COCKY KIWIS!

New Zealand believes playing Bahrain will be like 'bringing a lamb to the slaughter' when they clash in the vital play-off contest for a place in the finals of the 2010 World Cup ... but their naivety may backfire if the boys in red have anything to do with it.

The All Whites coach Ricki Herbert was said to be 'happy' their opponents will be Bahrain after the kingdom's heroes set up a two-match encounter against the Kiwis following a dramatic 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia, with Bahrain winning on the away goals rule.

Herbert suggested the atmosphere against Bahrain promised to be 'less intimidating' than it would have been against the Saudis, according to the New Zealand Herald.

New Zealand defender Tony Lockhead was also quick to dismiss Bahrain even before the result in Saudi Arabia claiming in football magazine FourFourTwo: "Bahrain is probably a better match up for us. So fingers crossed we get them."

The Kiwis' brashness will not intimidate Baaaa-hrain's players or supporters, said charismatic coach Milan Macala ... it's more likely to spur them on against a country that boasts nine sheep for each human.

And Paul Moon, a former sports correspondent of Oceania's leading news magazine, The Pacific Islands Monthly, agrees. He said: "Herbert's recent comment that he believed the National Stadium in Riffa to be less intimidating than Riyadh displays naivety - as well as unintentionally throwing down a gauntlet at the feet of Bahraini supporters!

"But it would be foolish to underestimate the Oceania champions though. They possess a bevy of professionals whose skills have been honed in Europe, North America and Australia and are capable of inflicting an agony alike that exacted by Trinidad and Tobago four years ago.

"Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen might well prove as influential as Dwight Yorke was then, while he, the free-scoring Shane Smeltz and newcomer Rory Fallon have the ability to become the 2009 version of Dennis Lawrence. Bahrain will have to earn its glory."

Macala is determined the Kiwis bluster will not intimidate his players or the fans and will not allow them to pull the wool over his eyes. "We can now focus on New Zealand and I am sure we will be ready," he said.

Macala told GulfWeekly Editor Stan Szecowka moments after the match in Riyadh he was thrilled by the support his side had received from the travelling barmy army of Bahraini fans describing them as 'passionate', adding: "Bahrain's fans have shown throughout this tournament that they are fully behind the team. The supporters have helped us all the way."

He believes his players are up for the Kiwi test and have learned from the World Cup heartache experience they suffered at a similar stage in 2005.

New Zealand say they are aiming to secure a precious away goal when they travel to Bahrain for the first leg on Saturday, October 10. That rule enabled Bahrain to squeeze past Saudi Arabia last Wednesday to book the match against the All Whites.

At the same time, Fallon was making his debut for New Zealand in a 3-1 win in Jordan in which he scored. Fellow striker Smeltz got the other two.

Fallon, who plays for Plymouth Argyle in England, said: "It's going to be really important to get that away goal in Bahrain."

The New Zealand national football team reached the World Cup finals in 1982, but lost all three games. Because of the lack of a high-quality domestic league, most talented New Zealand footballers ply their trade in the higher-class leagues of Europe, the US and Australia. They are known as the All Whites because their white strip was originally based on the colour of England's shirts and the name is in contrast with the more popular rugby union team, the All Blacks.

Former Australian national coach Raul Blanco has been spying on Bahrain as part of his new role as the All Whites' technical advisor.

Blanco watched the playoff between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The 67-year-old was the Socceroos assistant coach for successive World Cup playoffs in 1994 and 1998.

Blanco hopes to bring his experience of World Cup playoffs to his new role and says he has vast experience in the Middle East. He says they are things which are important when you are preparing for two games which are going to decide whether you can qualify for the World Cup.

Blanco said the trip was an important fact-finding mission and he has been able to inform coach Herbert of all the 'small details' about Bahrain who travel to Wellington for the second leg on November 14. Officials have already threatened that Bahrain will be greeted by a 'wall of noise'.

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