Honeymoon on hold as NZ aim to make history
Monday, 14 June 2010
RUSTENBURG, 13 (AFP): Chris Killen put his honeymoon on hold in order to play in the World Cup and the New Zealand striker is planning on keeping his new bride waiting as long as he possibly can.
With New Zealand having reached the finals for the first time since 1982 and for only the second time in their history, Middlesbrough forward Killen is determined to make the most of the experience, starting with the group F encounter with Slovakia here Tuesday.
"It's got to be one of the biggest games in the history of New Zealand football," Killen said.
"The first game in any tournament is always hugely important and that's particularly true here. We know Slovakia are a good side but so are Italy and Paraguay. We need to get something out of this is we want to get through the group."
Kiwi hopes of making a mark on the tournament have been raised by an unexpected 1-0 win over highly-rated Serbia in a warm-up friendly in Austria earlier this month.
Killen missed that match in order to fly to Scotland, where he married girlfriend Hannah on the banks of Loch Lomond.
"It was a great day and it would have been nice to go on honeymoon straight afterwards," admitted the former Hibs and Celtic striker. "The missus would have been happier with that but she knows how important the World Cup is to my career."
Slovakia, who are making their first finals appearance since their 'velvet divorce' from their Czech neighbours resulted in the break up of the old Czechoslovakia, have also identified Tuesday's encounter in the Royal Bafokeng stadium as crucial to their prospects of reaching the last 16.
Coach Vladmir Weiss made it clear he regards the match as one his squad should expect to win and has promised an attacking approach.
"We'll be going for a win and the three points that will get us off to a good start," he said. "Anything less than that will makes things more complicated for the remaining games.
"New Zealand is a tough opponent but I think we have more quality in our squad."
With New Zealand having reached the finals for the first time since 1982 and for only the second time in their history, Middlesbrough forward Killen is determined to make the most of the experience, starting with the group F encounter with Slovakia here Tuesday.
"It's got to be one of the biggest games in the history of New Zealand football," Killen said.
"The first game in any tournament is always hugely important and that's particularly true here. We know Slovakia are a good side but so are Italy and Paraguay. We need to get something out of this is we want to get through the group."
Kiwi hopes of making a mark on the tournament have been raised by an unexpected 1-0 win over highly-rated Serbia in a warm-up friendly in Austria earlier this month.
Killen missed that match in order to fly to Scotland, where he married girlfriend Hannah on the banks of Loch Lomond.
"It was a great day and it would have been nice to go on honeymoon straight afterwards," admitted the former Hibs and Celtic striker. "The missus would have been happier with that but she knows how important the World Cup is to my career."
Slovakia, who are making their first finals appearance since their 'velvet divorce' from their Czech neighbours resulted in the break up of the old Czechoslovakia, have also identified Tuesday's encounter in the Royal Bafokeng stadium as crucial to their prospects of reaching the last 16.
Coach Vladmir Weiss made it clear he regards the match as one his squad should expect to win and has promised an attacking approach.
"We'll be going for a win and the three points that will get us off to a good start," he said. "Anything less than that will makes things more complicated for the remaining games.
"New Zealand is a tough opponent but I think we have more quality in our squad."