Highlights - Paraguay 0-0 New Zealand
New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert predicted a big future for football in his country after the team exited the World Cup with their heads held high.
The All Whites drew 0-0 with Paraguay in their final game to finish third in Group F, one point above holders Italy.
"Everybody played well, they all contributed on the highest level," said Herbert. "The future looks bright.
"It's our second time at the World Cup and to completely reverse what we've done before is quite amazing."
In their previous World Cup appearance in 1982, New Zealand lost all three group games heavily, but this time round they finished unbeaten after draws with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay.
 |
606: DEBATE
alfie_nz
|
"I think I need to pinch myself," added Herbert, who played in the 1982 side. "If you are going to exit the World Cup there are good ways of doing it.
"A lot of people thought we shouldn't be here and that we had amateurs who were not up to it. But I think that's dead and buried now."
But despite his pride, Herbert admitted to mixed feelings after seeing his side muster just one shot on target against Paraguay, when a win would have seen them go through to the last 16.
"It's quite emotional for us," Herbert reflected. "We are proud and disappointed at the same time now.
"We remained unbeaten but are still eliminated. I am proud, and no one takes away from me what we have done here. Not many more teams played as attacking as us with three strikers."
No comments:
Post a Comment