All Whites face race to be ready for Ireland game
The All Whites are back in action on Friday (NZT) but getting them to the game fit and healthy is a tough assignment.
If you wanted a snapshot of the challenges of bringing the New Zealand team together, it was provided as the team drifted in from across the globe on Monday.
More than a quarter of the squad — the Wellington Phoenix contingent plus Melbourne Victory fullback Storm Roux — didn’t arrive in Dublin until 1pm on Monday.
They boarded a plane in Melbourne soon after their A-League draw on Sunday evening for a 15-hour trip to Doha in economy class. The cabin was half empty so they could at least stretch out. From Doha, there was another seven-hour flight to Dublin.
There was a note of levity at the airport, with an immigration officer asking one player: “So if I don’t let you in, does that mean Ireland have an advantage?”
They’ll have to quickly overcome the jet lag and muscle soreness, with just two full squad training sessions before the clash with Ireland on Thursday night (local time).
They also face chilly temperatures, expected to drop to four degrees Celsius during the match at Aviva Stadium.
Finding a suitable training venue has also been tricky.
Their first option was unsuitable on Monday (too heavy underfoot), so they transferred to the Irish federation’s sprawling complex north of the city.
It’s a state-of-the-art facility but all six pitches there are monitored by cameras and the All Whites were reluctant to give away their tactics.
Captain Winston Reid remains a good chance to play Ireland despite his lack of recent game time for West Ham, following complications from a knee injury he first suffered in March 2018.
Ultimately the decision will depend on how the 31 year old comes through training the next two days but coach Danny Hay is hopeful he will take the field.
New Zealand’s first game in more than 18 months will feature a near full strength side but the Irish are likely to rotate their squad, given they have a vital European Championships qualifying match against Denmark on Monday.