McGlinchey expecting a hard road trip
MICHAEL McGlinchey isn’t too fazed about Andy Martin firing up Peruvian fans.
The New Zealand Football chief executive asked for Kiwi fans to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the Peruvian national team when they play the first leg of the World Cup intercontinental playoff in Wellington on November 11.
That was answered with anger by Peruvian football fans, who posted a video showing themselves preparing for a ‘‘battle’’ against another national team and having an all-night party, including setting off fireworks, outside an opposition’s team hotel in the nights before a match.
But that didn’t worry McGlinchey.
He’s seen plenty in his 12-year professional career, including one helluva hostile welcome when the All Whites played the first leg of the 2013 World Cup playoff against Mexico in Mexico City.
‘‘On the bus on the way to the game there was people giving us the death sign [makes throat slitting gesture],’’ he said.
‘‘It was an intimidating atmosphere and you go into that stadium [Azteca] and there is 100,000 people and it’s hostile.’’
As for Martin potentially inciting Peru’s fans, McGlinchey thought the comments might have been taken out of context.
‘‘I can see what he’s saying. He wants to make it hard. We want to go to the World Cup and we’re such a nice country that we’re usually very welcoming GETTY IMAGES and I think it’s a bit of tongue-incheek saying we want to make it difficult for them and hopefully we do that.’’
What exactly that would entail for Kiwi fans, McGlinchey wasn’t quite sure. After all, New Zealanders aren’t really the firework-lighting, throat-slittinggesture types.
‘‘I don’t think we can do that, but we can come up with something. Just don’t be so friendly for once.
‘‘That’s what they’re going to do to us when we go over there. I’m not suggesting we do that, but I guess we can make it difficult in our own way.’’
McGlinchey has plenty of experience in playoff games.
He came on as a substitute in the first leg against Bahrain in 2009, which ended 0-0. He started the second leg, coming off after 64 minutes, as Rory Fallon’s headed goal and Mark Paston’s penalty save sent the All Whites to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
He played in both legs against Mexico, which ended in a 5-1 defeat away and 4-2 loss at home.
So what’s the key to beating Peru this time around?
‘‘I think the way we started in Mexico, we didn’t give ourselves any chance. In the second leg we were pretty much beat.
‘‘Over in Bahrain we were compact, we were patient and we managed to get it back to Wellington and then the crowd took over for us.
‘‘I think that’s going to be massive for us, that we’ve got the first game in Wellington with already 30,000 sold. It’s going to be a huge occasion and they will drag us through.’’