Central defender Tommy Smith says he is delighted to have had his place in the New Zealand World Cup squad confirmed. All Whites coach Ricki Herbert announced his 23 for South Africa overnight.

Smith, who made his New Zealand debut in the recent friendly against Mexico in LA, told the club site: "I'm really looking forward to it. It's every kid's dream to play in the World Cup.

"The manager had some encouraging words to say to me when we met up for the Mexico game and I felt I had a good chance of being in the squad, but it's great when you know you are definitely going to the tournament.

"I'm flying down to New Zealand later this week and will meet up with the squad from there.

"Hopefully I will have time to catch up with my family, I've got a brother and sister living in New Zealand. Then we play Australia in Melbourne with 100,000 watching, which is going to be a great occasion.

"We've got a training camp in Austria, which will be at high altitude to give us a taste of what conditions will be like in South Africa, and then we play friendlies against Serbia and Slovenia before going to South Africa for another warm-up game against Chile."

Smith will be the first Town player to appear in the World Cup since Matt Holland played for the Republic of Ireland and Amir Karic featured for Slovenia at the 2002 tournament.

New Zealand: Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (FC Tampa Bay Rowdies), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (unattached), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Michael McGlinchey (Motherwell), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory), David Mulligan, Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland, Denmark), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion).

Photo: Action Images

jditfc added 14:55 - May 10 well done Tommy
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corshamblue added 15:04 - May 10 Brilliant, I for one will be watching the Kiwi's play now - great for Tommy and Ipswich too.
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Superfrans added 15:49 - May 10 Great news for Tommy. I wonder if the Town shop will stock New Zealand shirts, as a result.
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onlybluesandhorses added 16:31 - May 10 No place for Lee Norfolk then. What happened to him?
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Marcus added 17:38 - May 10 Norfolk is 34 and plays for Felixstowe & Walton United. I don't see him as being quite at the right stage to break into the New Zealand first time.
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IpswichElvis added 17:54 - May 10 Good luck Tommy. You may as well still book your holidays to coincide with the second phase - you and your team won't be there.
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tractorlowrie added 18:05 - May 10 So he can probably get a joint holiday with gerrard and co too then hey ipswichelvis?
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IpswichElvis added 18:09 - May 10 tractorlowrie - how much of your dole money are you staking on NZ to reach the second phase. I thought so !!!!!
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Daleyitfc added 19:40 - May 10 What a high quality squad .... 'unattached' is good enough for a place! So I'd have thought that Lee Norfolk was playing at a more than adequate level. NZ will get slaughtered in every game : like last time.
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yarmoblue added 20:46 - May 10 rock on tommy . well done son . enjoy every minute of it
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emergencylime added 22:38 - May 10 Great news. It will be an amazing experience over the next few months, which will help Tommy cement his importance as our defensive cover
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bennyblue added 04:28 - May 11 hopefully they make next round and knock england out
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Strider added 08:46 - May 11 Good luck Tommy, what a great experience and we'll get a better player as a result. I'll make an effort to watch the Kiwi's now.
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ITFCenFrance added 12:11 - May 11 In other World Cup Squad news, Domenech is announcing the French 23 live on French TV channel TF1 tonight, during the 8pm news programme. Raymond is known for his strange choices, but even for him Thetis and Legwinski are probably long shots... Imagine if Capello announced his squad live during BBC News, sat next to a thoroughly uninterested and sarcastic Huw Edwards. That'd be worth a watch.

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Fatboy added 13:12 - May 11 Is that training camp in Austria or Australia? If it's Austria, I think young Tommy might be a bit jet-lagged by the time he actually gets to South Africa!
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Dale added 13:39 - May 11 There is no jet lag between Austria and South Africa as they have the same time during summer.
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kerryblue added 00:04 - May 13 GOOD LUCK TOMMY,DONT DO WHAT KEANO DID IN SAIPAN
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