New Zealand manager believes players should 'seize the moment'
The task of the last team to advance to the World Cup will be determined today in Qatar.
coach Danny Hay urged his players to understand the moment well and fight for the World Cup before his side play in the World Cup play-off against
Costa Rica.
The two teams will face each other on Tuesday at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar to win the last World Cup spot and team up with
Germany, Japan and Spain in Group E. With Australia winning the penalty shootout against Peru yesterday, 31 countries have advanced to the World Cup, leaving only one empty spot. New Zealand, ranked 101st in the FIFA rankings, has a lower chance than their Central American rival, which is ranked 70th.
Hay told reporters:
"The world's media have basically written us off, given us no chance. They're 31 in the world playing against 101 in the world.
"I'm sleeping pretty well. I'm not sure their coach will be, though.
"We've got a great group. They're injury-free, they’re in a good space mentally, that’s why we need to seize the moment now. This really is our moment, this is our time."
Costa Rica, on the other hand, have lost just once in their last nine games, but coach Luis Fernandez is not taking New Zealand for granted.
He said:
"We'll make sure that the group is strong mentally. New Zealand are a team that like to make things dangerous.
"They are a team that from the back with their goalkeeper almost always playing inside, from the beginning to the last third, with one of their advantages being aerial football.
"But for every situation or attack New Zealand present, we have prepared something to respond to it."
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