Soccer: Fallon named in All Whites squad

Rory Fallon has been named in the All Whites squad to play Mexico next month. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Coach Ricki Herbert today included all his frontline players, including striker Rory Fallon, for the All Whites' World Cup soccer warm-up match against Mexico in Los Angeles next month.

England-based Fallon, who scored the goal against Bahrain in November that booked New Zealand's place in South Africa, has been involved in a club-versus-country tug-of-war over his availability for the March 3 fixture.

Fallon plays for English championship club Plymouth Argyle, who are fighting relegation.

Herbert said he had a "good conversation" with Argyle coach Paul Mariner last week and hadn't heard any more from him.

"I'm assuming they've understood and respected our position, as we've understood and respected their position too," he said.

"But there is only one Fifa window and the World Cup doesn't come around every year."

Missing from the 17-man squad heading to California are defender Ivan Vicelich and goalkeeper Mark Paston, both part of the defensive effort that kept Bahrain scoreless over 180 minutes.

Vicelich is suspended for one friendly after picking up a red card against Jordan in September, while Paston is out with injury.

Goalkeeper Glen Moss, who missed the Bahrain tie through suspension and will also be unavailable for the first two World Cup pool games, returns as Paston's replacement.

Meanwhile, newcomers Tommy Smith and Olympic Games standout Craig Henderson are given chances to push for a ticket to South Africa.

Smith, 19, a left-sided central defender and former England age-group player, last year declared his allegiance to New Zealand, where he spent part of his childhood.

He is on loan to English League One side Brentford from Championship club Ipwich Town, who are managed by Roy Keane.

"Tommy has been flagged for a wee while now," Herbert said.

"He's played a lot at Championship level and I think he will be a fantastic acquisition to this group."

As for attacking midfielder Henderson, Herbert said the coaching staff felt the time was right to bring him into the squad.

Henderson, 22, a recent graduate from Dartmouth University in the United States, has signed for newly promoted Swedish premier league side Mjallby.

The addition of Smith and Henderson means no place for Aaron Scott and David Mulligan, who were both in the squad against Bahrain, although neither came off the bench.

However, with 23 players to go to South Africa, Herbert said both remained in World Cup reckoning.

The match against Mexico, who have also qualified for South Africa, will be the All Whites' first since they completed the 1-0 aggregate victory over Bahrain and Herbert wanted to make the most of it.

"We haven't played for nearly four months now and we could be a little rusty," he said.

"It's incredibly important that we get the players in now and set the tone for the future, and hence the reason why we've picked a very tough team to play against."

Preparation time will be limited, with the travel schedule allowing for just one training session between the All Whites' assembling and kick-off.

New Zealand Football have already confirmed games for the All Whites against Serbia and Slovenia in Europe in late May.

It is looking at other options before then, although they would not involve European-based players.

New Zealand squad to face Mexico (club, caps/goals in brackets)

Goalkeepers
Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory, Australia - 15/0)
James Bannatyne (Team Wellington - 5/0)

Defenders
Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix - 29/0)
Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers, England / Captain - 41/9)
Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls, USA - 15/0)
Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix - 12/1)
Tommy Smith (Brentford, England - 0/0)

Midfielders
Andy Barron (Team Wellington - 13/1)
Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix - 30/0)
Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix - 27/0)
Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes, USA - 69/8)
Michael McGlinchey (Motherwell, Scotland - 3/0)
Craig Henderson (Mjllby AIF, Sweden - 0/0)

Forwards
Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United, Australia - 32/17)
Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle, England - 3/2)
Chris Killen (Middlesbrough, England - 35/17)
Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion, England - 5/0)

- NZPA