Soccer: Path to World Cup looks preordained

Destiny?: Tony Lochhead was born in 1982. Photo / Getty Images

If fate had anything to do with it, the All Whites were always going to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Of the 11 who started against Bahrain in Wellington last November, seven were born during the All Whites' successful campaign for the 1982 World Cup.

That campaign didn't officially start until the 3-3 draw with Australia at Mt Smart on Anzac Day 1981 but many point to the 4-0 win over Mexico at Mt Wellington's Bill McKinley Park in August 1980 as to where it all began.

It was when coach John Adshead first had Kevin Fallon beside him as his assistant after a period of dreadful results (they were beaten by, among others, Fiji and Tahiti) and marked a turnaround in fortunes that eventually took them to the Big Show in Spain in 1982.

It was also the day current All Whites coach Ricki Herbert made his debut at centre back and striker Brian Turner, now Herbert's right-hand man, scored twice.

Perhaps expectant mums and dads around the country got caught up in the Road to Spain and it passed on to their unborn children. In Rory Fallon's case, it was much more than that.

In reality, the coincidence probably has more to do with the fact 27-28 is a peak age for a footballer.

Whatever the reason, Tony Lochhead, Ben Sigmund, Tim Brown, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen, Leo Bertos and Rory Fallon, who all started against Bahrain, were born in 1981 or 1982.

Mark Paston and Ivan Vicelich were both born in 1976 and Ryan Nelsen 1977, making midfielder Michael McGlinchey the only starter born after the 1982 World Cup.

Add in David Mulligan (1982) and Andy Barron (December 1980) and there is a good flavour of Spain '82.

Does that mean New Zealand will qualify again in 2038 as New Zealanders get intoxicated by this World Cup?

Year born of All Whites squad that faced Bahrain:

1974: Simon Elliott.

1975: James Bannatyne.

1976: Mark Paston, Ivan Vicelich.

1977: Ryan Nelsen.

1980: Andy Barron.

1981: Leo Bertos, Tim Brown, Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz, Ben Sigmund.

1982: Tony Lochhead, Rory Fallon, David Mulligan.

1983: Andy Boyens.

1986: Aaron Scott.

1987: Michael McGlinchey.

1991: Chris Wood.