Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.
Brazil 1982 with Careca, etc
Oceania All-Time Team
Australia
Croatian-Australian
If Ronaldo and Messi played for Australia in 2006
New Zealand is currently a member of FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The team's official nickname is the All Whites. New Zealand would become one of the founder members of the Oceania Football Confederation in 1966 which was founded between Charles Dempsey and his Australian colleague Jim Bayutti in founding the federation. The All Whites qualified for the 1982 World Cup, losing all three of its games by multiple goals. Their opponent included Brazil, which was considered one of the greatest national side that did not won the World Cup. In 2010, they also qualified for the World Cup Finals. They went home undefeated with three draws. They also won many OFC Nations Cup.
The rivalry between the Socceroos (Australia) and the All Whites (New Zealand) is part of a wider friendly rivalry between the geographical neighbours Australia and New Zealand, which applies not only to sport but to the culture of the two countries.
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| New Zealand World Cup 2010 |
Team
GK: Frank Van Hattum
Frank Van Hattum was capped 28 times for New Zealand. His international career started in 1980, and he played a total of 41 times for his country including unofficial matches. He started all of the All Whites' games at the World Cup Finals in 1982, despite not playing at the World Cup Qualifiers. He was voted as the second best keeper in Oceania's history(the list including Australian keepers).
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| Frank Van Hattum |
Kevin Curtin was capped 18 times for New Zealand's All Whites in 1970's. He made his international debut in 1972 against Australia. He was voted as 5th greatest keepers in Oceania's history. For club football, he played for Courier Rangers AFC and Mount Wellington in New Zealand.
GK: Richard Wilson
Despite being the only goalkeeper used during the 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign, he was replaced as starting goalkeeper for the finals tournament in Spain by Frank van Hattum. For a considerable time, Wilson held the record for most minutes without conceding a goal by a goalkeeper in any World Cup qualifying or finals tournament. He played his club football in New Zealand and Australia with a short stint with Lincoln FC in England.
RB: Winston Reid
Born in New Zealand, Winston Reid moved to Denmark at age of 10 with Danish stepfather. Both Reid's biological parents have Māori ancestry. He was capped by Denmark at the youth level. He started with FC Midtjylland. He joined West Ham in 2010. Since 2010, he plays for New Zealand internationally. He is the current captain of All-Whites. He was a part of their 2010 World Cup team.GK: Richard Wilson
Despite being the only goalkeeper used during the 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign, he was replaced as starting goalkeeper for the finals tournament in Spain by Frank van Hattum. For a considerable time, Wilson held the record for most minutes without conceding a goal by a goalkeeper in any World Cup qualifying or finals tournament. He played his club football in New Zealand and Australia with a short stint with Lincoln FC in England.
RB: Winston Reid
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| Winston Reid |
Glenn Dods played his club football for New Plymouth United, Moturoa United, Mt. Wellington and Blockhouse Bay in New Zealand. Between 1979 and 1984, he played for Adelaide City in Australia. He was a part of the All Whites squad that took part in the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals, playing against both USSR and Brazil. He had 22 caps between 1976 and 1982.
CB/LB: Chris Zoricich
Chris Zoricich had a spells with Leyton Orient in England between 1990 and 1993, but spent most of his career playing in Australia. At one point, he was signed by Chelsea. He was capped 57 times by the All-Whites between 1988 and 2003, including captaining them at the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico and the 2003 Confederations Cup in France.
CB: Ricki Herbert
Ricki Herbert was a key player for the World Cup Qualifiers as New Zealand qualified for Spain 1982, but he missed the first match vs Scotland in the Finals. He had 67 caps for the All-Whites. For his club career, he spent his career with Mt Wellington and Sydney United. He also spent two seasons with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England.
CB/DM: Ryan Nelsen Ricki Herbert was a key player for the World Cup Qualifiers as New Zealand qualified for Spain 1982, but he missed the first match vs Scotland in the Finals. He had 67 caps for the All-Whites. For his club career, he spent his career with Mt Wellington and Sydney United. He also spent two seasons with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England.
Ryan Nelsen spent his early career playing NCAA soccer in the United States. Professionally, he played for DC United in MLS, and Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspurs and Queens Park Rangers in England. From 1999 to 2013, he played 49 times for New Zealand. He was the All-Whites captain at the World Cup Finals in 2010, which was New Zealand's first appearance at the Finals since 1982. New Zealand earned 1-1 draw against reigning World Cup Holder Italy.
LB: Ron Armstrong
Armstrong played club football with North Shore United, Mt. Wellington and Eastern Suburbs AFC. He was briefly on the book of Aston Villa. From 1971 to 1983, he was capped 25 times. His father Ken Armstrong was a dual international representing both England and New Zealand, his brother Brian Armstrong also represented New Zealand and daughter Bridgette Armstrong represented New Zealand.
DM/CB: Ivan Vicelich
Ivan Vicelich is the all-time cap record-holder for All-Whites with 96 caps. He went to the World Cup Finals in 2010. For his domestic career, he had played for Football Kingz when they were playing in the Australian league. He also played for Roda in Holland and Shenzhen Ruby in China. With Auckland City FC, he played in the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup at UAE. He was the Oceania Footballer of the Year in 2009.
DM: Simon Elliott
Simon Elliott started his career in the United States playing college soccer with Stanford University. Professionally, he played for LA Galaxy, where he won the MLS Cup in 2002 and other clubs in the United States. He also played for Fulham in England and Wellington Pheonix in New Zealand. He payed 69 times for New Zealand. In 2008, he was one of New Zealand's overage players at the Beijing Olympics. He also went to the World Cup Finals in 2010.
CM: Kenneth Armstrong
Kenneth Armstrong played for Chelsea in England from 1946 to 1957. He played in over 400 games (including a then-club record 362 league games) for the West London club and scored 30 goals. In 1954, he was one of the standby players for England at the WC Finals in 1954. He did not travelled to Switzerland. He was capped once by England in 1955. He moved to New Zealand in 1957. He was later capped by New Zealand 9 times from 1958 to 1962.
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| Ryan Nelsen |
CB: Bobby Almond
Almond was a part of the Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur youth set-ups and a first team player for Walthamstow Avenue in the Isthmian League before he emigrated to New Zealand in 1973. He played for Christchurch United and Invercargill Thistle. He was a member the All Whites squad at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
LB/SW: Adrian Elrick
Born in Scotland, his family moved to New Zealand. Between 1975 and 1984, he played 53 times for New Zealand and went to the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain. He played in all three matches in the Finals. For his club career, he played his entire career with North Shore United in New Zealand between 1968 and 1984.LB/SW: Adrian Elrick
LB: Ron Armstrong
Armstrong played club football with North Shore United, Mt. Wellington and Eastern Suburbs AFC. He was briefly on the book of Aston Villa. From 1971 to 1983, he was capped 25 times. His father Ken Armstrong was a dual international representing both England and New Zealand, his brother Brian Armstrong also represented New Zealand and daughter Bridgette Armstrong represented New Zealand.
DM/CB: Ivan Vicelich
Ivan Vicelich is the all-time cap record-holder for All-Whites with 96 caps. He went to the World Cup Finals in 2010. For his domestic career, he had played for Football Kingz when they were playing in the Australian league. He also played for Roda in Holland and Shenzhen Ruby in China. With Auckland City FC, he played in the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup at UAE. He was the Oceania Footballer of the Year in 2009.
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| Ivan Vicelich |
Simon Elliott started his career in the United States playing college soccer with Stanford University. Professionally, he played for LA Galaxy, where he won the MLS Cup in 2002 and other clubs in the United States. He also played for Fulham in England and Wellington Pheonix in New Zealand. He payed 69 times for New Zealand. In 2008, he was one of New Zealand's overage players at the Beijing Olympics. He also went to the World Cup Finals in 2010.
CM: Kenneth Armstrong
Kenneth Armstrong played for Chelsea in England from 1946 to 1957. He played in over 400 games (including a then-club record 362 league games) for the West London club and scored 30 goals. In 1954, he was one of the standby players for England at the WC Finals in 1954. He did not travelled to Switzerland. He was capped once by England in 1955. He moved to New Zealand in 1957. He was later capped by New Zealand 9 times from 1958 to 1962.
CM: Steve Sumner
Steve Sumner played for Blackpool in England before moving to New Zealand. Sumner began his football as an apprentice at Blackpool before moving to New Zealand in 1973 to play for Christchurch United, winning the National League in his first year. He played for various clubs in New Zealand. Sumner was capped 58 by New Zealand. He was the captain of All-Whites at the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain.
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| Steve Summer |
Cole's senior career began with North Shore United before he moved to Australia to join Canberra City in the Australian National Soccer League. His club career was sandwiched between the two clubs. From 1978 to 1988, Cole played 58 times for the All Whites. He was a member of New Zealand's 1982 World Cup team. He played in all three games in Spain.
MF: Chris Jackson
Jackson began his senior career with Napier City Rovers. He subsequently moved to Melbourne Knights in 1992. He joined the Football Kingz when the team played in the A-League in 1999 captaining the first ever professional game in New Zealand soccer history. He was New Zealand Player of the Year:1992 and 1995. He earned 60 caps between 1990 and 2003.
RW/WF: Michael McGarry
His senior career began with Dunedin City in 1986 and later Mosgiel, before he moved to Australia to join Sydney Olympic in the National Soccer League. He returned to New Zealand after a single season to join Christchurch United where he won back-to-back Jack Batty Memorial Trophies. He had 56 caps for New Zealand between 1986 and 1997.
His senior career began with Dunedin City in 1986 and later Mosgiel, before he moved to Australia to join Sydney Olympic in the National Soccer League. He returned to New Zealand after a single season to join Christchurch United where he won back-to-back Jack Batty Memorial Trophies. He had 56 caps for New Zealand between 1986 and 1997.
AM/ST: Brian Turner
Born in England, Brian Turner moved to New Zealand as a child. He started his career in New Zealand, but returned to England in 1968, where he played for Chelsea, Portsmouth and Brentford. Turner was an integral member of the New Zealand side that qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, but he only played one match in the Finals.
ST: Shane Smeltz
Born in Germany of New Zealand parents, Shane Smeltz moved to Australia as a kid. He played for clubs in Australia before moving to play in England. He spent time at various clubs in the lower division and returned to play for Wellington Phoenix in 2007 and moved onward to other Australian club. He was the Oceania Footballer of the Year: 2007, 2008. Between 2003 and 2017, he played for the New Zealand national team. He went to the World Cup Finals in 2010.
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| Shane Smeltz |
ST: Jock Newell
Newall made his full All Whites debut in 1951 and ended his international playing career with 10 A-international caps and an incredible 16 goals to his credit. Including unofficial matches, Newall scored 28 goals in just 17 games for the All Whites, a record only exceeded only by Vaughan Coveny who scored 30, including 29 official international goals in 64 matches.
ST: Vaughan Coveny
Newall made his full All Whites debut in 1951 and ended his international playing career with 10 A-international caps and an incredible 16 goals to his credit. Including unofficial matches, Newall scored 28 goals in just 17 games for the All Whites, a record only exceeded only by Vaughan Coveny who scored 30, including 29 official international goals in 64 matches.
ST: Vaughan Coveny
Coveny is the all-time leading scorer for New Zealand. Coveny began his NSL career at the Melbourne Knights, then moved to Wollongong City, but the majority of his career was spent at South Melbourne in the NSL, and later on, Victorian Premier League. He also spent some time in the A-League, playing for the Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix. He scored over a 100 goals for South Melbourne FC.
Wynton Rufer is considered to be New Zealand's greatest player and he is the only footballer enshrined at the New Zealand Sport Hall of Flame. He was also named the Oceania Footballer of the Century. He was best remembered for his 6 seasons with Werder Bremen. He won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1991-1992. He also played in Switzerland and Japan. He was the youngest member of the World Cup team in 1982, where he played in all three matches.
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| Wynton Rufer |
Mark Paston, Clint Gosling, Jason Batty, Steve Wooddin, Bill Hume, Grant Turner, Tony Sibley, Danny Hay, Chris Wood, Keith Mackay, Dave Taylor, Allan Boath, Danny Halligan, Robert Ironside, John Wrathall, Marco Roja, Ceri Evans, Earle Thomas, Fred De Jong, Keith Nelson, Sarpreet Singh.
Squad Explanation
-- I created Oceania All-Time Team a few years ago before trying to do an Oceania All-time team.
-- Wynton Rufer was known as New Zealand's greatest player. He was rated as Oceania's greatest player before the emerge of Australia's Golden Generation in the 2000's. Steve Sumner, Winston Reid, Ryan Nelson and Simon Elliot are probably the other "sure-in" players.
-- Of the 22-man squad of the All-Whites team at the 1982 World Cup Finals, 11 members were born in the United Kingdom, including seven in England alone.
-- Frank Van Hattum, Steve Sumner, Richard Wilson, Glen Dods, Brian Turner, Bobby Almond, Wynton Rufer and Duncan Cole were on the 1982 World Cup team. Ron Armstrong was also from that era, but did not go to Spain.
-- In 2010, New Zealand returned home from the World Cup Finals undefeated with three draws. Winston Reid, Ivan Vicelich, Simon Elliot, Shane Smeltz, and Ryan Nelson from that team made this squad.
-- A large number of players selected here is foreign-born. I did not do a survey of every single all-time teams I selected. I assumed this is probably the highest number of foreign-born players of all national blog teams I created. Steve Sumner, Ken Armstrong, Ron Armstrong, Adrian Elrick, Bobby Almond, Duncan Cole, Brian Turner, Shane Smeltz and Joc Newall were born outside New Zealand.
-- Manager Bobby Clark took over the head coach of Stanford University in 1996 after coaching New Zealand. Clark began recruiting in New Zealand. Both Ryan Nelsen and Simon Elliott played for him at Stanford
-- Michael McGarry was left off my Oceania All-time team. He probably deserved to be there.
-- Frank Van Hattum was voted as the second best keeper in history (including Australian goalkeepers) of Oceania. He was followed by Kevin Curtin on the list. Richard Wilson is sometimes known as New Zealand's greatest goalkeeper. I went with him over Mark Paston whom I originally believed to be New Zealand's third greatest goalkeepers.
-- I want to select fullnack Tony Sibley because I want to spread the team across different generations. He played before the 1982 World Cup's generation. But I only put him on honorable mention. The same applied to John Wrathall,
-- Ceric Evans played for Oxford United between 1989 and 1994. I put him on honorable mention only.
-- Grant Turner was injured during the 1982 World Cup Finals. He missed an opportunity to showcase his talents on the biggest stage of his career. I do not think he is related to Brian Turner.
-- Ron Armstrong is the son of Kenneth Armstrong, who also represented England. Kenneth played over 360 games for Chelsea, a record for the club at the time.
-- A large number of players selected here is foreign-born. I did not do a survey of every single all-time teams I selected. I assumed this is probably the highest number of foreign-born players of all national blog teams I created. Steve Sumner, Ken Armstrong, Ron Armstrong, Adrian Elrick, Bobby Almond, Duncan Cole, Brian Turner, Shane Smeltz and Joc Newall were born outside New Zealand.
-- Manager Bobby Clark took over the head coach of Stanford University in 1996 after coaching New Zealand. Clark began recruiting in New Zealand. Both Ryan Nelsen and Simon Elliott played for him at Stanford
-- Michael McGarry was left off my Oceania All-time team. He probably deserved to be there.
-- Frank Van Hattum was voted as the second best keeper in history (including Australian goalkeepers) of Oceania. He was followed by Kevin Curtin on the list. Richard Wilson is sometimes known as New Zealand's greatest goalkeeper. I went with him over Mark Paston whom I originally believed to be New Zealand's third greatest goalkeepers.
-- I want to select fullnack Tony Sibley because I want to spread the team across different generations. He played before the 1982 World Cup's generation. But I only put him on honorable mention. The same applied to John Wrathall,
-- Ceric Evans played for Oxford United between 1989 and 1994. I put him on honorable mention only.
-- Grant Turner was injured during the 1982 World Cup Finals. He missed an opportunity to showcase his talents on the biggest stage of his career. I do not think he is related to Brian Turner.
-- Ron Armstrong is the son of Kenneth Armstrong, who also represented England. Kenneth played over 360 games for Chelsea, a record for the club at the time.
--Wynton Rufer was voted by Oceania as the "Player of the Century"(including Australian players) Brian Turner and Kenneth Armstrong also made the top 20. The poll was conducted before the emerge of Australia's Golden Generation.
-- Chris Wood and Marco Rojas would make this team one day.
-- New Zealanders seldom play for a major club around the world. So Sarpreet Singh probably would make it too one day.
-- Born in Scotland, Bill Hume represented both New Zealand and Australia in the 1950's. He made honorable mention.
-- Vaughan Coveny is the all-time leading scorer for New Zealand.
-- I do not know much about Jock Newell. He was New Zealand's all-time leading scorer until Vaughan Coveny broke his record in 2006. I also selected him because he belonged to a different era. I believed in spreading the team around. So I took him over Steve Wooddin.
Formation
-- Chris Wood and Marco Rojas would make this team one day.
-- New Zealanders seldom play for a major club around the world. So Sarpreet Singh probably would make it too one day.
-- Born in Scotland, Bill Hume represented both New Zealand and Australia in the 1950's. He made honorable mention.
-- Vaughan Coveny is the all-time leading scorer for New Zealand.
-- I do not know much about Jock Newell. He was New Zealand's all-time leading scorer until Vaughan Coveny broke his record in 2006. I also selected him because he belonged to a different era. I believed in spreading the team around. So I took him over Steve Wooddin.
Formation
Wilson
ReplyDeleteHerbert Nelsen Elrick
Vicelich
Coveny Sumner Mark-Burton Wooddin
Rufer Newall
Burton was the best player at OFC 1998.
Coveny is mentioned to be adept at the winger position on occasion but it's speculative. Atleast he is another tall player that can score from a Wooddin corner kick.
The 82 qualification campaign I valued the most.