selection of the front three should not prove too difficult. Rory Fallon should lead the line as he did so effectively in the lead-up games. He will be aided and abetted by Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen.

It was interesting to note Killen did a full hour against Chile, so this should give him a solid foundation to attack the Slovakians with gusto.

We are fortunate that the bench is shaping well and the younger players, whom I assume have been earmarked for future competitions, are well able to step into the more recognised players' boots if needs be.

It also shows the strength of this squad when Vicelich, who recently received the Oceania Football Confederation player of the Year Award, is not guaranteed a place in the team to start our campaign.

Some commentators are making much of the name All Whites and then go on to comment how we have been playing in all black of late. For goodness' sake, we are a national football team, not an All-American franchise competing in some otherwise obscure sport.

What is wrong with calling ourselves New Zealand? It is the country that stands behind the team and hopefully it will be the country that stands proudly alongside it in victory against Slovakia.