Ricki Herbert has named a settled 20 man squad for the first two matches in the third stage of FIFA World Cup qualifying in September.
The All Whites open their campaign in Noumea on September 7 with the chance of exacting a modicum of revenge against a New Caledonia side that upset New Zealand in the semi finals of June's OFC nations Cup then head to Auckland on four days later to meet the Solomon Islands in the first home qualifier of the 2014 campaign.
Coach Ricki Herbert is predictably calling on his full range of overseas professionals for the two matches and while he largely has a full squad to choose from he has kept five players on standby to cover for injury with the A-League in pre-season and European competitions due to start.
The squad sees the return of new Queen's Park Rangers signing Ryan Nelsen, West Ham's Winston Reid and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Dan Keat who all missed OFC Nations Cup through injury. Nelsen, who will captain the side, is on course to play his 50th 'A' international in front of a home crowd in the fourth qualifier in Christchurch on October 16.
Otherwise the core of the squad is retained from the Nations Cup with teenager Tim Payne holding on to a spot in the travelling party after an impressive Olympic Games campaign in the holding midfield role.
Herbert says missing out on the Confederations Cup has only steeled the team's resolve to qualify for Brazil 2014.
"There are no easy games in international football - we've proved that in recent years and also had a timely reminder of it in Honiara," Herbert said.
"We need to be ruthless at home and clinical away during this campaign if we are serious about reaching a consecutive World Cup.
"A winning start to the campaign is vital as we don't want to open the door for anyone else to build momentum."
Following September's matches, the All Whites play Tahiti twice in October, then play New Caledonia and Solomon Islands again in March with the winner of the four team round robin progressing to a two-legged intercontinental playoff against a North and Central American nation for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
New Zealand Squad for September FIFA World Cup qualifiers (Club - caps/ goals)
Includes 'A' Internationals only
Goalkeepers
Glen MOSS (Wellington Phoenix - 19/0)
Mark PASTON (Wellington Phoenix - 32/0)
Defenders
Michael BOXALL (Wellington Phoenix - 7/0)
Tony LOCHHEAD (Wellington Phoenix - 38/0)
Ryan NELSEN (Captain / Queen's Park Rangers, ENG - 46/6)
Winston REID (West Ham United, ENG - 10/1)
Ben SIGMUND (Wellington Phoenix - 24/1)
Tommy SMITH (Ipswich Town, ENG - 16/1)
Ivan VICELICH (Auckland City - 80/6)
Midfielders
Kosta BARBAROUSES (Panathinaikos, GRE - 12/1)
Leo BERTOS (Wellington Phoenix - 45/0)
Jeremy BROCKIE (Wellington Phoenix - 31/0)
Dan KEAT (Los Angeles Galaxy, USA - 1/0)
Michael McGLINCHEY (Central Coast Mariners, AUS - 16/1)
Tim PAYNE (Blackburn Rovers, ENG - 4/0
Marco ROJAS (Melbourne Victory, AUS - 9/0)
Forwards
Rory FALLON (Aberdeen, SCO - 14/3)
Chris KILLEN (Chongqing, CHN - 43/12)
Shane SMELTZ (Perth Glory, AUS - 43/20)
Chris WOOD (West Bromwich Albion, ENG - 25/7)
Standby
Aaron CLAPHAM (Canterbury United - 9/0)
Jake GLEESON (Portland Timbers, USA - 6/0)
Ian HOGG (Portland Timbers, USA - 4/1)
Cameron HOWIESON (Burnley, ENG - 3/0)
Michael O'KEEFFE (Fairfield University, USA - 0/0)
Management Staff
Coach: Ricki HERBERT
Assistant Coach: Neil EMBLEN
Project Manager: Brian TURNER
Goalkeeping Coach: Clint GOSLING
Physiotherapist: Roland JEFFERY
Doctor: Mark FULCHER
Massage Therapist: Wade IRVINE
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Oceania Stage Three
Match day one
New Caledonia v New Zealand
Noumea, New Caledonia
Friday 7 September, 2012
Match day two
New Zealand v Solomon Islands
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Tuesday 11 September, 2012
Kickoff: 7:35pm
Live on Sky Sport
Tickets Prices - Adult/Children:
Covered reserved seating - $35/$15 pre-purchased ($45/$20 at the gate)
Uncovered reserved & GA open - $25/$10 pre-purchased ($35/$15 at the gate)
Tickets available from www.ticketek.co.nz and Ticketek outlets
Match day three
Tahiti v New Zealand
Papeete, Tahiti
Friday 12 October, 2012
Match day four
New Zealand v Tahiti
AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Tuesday 16 October, 2012
Kickoff: 7:35pm
Live on Sky Sport
Tickets Prices - Adult/Children:
Uncovered GA seating (East/West stands) $20/$10 pre-purchased ($30/$15 at the gate)
Covered reserved seating (North/South stands) $30/$15 pre-purchased ($40/$20 at the gate)
Tickets available from www.ticketek.co.nz and Ticketek outlets
Match day five
New Zealand v New Caledonia
Friday 22 March, 2012
Venue TBC
Match day six
Solomon Islands v New Zealand
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Tuesday 26 March
