 Smith Switches to New Zealand and is Off to the World Cup
Tue 22nd Dec 2009 15:20
New Zealand head coach Ricki Herbert has revealed that Town defender Tommy Smith has emailed him to accept the offer of a place in his squad for next summer’s World Cup. Smith, who has previously represented England at U17 level, qualifies for New Zealand having lived there between the ages of eight and 16.
Herbert says Smith replied to his recent email saying that he’d be delighted to join the 23-man New Zealand party in South Africa: "Tommy was very excited about the prospect - he is a young man with a big future. I've asked New Zealand Football to start doing the paperwork. "It's wonderful news for us. I hope there are no obstacles and I think the process should be pretty straightforward as it was for Rory Fallon and Michael McGlinchey." New Zealand are hopeful that 19-year-old Smith will be able to take part in some of their warm-up matches prior to the tournament, although given the travelling these may clash to some extent with Town’s domestic programme. Smith is likely to make his New Zealand debut in their friendly against Mexico in Los Angeles on March 3rd. Recent changes to FIFA rules allow players who have appeared at levels up to U21 to change their international allegiance if they qualify for another country. Recent loan keeper Asmir Begovic switched from Canada to Bosnia earlier in the year. New Zealand previously tried to recruit Macclesfield-born Smith in January 2007 for their U17 squad, but soon afterwards he was called up by England with whom he played at the FIFA U17 World Cup. New Zealand will face Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia in World Cup Group F in South Africa.
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PablosRightBoot added 15:36 - Dec 22
Delighted! First town player to play in a World Cup (as a town player) since Bontcho I believe in 94. Get in there!! | 496 forum posts
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Dale added 15:39 - Dec 22
Matt Holland was the last Town player to play in a world cup Mr. RightBoot. | 522 forum posts
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PhilTWTD added 15:46 - Dec 22
Matt Holland and Amir Karic were both Town players when they played at the 2002 World Cup. | 4906 forum posts
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FenboyBlue added 15:51 - Dec 22
Excellent news. He could be playing versus Italy in a group game. I'm looking forward to watching New Zealand probably more than England now. | 2180 forum posts
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bluelondon added 15:59 - Dec 22
Thomas Gaardsoe played for Denmark when a town player, can't remember what year that was though | 0 forum posts
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Dale added 16:14 - Dec 22
Gaardsøe didn't play for Denmark when he was at Town. His two games were both when he was at WBA and none of those were in the World Cup. | 522 forum posts
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brockleyblueboy added 17:29 - Dec 22
Good luck. You've achieved one thing that the mighty Ryan Giggs has never done and that's play in a world cup. Doesn't matter who you play for, its the biggest football spetacle on the Earth and to be apart of it would be incredible. | 0 forum posts
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Wickets added 18:17 - Dec 22
Matt Holland scored in world cup as a Town player , lets hope Tommy can do that too!! | 7 forum posts
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MyBlueHeaven added 19:13 - Dec 22
begs the question.... who's town's most 'illustrious' world cup (finals) player ever? nominations...
bontcho - played in semi but only as a sub (94)
matt holland - scored in finals but only played in group games (02)
mick mills - captained england in 1982 finals (to second stage).
micky gets my vote! have i missed any? (pretty sure butcher was a rangers player by time of 86 world cup) | 9 forum posts
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KIWI78 added 19:49 - Dec 22
Bonza.
I've already booked the england games off work. Now I get to watch a tractor boy playin for my beloved New Z. Christmas has come early. I will of course be behind the lions, as this is my home, but i will dread the outside chance of us meeting. And no, tommy wont have to learn the haka.... | 57 forum posts
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RedX added 20:27 - Dec 22
What a brilliant oppotunity for Tommy.Best of luck to the lad. | 149 forum posts
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