All Whites ‘have to dominate’ qualifiers

The All Whites have to dominate their World Cup qualifiers against the Solomon Islands.

That’s the call from fullback Tom Doyle, who is one of 17 players in this week’s squad returning from the one that disappointed at the Confederations Cup in Russia in June.

‘‘This World Cup coming [in Russia next year], we’re accepting nothing less than going to it,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve had that mentality from day one. We want to achieve something the country’s never achieved, which is to go to a World Cup, and not just go to a World Cup, but qualify for the next round.

‘‘We’ve set ourselves very high standards, standards that maybe we didn’t live up to in Russia at times, but we’ve spoken about them, and we’ve got ourselves in a head space where we have to perform in these games, and we have to dominate these games, and then we have to take it to the fifthbest team in South America.’’

‘‘These games’’ are a pair of World Cup qualifiers against the Solomon Islands, on Friday at QBE Stadium in Auckland, and next Tuesday at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.

The winner of the home-andaway tie advances to an intercontinental playoff in November against the fifth-best South American team, which would be Argentina - home of the world’s best player, Lionel Messi - if it was decided today.

While they struggled at the Confederations Cup and in their friendlies prior to it, producing only one impressive half out of 10, the All Whites were comfortable the last time they played Oceania opposition, beating Fiji 2-0 home and away in March.

Doyle said the team had reflected on their efforts in June, and were ready to do their job this week, against a Solomon Islands team that has never beaten the All Whites in 10 attempts, and which has lost its three previous games on New Zealand soil 6-1, 6-1 and 5-1.

‘‘Everyone in the team’s on the same page and it’s exciting.

‘‘I feel like the country should be excited as well. We’ve got four massive games coming up in the next three months for the All Whites and it’s to go to the World Cup - the greatest stage in the world of football. Words can’t describe how excited I amfor that.’’

Doyle and the rest of the squad began assembling in Auckland on Sunday, but with players jetting in from Europe and the United States, they won’t come together completely until Wednesday, just over 48 hours before they are set to take the field for the first leg of this tie.

‘‘It’s about getting together straight away and getting that team unity,’’ said Doyle. ‘‘We don’t spend a lot of time together, so every minute we do is priceless.

‘‘It’s not like any other team in the world, playing for New Zealand. We very rarely get to see each other, so when we do, we feel that team spirit and that team bond, and it’s a team that really, really wants to achieve something, so I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got nothing but confidence that we’re going to win these games.’’

Doyle is one of three Wellington Phoenix players in the All Whites’ squad, alongside midfielder Michael McGlinchey and defender Andrew Durante.

The trio are in the middle of their first preseason under new coach Darije Kalezic.

‘‘It’s been exciting learning a new style of football to what I was used to with Ernie [Merrick, the former coach],’’ Doyle said.