7 Oct 2010

All Whites keen on underdog status despite home advantage

12:56 pm on 7 October 2010

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen's keen to play the underdog card in the upcoming football friendlies against two visiting Latin American sides.

Despite a successful undefeated campaign by the All Whites at the World Cup, and their second-highest ever world ranking of 49th, Nelsen's attempting to downplay expectations from the home fans.

The Blackburn defender's wary of both Saturday's opposition, Honduras in Auckland, and Tuesday's foes Paraguay in Wellington.

Nelsen says some media have started asking if the All Whites will be employing more "razzle dazzle" but he thinks they'll have to keep grinding out results and it's not just a case of turning up, doing a few stepovers and winning the game.

Neither fixture is a sell-out as yet with about a third of the 22,500 seats for the Honduras game still on the market. North Harbour Stadium's added extra capacity to bring the numbers up so New Zealand Football can break even or even turn a profit.

A spokesman says they don't need a sell-out to break even.