| Tommy Smith & The All Whites 23:09 - Mar 31 with 1141 views | ghughes11 |
Tommy Smith played the full 90 minutes in the All Whites 5-0 demolition of Solomon Islands to qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs against 4th placed in the CONCACAF qualifying Third Round, Costa Rica!
The play-off is scheduled to be played as a single match in Qatar on 13 or 14 June 2022.
I saw this interesting post on the Official Col U messageboard:
"Interesting fact about Tommy Smith also. The reason he is able to play for New Zealand, despite being born in Macclesfield, and having no parents or grandparents native to there, he grew up for a few years there, so he holds duel nationality with the UK & New Zealand."
So, I looked him up on that well trusted site of Wikipedia and low and behold the above is true, but also "he has also represented England at U-17 and U-18 level. Smith played in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea during September 2007 despite not playing a part in England's qualification for the tournament." "He also went on play every minute of New Zealand's World Cup campaign, which achieved a historic three points at the tournament." (the only team to go unbeaten in the tournament  )
Although Costa Rica are ranked #31 in the current FIFA World Ranking and New Zealand #101, there is great optimism over here that we can qualify. Especially now that the play-off is a one off match in Qatar where the All Whites have been playing for the last couple of weeks and even before that they have played a few friendlies in UAE & Bahrain. Previous inter-confederation play-offs against Peru (2018) & Mexico (2014) did not go so well especially away from home with the big, partisan crowds in central and South America!
Fingers crossed for an All Whites win. Be good to have 2 teams to support in the World Cup (3 if Wales qualify - gotta keep the ol' man happy  )
Would Tommy Smith be the first contracted Colchester United player to play in a World Cup?
Up the Kiwi U's! |  |
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| Tommy Smith & The All Whites on 23:34 - Mar 31 with 1113 views | wessex_exile |
Great news, delighted for the All Whites and Tommy, and best wishes for their play-off appearance. Certainly wouldn't be the first U's player to appear in the World Cup finals, Teddy and Kinsella spring immediately to mind, but the first contracted player to do so - think you may be right if it happens.
Fingers crossed! |  |
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| Tommy Smith & The All Whites on 04:38 - Apr 1 with 1093 views | ghughes11 |
| Tommy Smith & The All Whites on 23:34 - Mar 31 by wessex_exile |
Great news, delighted for the All Whites and Tommy, and best wishes for their play-off appearance. Certainly wouldn't be the first U's player to appear in the World Cup finals, Teddy and Kinsella spring immediately to mind, but the first contracted player to do so - think you may be right if it happens.
Fingers crossed! |
Don't forget Efe Sodje with his bandana!
On Loan to us in 1999-2000, he represented Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup 
Less said about his personal life though the better!  | |
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| Tommy Smith & The All Whites on 00:45 - Jun 15 with 897 views | ghughes11 |
Tommy Smith stayed on the bench as Costa Rica beat New Zealand 1-0 in todays World Cup play off.
We (NZ) absolutely dominated shots and possession against a team 70 places ahead of us in the World Rankings!
Absolutely robbed of a fine goal scored by Wood, and other dodgy decisions going against us throughout the match!
Oh well at least England........ oh wait, hang on! 
Up the Kiwi U's!  | |
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