Soccer: Nelsen tips new ball will worry cup keepers

All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen predicts a rough ride for the World Cup goalkeepers because of the new football to be used in the tournament which starts next week.

But he and fellow veteran Simon Elliott have refused to join the controversy over the adidas Jabulani, which has been given a decent kicking by a host of players from other countries.

"It floats a bit differently and has its own unique trajectory. There could be some really interesting goals - the keepers are worried men. When you hit it right, it moves a mile," said Nelsen last night from Austria.

"In baseball you have what is called the knuckle ball and this ball can wobble like that. The keepers can't get set properly - they have to wait until the last moment.

"But you can control it. It just takes a while to get used to, although you feel it travels quicker sometimes compared to others, even though you hit it the same.

"We don't think of it as a problem though - just different. We were all talking about the ball the first day of training, not so much the second day, and now nobody brings it up."

Goalkeepers, including England's David James, would love to hurl the ball away because of its erratic behaviour and outfield players have also complained that it is hard to control, particularly at higher altitudes where many games in South Africa will be played.

Elliott, an international for 15 years, reckoned the fuss would die down come World Cup kick-off time.

"Before every World Cup someone says the ball is doing this and that. When the tournament hits, everyone forgets about it.

"If the ball flies a bit differently and there are more goals scored, that's good. We've got good strikers so it won't worry us."

Meanwhile Nelsen will reassess his All Whites role after the World Cup.

He said a World Cup appearance had always been his goal. "I'll sit down and have a little reflect afterwards," he said. "While I'm playing I'll always be open to New Zealand football although maybe not in the same role."