From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| New Zealand |
|
|
| Nickname |
All Whites |
| Association |
Football New Zealand |
| Confederation |
OFC (Oceania) |
| Head coach |
 Ricki Herbert, 2005- |
| Most caps |
Steve Sumner (105) |
| Top scorer |
Vaughan Coveny (30) |
| FIFA code |
NZL |
| FIFA ranking |
129 |
| Highest FIFA ranking |
47 (August 2002) |
| Lowest FIFA ranking |
136 (September 1996) |
| Elo ranking |
73 |
|
|
First international
New Zealand 3 - 1 Australia 
(Dunedin, New Zealand; June 17, 1922) |
Biggest win
New Zealand 13 - 0 Fiji 
(Auckland, New Zealand; August 16, 1981) |
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 0 - 10 Australia
(Wellington, New Zealand; July 11, 1936) |
| World Cup |
| Appearances |
1 (First in 1982) |
| Best result |
Round 1, 1982 |
| OFC Nations Cup |
| Appearances |
7 (First in 1973) |
| Best result |
Winners, 1973, 1998, 2002 |
| Confederations Cup |
| Appearances |
2 (First in 1999) |
| Best result |
2nd round, 1999 and 2003 |
The New Zealand national football team, nicknamed the All Whites , is the national team of New Zealand and is controlled by New Zealand Soccer Inc (FootballNZ on 1st January 2007).
It has reached the World Cup Finals only once, in 1982, but lost all three games. Because of the lack of a high-quality domestic league, most talented New Zealand footballers ply their trade in the higher-class leagues of England, the United States, and Australia.
New Zealand usually battled Australia for top honours in the OFC. They won the OFC Nations Cup three times, in 1973, 1998, and 2002. In 2004, however, a 4-2 loss to Vanuatu not only denied them from meeting Australia in the final, but also eliminated them from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, with Australia's move to the Asian Football Confederation, New Zealand are now firm favourites to qualify for the final AFC qualifying stage in future World Cup cycles.[1] Their best known current players are Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen and Hibernian striker Chris Killen.
The white strip was originally based on the colour of England's strip and name is in contrast with the rugby union team, the All Blacks.
[edit] World Cup record
[edit] Oceania Nations Cup record
[edit] Current squad
[edit] Goalkeepers
[edit] Defenders
[edit] Midfielders
[edit] Strikers
[edit] Notable players
New Zealand born Rory Fallon is undecided on his nationality although it seems likely that he'll pledge alligence to the England National Football team.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Starting with the qualification cycle for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the winner of OFC qualifying will receive a place in the final AFC qualifying group.
[edit] External links
