Michael Brown: World Cup performers polish up acts

Simon Elliott. Photo / Getty Images

The World Cup is the biggest show on the planet and, for players, the football pitch is a stage - and the audience not just fans.

A handful of All Whites will be hoping, a bit like actors, that they deliver their lines beautifully because for players like Simon Elliott and Chris Killen it will have a large bearing on their future employment.

Elliott could be the only player in a World Cup starting XI who doesn't currently have a club. The midfielder was cut by San Jose on the eve of the MLS season, limiting his chances of finding another club, and has been unemployed since.

He trained with his old club, LA Galaxy, to keep fit but because he was always going to go to South Africa with the All Whites meant few clubs were likely to sign a player who was about to leave them for at least six weeks.

Killen, too, is on the lookout for another contract. He is in talks with Middlesbrough to return to the Championship side next season but nothing is guaranteed. A couple of goals in the next 10 days might help them make up their mind, as well as spark interest elsewhere.

David Mulligan was cut from the Phoenix last season and has a more difficult task trying to convince a club of his worth given he's unlikely to see any game time at the World Cup. He's not likely to pick up another A-League contract, because he would have to be signed as an import, so a return to the lower leagues in England might be his best chance.

Others like Rory Fallon and Shane Smeltz will be hoping to impress so that the offers come rolling in.

Smeltz, a two-time A-League golden boot and Player of the Year, has been linked with moves to Turkey, Japan and China and has made no secret of the fact he would like to test himself at a higher level.

Fallon wants to play in the English Premier League - not inconceivable if he has a good World Cup. His game is suited to English football.

Then there's coach Ricki Herbert who'll have plenty of suitors if the All Whites succeed.

"For every player, the World Cup is the biggest shop window possible," Killen says. "Especially for me, my contract is due to expire next month so hopefully it will be a great time for me.

"[Boro] are in talks with my agent but if we can't agree anything there then we will see if a few doors open. I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League. That was my No 1, to play for Liverpool. You have to keep working hard and doing well and hopefully things work out."

He has been linked with moves to Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion but, if they don't pan out, Killen has a plan.

The 28-year-old has a passion for cooking and had to turn down an invitation to appear on England's Celebrity MasterChef because it clashed with football.

"I would love to open my own restaurant one day," he says. "It's something I am really passionate about.

"When I finish football it will definitely be something I will look to go into.

"Over the years I have had a lot of spare time. I have probably watched every cooking show under the sun. It's the first thing I put on when I get home. I have become good friends with a lot of people who own restaurants, so it's something I am really looking forward to when it's all over."

It's likely to be over sooner for Elliott than most in the All Whites. He turned 36 on Thursday, a day before the World Cup kicked off, and that number often scares coaches.

Elliott doesn't think it has to be that way: "I would like to keep playing after the World Cup," he says. "On the surface, if you look at the age, it's what it is. But if you dig deeper, it's not an issue.

"It's not like I have been playing professionally since I was 16 or anything. I started a bit later. I had the Achilles injuries so now they are brand new. The body feels good and there's juice in the tank.

"There's nothing I can do about [another contract] so I'm not going to worry about it. I just made this the focus and we will sort that out when we get back.

"You can say we're in the shop window but I think that's putting the cart before the horse. If the team does well, then people will start asking questions. If you think it's all about you, it's kind of the wrong way around.

"If you can do well in a team people will look at reasons for that. There are a lot of people watching games but I don't think I will be the focus."

He might not be the main attraction, but people will be watching. It's been estimated that a cumulative audience of 30 billion will tune into the World Cup. There ought to be a fair few scouts among them.