Soccer: World champions await NZ's best

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert answers questions during yesterday’s World Cup squad announcement. Photo / Getty Images

There was one handy fairytale and another surprise in the World Cup soccer squad for the media to salivate over.

Yet as the throng drifted away from the Auckland Sky Tower after the team announcement, World Cup reality fell easily back into place. Excitement over. The sun is still shining but Italy, those pesky world champions, await.

Coach Ricki Herbert offered a humorous edge as he fielded questions about his squad. With the arduous selection process over, he looked relaxed.

The fact is that Herbert's humour would be sorely tested should he be forced to dig deep in South Africa, because some of his charges come from places incredibly far removed from even remote World Cup class.

Even Herbert's No 1 lineup, which holds amazing potential by New Zealand standards, will be rated among the tournament's greatest outsiders.

It is imperative that the main body of players who saw qualifying action against Bahrain dominate the charge in South Africa, with new young Europe-based defenders Tommy Smith and Winston Reid attached.

Even then, you can't help but recall that for all of the Bahrain glories, including that truly remarkable occasion in Wellington, the draw-win qualification was laced with significant good fortune.

Of the World Cup squad of 23, about 16 are the ones Herbert hopes to base his plans on in the Group F matches around Johannesburg.

And one man will dominate their hopes: should Ryan Nelsen fall injured, it would be a disaster.

The addition of Smith and Reid adds real and encouraging class to the All Whites. Ipswich defender Smith was an outstanding junior, good enough to play for England, and Denmark-based Reid is being looked at by Italian clubs, no minor matter.

There is also promise to the All Whites' forward line, although they did not sniff out chances against Bahrain or Mexico and there is still uncertainty over which combination from out of Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen, Rory Fallon and the rising Chris Wood is best.

The midfield is a problem though, even if Leo Bertos and Michael McGlinchey have encouraging creative energy.

The big surprise in Herbert's squad is Jeremy Christie, the former Phoenix midfielder, who hardly figured in the predictions and discussions last week.

Herbert, and assistants Brian Turner and Raul Blanco, talked over the final selections until about 2am yesterday - after the North Harbour trial match - and finalised them after only a shortish sleep.

This suggests a thorough appraisal, but not over confidence in who they had to choose from.

Christie can play at right back if Herbert - through injury - is forced away from his three-man operation. Fullback is a troublesome area, but Christie can hardly be suddenly rated a World Cup-class defender.

Defensive midfielder David Mulligan has made it on a diet of virtually no A-league soccer for the Phoenix in two years. Mulligan, released by the club, has been defended in recent days by Herbert, the Phoenix coach, but this A-league non-selection can't be ignored.

Jeremy Brockie has been inactive since January with a broken leg, and lasted 45 minutes in the trial match. Tony Lochhead is struggling back from a groin injury and operation.

Meanwhile, Aaron Scott is the only Bahrain beater to miss selection.

Let's be honest and say that in most of this, most of us might declare "in Herbert we must trust". New Zealand's players are spread far and wide, deep and high. This is not like the All Blacks, where vigorous debate and scrutiny can lie side by side.

And for all of his impressive NZFC work, how would anyone truly know if the fairytale pick, Aaron Clapham, is up to international soccer, let alone capable of the World Cup leap. New Zealand's resources are thin.

How about this for a red herring that could, by remote chance, leave red faces? Glen Moss, the country's top goalkeeper, will be suspended out of the opening games against Slovakia and Italy - concern enough.

There could be another problem. Injury replacements can only be made at least 24 hours before the first match.

So one injury would leave the All Whites with one keeper. Two injuries ... ouch.

Herbert and the management's preparation for South Africa has been painstaking, detailed and professional. In the end though, the quality of the players will decide their fate.

Herbert knows the reality. The World Cup is a place where you must walk the talk, where real fairytale stories do occur, but are rare and hard won.