Soccer: All Whites named for World Cup playoff

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has named a predictable squad for the first leg of the World Cup playoff against Bahrain. Photo / Getty Images

All Whites coach Riki Herbert has named a predictable squad to face Bahrain in the first leg of the World Cup Asia-Oceania soccer playoffs in Manama on October 11 (NZT).

Herbert today named a squad of 19 for the first of two matches against Bahrain, the second of them in Wellington on November 14.

Ryan Nelsen will captain a team who are relatively unchanged from the squad who beat Jordan 3-1 in a `friendly' in Amman last month.

Striker Rory Fallon and attacking midfielder Michael McGlinchey retain their places after impressive debuts in that match while Chris Killen and Chris Wood - late withdrawals from that squad through injury - come back into the mix.

The only change from the squad named for Jordan is the addition of Auckland City goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley as cover for Mark Paston and James Bannatyne.

Goalkeeper Glen Moss was the only player unavailable for selection due to a four-match World Cup suspension earned in the All Whites' final Oceania group qualifier against Fiji last November.

This is the 14th squad named by Herbert since he became national coach in 2005.

"This is absolutely the biggest one yet," Herbert said.

"You know we've had opportunities over the last four years to shape the team to where it's got to now."

Moss' unavailability aside, Herbert has finally enjoyed the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from, something that had so far eluded him.

"I think that's been the biggest frustrations over my time is not been able to have the best side together for a long period of time but the flipside is that some other players have been given opportunities and some have really solidified their position in the team."

Nelsen, McGlinchey, Fallon and Spoonley are the only players in the squad who did not travel to South Africa for the Confederations Cup in June.

Herbert and the New Zealand-based players leave later this week for Dubai where the squad will train until October 9.

All Whites squad
James Bannatyne (Wellington), Mark Paston (Wellington), Jacob Spoonley (Auckland City), Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), David Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers, captain), Aaron Scott (Waitakere United), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City), Andy Barron (Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Celtic), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion).

- NZPA