Soccer: Brown's fitness key question

All White David Mulligan outfoxes Chile's Matias Fernandez during yesterday's practice match. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The fitness of Tim Brown is the unknown factor as Ricki Herbert prepares to name his first World Cup side, to play Slovakia on Tuesday.

A fit Brown, a favourite son in Herbert's club and country planning, would run out on to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, with Jeremy Christie making way for the team's vice-captain.

Brown arrives in Johannesburg today, having been cleared by a specialist after three screws were inserted two weeks ago to repair his fractured shoulder.

Herbert still wants to check out Brown's fitness, and the odds are probably against him making the first World Cup game. Herbert was not even able to totally guarantee that Brown would be part of the World Cup squad, when questioned after yesterday's 2-0 loss to Chile.

Then again, the odds were against Brown getting to South Africa, after he damaged the right shoulder against Australia in Melbourne on May 24.

"He's done remarkably well to get himself on the plane," said Herbert. "We can assess it through training - whether it's first up or not first up. We're all delighted ... At this stage I'd say he's 90 per cent [to return to the squad] but don't shoot me if he's not."

Adjusting to the higher altitude might also work against an immediate return for Brown, along with jetlag.

But he offers more than Christie, who made a surprise return when the World Cup squad was named, and also has a readymade combination with Simon Elliott.

Presuming that Brown is in the squad, but that the second game against Italy becomes a more realistic target for his return, a likely initial starting lineup is: Mark Paston, Winston Reid, Ryan Nelsen, Tommy Smith, Leo Bertos, Simon Elliott, Jeremy Christie, Tony Lochhead, Shane Smeltz, Rory Fallon and Chris Killen.

This would mean regular defenders Ben Sigmund and Ivan Vicelich miss the cut.

Vicelich is apparently also a defensive midfield option, having been used in that role against Chile.

But Sigmund struggled against the quick and skilled Chile attackers and did not get a ringing endorsement from the coach after the match.

"It was tough for Ben today - South American sides are always going to be a little bit more on the ball. And he hasn't had a blowout since Australia," said Herbert.

While the Chile game was portrayed as an insignificant training run, it did act as a reminder of how New Zealand are not well suited to playing South American sides.

The All Whites, who play Paraguay in their final group game, struggled against the speed, skill and ball movement of the Chilean players.

The great news is that the All Whites are injury free, and while outplayed by Chile, again showed their ability to create some chances, though unable to nail the opportunities.

"I want to see more spark up front and we've got some excellent personnel there," said Herbert. "Once they gel ... we have created chances against arguably some of the best teams in the world and that could represent our roll of the dice in the World Cup."