Smith Impresses as New Zealand Lose - Ipswich Town News
Central defender Tommy Smith won his fourth New Zealand cap as the All Whites lost 3-1 to Slovenia in Maribor on Friday evening. The match was New Zealand's final Europe-based friendly before the squad travels to South Africa for the World Cup.
Smith again impressed on the left of a three-man defence with New Zealand TV channel NZTV suggesting that the 20-year-old has cemented his place in coach Ricki Herbert’s first team: "The Ipswich lad goes from strength to strength in the national colours.
"Hardly put a foot wrong on Saturday and looked composed on his forays forward. Looks to have sealed the left-sided central defender spot, which will be tough on Ivan Vicelich if that is the case.”
Plymouth’s Rory Fallon scored New Zealand’s goal with former Town target Milivoje Novakovic netting twice for Slovenia and Andraz Kirm adding the third for one of England’s group opponents in South Africa.
New Zealand have one more training game with Chile in South Africa on June 9th before they start their World Cup campaign against Slovakia in Rustenburg on June 15th. Matches against Paraguay and Italy follow.
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