New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has confirmed that Town defender Tommy Smith will start Tuesday’s World Cup opener against Slovakia in Rustenburg (KO 12.30pm). Smith will win his fifth full cap on the left of a three-man defence as the All Whites begin their World Cup campaign.
Italy will be New Zealand's second opponents in Nelspruit on Sunday, while they complete their opening phase matches against Paraguay in Polokwane on June 24th. The Italians and Paraguayans got Group F started with a 1-1 draw this evening.
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New Zealand: 1-Mark Paston, 3-Tony Lochhead, 4-Winston Reid, 5-Ivan Viceleich, 6-Ryan Nelsen (captain), 7 Simon Elliott, 9-Shane Smeltz, 10-Chris Killen, 11-Leo Bertos, 14-Rory Fallon, 19-Tommy Smith. Subs: 2-Ben Sigmund, 8-Tim Brown, 13-Andy Barron, 15-Michael McGlinchey, 16-Aaron Clapham, 17-David Mulligan, 18-Andrew Boyens, 20-Chris Wood, 21-Jeremy Christie, 22-Jeremy Brockie, 23-James Bannatyne.