Andy Barron in his All White kit at the FIFA Confederations Cup in July. Photo Credit: Ron Gaunt/NZ Football.
By Jamie Melbourne-Hayward
Two Petone football stars have been named in what is being called the most important 19-man All White squad in decades. Mid-fielder Andy Barron and goalkeeper James Ballantyne have been selected to face Bahrain, with the winner progressing to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. ?Playing on the world stage, something the whole world watches, that is a massive deal,? says Mr Barron. Both players make up New Zealand?s most hopeful team since the All Whites last qualified for the World Cup in 1982. The team is potentially one game away from qualifying for the World Cup, and Mr Barron is optimistic. After playing at the Confederate Cup Tournament in South Africa in July, he says the team is high on confidence after securing their first-ever FIFA Confederations Cup point from a goalless draw with Asian champions Iraq. ?They hold the cup one year before the world cup, as a build up. ?We got our first point drawing with Iraq at the Confederate competition, and that was a big step for us,? he says. A highlight from the tournament was when one All White player ?Nutmegged? (played the ball between legs) an Italian player and nearly scored. ?The team also faced up against Spain, they had some top premier league guys. And we played Italy in a friendly. They were very challenging,? says Mr Barron. He says buoyed by the fact All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has been at the helm for four years, and is finally able to pull together professional New Zealand players from around the world. The likes of Glasgow Celtic striker Chris Killen and other professional league players are available for the world cup qualifier. ?It means there is more competition in the squad, and that helps us give it our best shot,? says MR Barron. The Second Leg of the World Cup qualifier will be held at Westpac Stadium, 8pm, November 14, New Zealand v Bahrain.
