Perhaps it was fitting Spain defeated the All Whites in all three Otago Daily Times Mini World Cup matches at the Oval on Saturday.
But the "kids" were definitely the winners on the day, tournament organiser Wilson James said.
"It was a really successful day," he said.
"We had approximately 500 kids, around 1200 supporters, we played 96 games and had an additional three mini internationals.
The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves."
The mini World Cup tournament for 5-7 year-olds was organised by Footballsouth to celebrate the All Whites' impressive effort at the World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.
New Zealand Football chairman and former All Whites keeper Frank van Hattum and All White Aaron Clapham arrived at the tournament by helicopter and spent the morning signing autographs and posing for pictures.
"Their job description was to mingle, socialise and talk to as many players and parents throughout the morning.
They carried that off with an excellent pass mark. There were a lot of photos and autographs."
Also on show at the tournament was a replica World Cup, which proved hugely popular.
Turns out the porcelain look-alike was "worth thousands of dollars".
"It is one of those Antique Roadshow stories.
"He [Barry White, local football personality and former national league player] bought it for $10 or $15 from a secondhand shop and it's been valued at thousands of dollars.
"It is a genuine replica from a famous factory in Italy which makes special designs. And the kids have been doing laps of honour with it," James laughed.
As for the Spanish whitewash.
"Well," James said "that's why they are world champs, I guess."
