Soccer: Injury puts Hay out of World Cup campaign

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Danny Hay is out of New Zealand's World Cup campaign, but will continue playing for his injury-hit English premier club Leeds United.

Hay, who had been expected to return to international football after making himself unavailable for recent internationals, yesterday advised All Whites coach Ken Dugdale that he had to withdraw from the squad because of a groin injury.

Hay told Dugdale he would not be able to play the World Cup games because he had to give himself enough time to recover, NZ Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan said.

"In an ideal world he would not be playing at all, but they are really stretched and he is playing some reserve team football."

As expected, the 20-man squad named for the June 4-13 World Cup qualifiers at North Harbour Stadium has a strong overseas content.

European-based Ivan Vicelich, Scott Smith, Gavin Wilkinson, Jason Batty, Kris Bouckenooghe and Chris Killen will be joined by Ryan Nelsen and Simon Elliott, who play in the American MLS, and Australian-based Chris Zoricich, Mark Atkinson and Vaughan Coveny.

Eight Football Kingz players and one from the domestic national league - Central goalkeeper Ross Nicholson - are also included.

Missing from the original squad are Napier goalkeeper Mark Paston and Barnsley-based Leo Bertos, who had made themselves unavailable.

Vicelich, Nelsen, Elliott and Coveny have club commitments next month and will miss the away warm-up game in Singapore, on May 22, but may play in the matches against New Zealand federation teams on May 28 (in Wanganui) and May 31 (at North Harbour Stadium).

Chris Zoricich, who finishes his NSL season with Newcastle tomorrow, has been named captain.

The winner of the Auckland-based World Cup qualifiers tournament will play Australia home and away. That winner will meet the fifth-placed South American side for the last place in the 32-team World Cup in Korea and Japan next year.

All Whites: Ross Nicholson (Central), Jason Batty (Scunthorpe, UK), Scott Smith (Woking, UK), Sean Douglas (Kingz), Ivan Vicelich (Roda, Holland), Ryan Nelsen (DC United, US), Chris Zoricich (capt, Newcastle, Australia), Jonathan Perry (Kingz), Mark Atkinson (Eastern Pride, Australia), Simon Elliott (LA Galaxy, US), Mark Burton (Kingz), Chris Jackson (Kingz), Aaran Lines (Kingz), Gavin Wilkinson (Kilkenny, UK), Jeff Campbell (Kingz), Gerard Davis (Kingz), Kris Bouckenooghe (Roeselare, Belgium), Vaughan Coveny (South Melbourne, Australia), Chris Killen (Manchester City, UK), Paul Urlovic (Kingz).