WELCOME "KARIBU" TO ORANGE FOOTBALL ACADEMY ZANZIBAR

WELCOME "KARIBU" TO ORANGE FOOTBALL ACADEMY ZANZIBAR

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MUDATHIR YAHYA

MUDATHIR YAHYA

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SEIF ABDALLA "karihe"

SEIF ABDALLA "karihe"

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Sunday 14 June 2009

CONFEDERATIONS CUP: AFTER DEFEATED AGAINST TANZANIA AND ITALY, NEW ZEALAND TO PLAY WITH EUROPEAN'S CHAMPION SPAIN TODAY

Spain National Team European Champions
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New Zealand Oceania Champions
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The All Whites are under no illusions that their FIFA Confederations Cup opener against world number one Spain in Rustenburg on Monday morning (NZT) is a different proposition entirely from their heart-breaking defeat to Italy.
The All Whites have played World Cup winners like Italy before but never have they faced an even tougher proposition, like a rampant Spain, in their very next match and in their opening game of an international tournament.
The European champions are gunning to lift their first ever FIFA trophy and arrived in South Africa boasting a two-year, 32-match unbeaten streak that is fast approaching Brazil’s world record 35-matches without defeat between 1993 and 1996.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is acutely aware of Spain’s pedigree.
“I think what we’ve seen from Spain since they were crowned European Champions has been that they’ve gone on and comprehensively beaten all the other big nations in the world. It’s a big task against a fantastic team. It could be a tough night,” Herbert said.
Ranked a full 81 places below the Spanish, New Zealand enter the match as rank outsiders but after a attention-grabbing performance in the 3-4 defeat to Italy, Herbert is keen to put in a strong effort to take some momentum into their remaining two matches in Group A.
“I think our focus is on South Africa and Iraq in terms of what we can get from this tournament, but it’s important we address this game in the best way we possibly can with the right focus, and I think the Italian game stands us in good stead to do that. I think we go into this game a little more confident than we would’ve been.”
All Whites midfielder Simon Elliott said that while the chance to play Italy was special, a competitive match against Spain would require even greater effort.
“It’s a very different game. Italy had just arrived and still getting settled. Spain will be ready and they’ll be a lot tougher. It’s their first game of the tournament and they’ll be looking to impress. They’re European champions and massive favourites obviously.”
“For our part, we have to try and build on what we did on Wednesday night and raise our level of performance. Whether that leads to points on the board or goals in the net, I don’t know, but there will still be a lot of things we can take out of the game regardless of the result.”
The match kicks of at 6.30am Sunday (NZT) with live coverage on Sky Sport 3 from 6am.
Hosts South Africa get the eight team ‘mini World Cup’ underway with a clash against Asian champions Iraq in Johannesburg at 2am (NZT).
FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 Match 2Group A
New Zealand v SpainSuper Stadium, PretoriaSunday 14 June 8.30pm (June 15, 6.30am NZT)Live on Sky Sport 3 from 6am


New Zealand (from): 1-Mark PASTON (GK), 2-Aaron SCOTT, 3-Tony LOCHHEAD, 4-Duncan OUGHTON, 5-Ben SIGMUND, 6-Ivan VICELICH, 7-Simon ELLIOTT, 8-Tim BROWN (Captain), 9-Shane SMELTZ, 10-Chris KILLEN, 11-Leo BERTOS, 12-Glen MOSS (GK), 13-Andy BARRON, 14-Jeremy CHRISTIE, 15-Jeremy BROCKIE, 16-Chris JAMES, 17-David MULLIGAN, 18-Andrew BOYENS, 19-Steven OLD, 20-Chris WOOD, 21-Kris BRIGHT, 22-Jarrod SMITH, 23-James BANNATYNE (GK).Coach: Ricki HERBERT



Spain (from): 1-Iker CASILLAS (GK), 2-Raul ALBIOL, 3-Gerard PIQUE, 4-Carlos MARCHENA, 5-Carlos PUYOL, 6-Pablo HERNANDEZ, 7-David VILLA, 8-XAVI, 9-Fernando TORRES, 10-Cesc FABREGAS, 11-Juan CAPDEVILA, 12-Sergi BUSQUETS, 13-Diego LOPEZ (GK), 14-XABI ALONSO, 15-SERGIO RAMOS, 16-Fernando LLORENTE, 17-Daniel GUIZA, 18-Albert RIERA, 19-Alvaro ARBELOA, 20-Santi CAZORLA, 21-DAVID SILVA, 22 Juan Manuel MATA, 23-Pepe REINA (GK).Coach: Vicente DEL BOSQUE
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