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NZ boss eyes more surprises

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New Zealand manager Ricki HerbertNew Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has hailed his side’s 1-1 draw with Slovakia on Tuesday as their “best ever result” as they look to make a surprise impact in the World Cup (NZ 50/1 to qualify from Group F).

Winston Reid was the New Zealand hero as he headed home an injury-time equaliser to cancel out Robert Vittek’s 50th-minute header for Slovakia in Rustenburg – a goal that secured their first-ever World Cup finals point.

Herbert’s men were expected to be among the first sides heading back home following the group stage in South Africa, but their performance in their Group F opener has raised expectations they can cause a few upsets along the way.

“We are very, very proud. You would have to say this is our best ever result,” said Herbert.

“We have come and thrown some extremely good punches and got what I thought was a fully deserved result.”

New Zealand now face current world champions Italy on Sunday in their next game and Herbert has been buoyed by their performance against Slovakia (NZ 18/1 to win, Italy 1/8, the draw 6/1).

“I thought the opening game was a good chance to get something and I would have been disappointed with a loss after conceding a goal like that,” he added.

“But we kept coming, the boys kept coming. We came across with the intention to make a difference and we certainly did that against a highly-rated team.”

Despite his joy at the draw, Herbert is well aware his side’s next two games – against Italy and Paraguay – will be extremely difficult.

“We still have two heavyweights to go and they will be tough,” he added.

“I think we showed the kind of football we play now is conducive to results.

“Some of the quality of the movement up front could be better and we’ll work on that.”

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More Gerrard injury concern

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Steven Gerrard (8/1 to be England’s World Cup Top Goalscorer) cut short an England training session for a second successive day on Friday, adding to fears over the midfielder’s fitness.

Reports claim the Liverpool skipper pulled up during Thursday’s practice match and received treatment on the sidelines for a calf problem.

Gerrard did return to training on Friday but did not complete the session, in which the England squad worked on shooting.

The 29-year-old then left the Austrian training ground with physio Gary Lewin for more treatment, and looks a doubt for Sunday’s final warm-up game (England 7/1 to come from behind and win the friendly) against Japan in Graz.

Sunday’s match will offer a last chance for some players to prove to Fabio Capello that they deserve a place in the final 23-man party.

There is better news on the injury front for Gerrard’s Liverpool colleague Glen Johnson, who also missed training on Thursday with a calf problem.

The right-back was back with the rest of the squad on Friday and impressed during the shooting practise – following on from his cracking goal in the friendly win over Mexico.

Having recovered from a hamstring problem, Sunderland’s Darren Bent is expected to feature against the fellow World Cup qualifiers, with Japan in Group E along with Holland, Denmark and Cameroon.

Stephen Warnock will have a late check on an ankle problem to see if he can start, as he battles with Leighton Baines for the role of back-up to Ashley Cole at left-back.

Capello has already stated that Ledley King will sit out Sunday’s game having completed the full 90 minutes in midweek, so Matthew Upson may be handed a start in the centre of defence.

Meanwhile, Fernando Torres believes Gerrard will be crucial to England’s hopes after claiming his Liverpool team-mate is ‘in the same league’ as Lionel Messi.

The Spanish international says the England midfielder is one of five players capable of dominating at the World Cup and that he is able to ‘win a big game on his own’.

Torres has seen Gerrard’s qualities at first hand and he feels the England vice-captain, along with Wayne Rooney, could win the World Cup for the Three Lions.

The Spain striker said: “He’s in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, that’s how good he is. Rooney and Stevie must have big tournaments.

“If they do then England should be very much feared.”

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Capello seeks more aggression

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Fabio Capello wants more aggression and better ball retention from England (13/5 with totesport to be Europe’s top team at the World Cup), after seeing his team stutter to a 3-1 victory over Mexico at Wembley.

A much-changed England line-up, with the three Chelsea players given the night off, struggled for much of the first half but did take a 2-1 lead into the half-time break.

Ledley King gave the home side the lead and Peter Crouch doubled the advantage, before West Ham’s Guillermo Franco deservedly pulled a goal back for Mexico before half-time.

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson fired home a stunning long-range strike early in the second half, which proved enough to earn England the victory.

Capello insisted there were plenty of positives to take from the game, but also expected that they are several things still to work on between now and the start of the World Cup.

The Italian said: “I learned a lot about some situations on the pitch. Not only me but also the players – we have to press more to win back the ball quickly.”

Steven Gerrard (8/1 to be England’s leading scorer at the tournament) admitted that the coach had called for more combativeness at half time, after being forced to chase Mexico for long periods in the first half.

The midfielder stated: “They had too much possession in the first half, we stood off them and let them play. In the second half we got in their faces and stopped them playing. We need to be more aggressive.

Gerrard admits England need to be “able to adapt to different formations” in South Africa but insists there is still time to ’sharpen up’ before the tournament begins.

More importantly, England reported no fresh injury worries at the end of the game despite some concerns over Wayne Rooney late in the game.

The Manchester United striker, who played the full 90 minutes, hurt his neck towards the end of the friendly win but had to continue as England had made their six changes.

Capello described the knock as a “small problem” but insists he is not concerned and says Rooney “will be okay”.

Meanwhile, Ledley King insists his long-standing knee injury is not a problem after also completing the match in the heart of the England defence.

The squad will now return to Austria on Wednesday to resume their high-altitude training, and will take on Japan on Sunday in their final warm-up match.

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