Smith in All Whites Action - Ipswich Town News
Tommy Smith will win his 23rd New Zealand cap this evening as the All Whites take on hosts Saudi Arabia in their opening game at the OSN Cup in Riyadh.
The winners will face the victors of today’s other match between the UAE and Trinidad and Tobago in the final on Monday when the losers will take part in a third/fourth place play-off.
New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert plans to use the tournament to experiment ahead of November’s World Cup play-offs against the fourth-placed side in the CONCACAF qualifying group, including playing a back four instead of their usual three-man central defence.
"We're going to try a whole raft of things and see how it goes. Some might work, some might not,” he said.
Herbert believes the Riyadh heat will be tough for his players: "It's going to be incredibly demanding.
"But it's more about, are players comfortable in their roles, do we feel we've got the right sort of connections, the right sort of links? And players being comfortable with that."
Smith is one of two members of Town’s senior squad currently away on international duty with right-back Elliott Hewitt in action for the Wales U21s against San Marino and Moldova in Euro 2015 qualifiers on Friday and Tuesday respectively.
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