Tommy Smith started at left-back for New Zealand in a World Cup warm-up victory over Serbia in the southern Austrian city of Klagenfurt this afternoon. The Town defender was winning his third full cap.

Confusingly, the Serbians wore all white, whilst the All Whites wore their change strip of all black, though Tommy spoilt the effect a bit with his white boots.

Serbia had most of the play first half, but the black-clad All Whites took the lead on 21 minutes, Shane Smeltz breaking through the middle, holding of a challenge and beating the keeper from 12 yards.

Second half and the All Whites retreated ever-further into their own half, then own box. Tommy switched to playing on the left side of a deep-set back three, and continued to have a good game. You'd be an optimist to put him - or any of his colleagues - in your fantasy World Cup team though.

There was the expected minor pitch incursion by a few Serb fans and fireworks thrown in the direction of stewards and occasionally players. There was a threat from the authorities to abandon the game on 85 at which point it settled down for the game to end in a surprising but satisfying win for Tommy and his team.

A cold and soggy late afternoon, with a crowd of around 14,000, the match was a bit niggly at times.

Earlier in the day, Cameroon had most of the play against Slovakia, but needed a late goal to earn a 1-1 draw in a largely uninspiring encounter. Both teams will need to up their game hugely to make any impact next month.

New Zealand: Mark Paston, Winston Reid, Ryan Nelsen, Tommy Smith, Simon Elliott, Jeremy Christie, Leo Bertos, Tony Lochhead, Chris Wood (Jeremy Brockie 61), Rory Fallon, Shane Smeltz.

Report by Tim and Liz Edwards, our correspondents in Austria.

Photo: Action Images

WadzillaBhoy added 20:35 - May 29 Serbia have some good players, not a bad result
0

Dale added 20:56 - May 29 Did he play? I watched some of the game on a stream and I couldn't see him.
0

NorfolknWay added 22:33 - May 29 Sign Smeltz before the World Cup when it'll be too late!
0

itfcserbia added 23:26 - May 29 i unfortunately got to see only the first half of the game smith made just one mistake, letting pantelic to escape him, the rest he was good. smeltz looked like the most dangerous player in new zealand team...
0

SurreyITFC added 09:26 - May 30 Well done Smith. Can't wait to see you play in the World Cup! COYB - Keano
0

KeanePlusTriggs added 12:38 - May 30 iv been sayiung we should sign smeltz for about 2 years now as he has been very classy in the australian league
0

Dogsy40 added 12:49 - May 30 smeltz is a star, golden boot last year, would be a great signing.
0

jas0999 added 13:09 - May 30 Left Back? Not for me. He's a centre half - but probably won't feature regularly next year. Great back up mind.
0

tractorboynathan added 22:08 - May 30 I think hes not good enough! Episcally at left back. He might come good under the right supervision, but at the moment hes not quite there. Too slow Doesnt dominate in the air Cant pass a ball But good luck with the world cup!
0

allwhites5 added 07:05 - May 31 tractorboynathan Did you see any of the last 2 New Zealand games???
0

kiwiblue added 07:25 - May 31 great well done tommy and the all whites. goiod run now so lets go all the way eh?
0

tractorboynathan added 10:36 - May 31 -allwhites5 No i didnt, but what i have seen when he has been playing for ipswich, is that he isnt good enough. And he was playing with brentford last year, and now he is playing for new zealand against all the best international teams? Cant be good enough.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls