Soccer: Cup veteran in spotlight

By TERRY MADDAFORD

World Cup fever has followed the New Zealand team on their tour of China, and assistant coach - and 1982 All White - Ricki Herbert is the centre of unexpected attention.

Herbert, a member of the team who put China out at the final qualifying hurdle in Singapore 20 years ago, has been interviewed by the Chinese media.

Unfortunately the story appeared in one newspaper accompanied by a photograph of his old team-mate Grant Turner, rather than Herbert.

Yesterday, the day after the team's come-from-behind 2-2 draw with a Chinese Olympic selection in the tour opener in Beijing, Herbert, coach Mick Waitt and the rest of the national side visited the Great Wall of China.

For Herbert, it rekindled memories of a similar visit in 1981 - after a 0-0 draw in the same city - when striker Steve Wooddin was confined to bed after being concussed.

Told by coach John Adshead that he would have to miss the visit to the Great Wall, Wooddin replied:

"The wall. What wall? You've seen one wall, you've seen them all."

The visit gave Waitt the chance to reflect on a solid first-up effort and to look ahead to Sunday's game against ShanDongLeung, one of the top C-League sides in China.

"The Olympic side were stronger than we might have expected," said Waitt.

"They had three players just back from the World Cup, including one who had played in all three games in Korea.

"It was just the sort of workout we wanted even if the conditions were hot and very humid.

"We started very well but the oppressive conditions hit us towards the end of the first half and nine minutes into the second spell we were 2-0 down.

"From then on we came back strongly to score two good goals."

The first goal came from a Kris Bouckenooghe header in the 62nd minute and captain Chris Zoricich got the equaliser, with the assistance of a slight deflection, from a freekick 13 minutes later.

Waitt was pleased with the team, identifying Aaran Lines, Gerard Davis and Mark Burton as having particularly pleased him.



Goalkeeper Jason Batty did well enough making what Waitt described as three very good saves, including a diving effort in a one-on-one confrontation.

Waitt has yet to name his team for the second and last game, but he confirmed James Bannatyne would be in goal.

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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