Ben Sigmund: former All White ahead of the team's clash against New Caledonia at Eden Park

The All Whites are welcoming direct entry for Oceania to next year's Football World Cup - ahead of kickoff in their qualifying final against New Caledonia at Eden Park.

It's the first time the winner from the region automatically qualifies for the tournament. 

Former All White Ben Sigmund is feeling hopeful ahead of the big match.

"If they play like they did on Friday night against Fiji - I think they'll be too good and too classy and bring it home for sure."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The All Whites will be taking on New Caledonia at
seven tonight at Eden Park. It's all happening very soon.
It's the game that'll decide, finally decide whether the New
Zealand gets a spot at the twenty twenty six feet
of World Cup in North America or not. Ben Sigmund
was on the team the last time that news Dalen
made it to the World Cup, back in twenty twenty.
He's sorry back in twenty ten and he's with me now. Hello, gooda.

(00:22):
So we haven't made it to a World Cup since
you were in the team fifteen years ago? Do you reckon?
We'll do it? Do it this time?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yeah? Yeah, it's looking pretty positive at this stage. And yeah,
like if they play like they did Friday night against Fiji,
I think they'll be too good and too classy and
bring it home for sure.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
How much of this is to do with Chris Wood?
I mean, I know we're obviously the qualifying the criteria
is a lot different this time, and some would say
a lot easier. But how much of how their playing
is to do with Chris.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
He's a massive part and he's certainly inspirational around being
the leader and the captain. The whole team is pretty
well balanced. Now, Yes, you look at the starting team
from the other night, like most people are probably playing
in Europe or overseas. Tim Payne a league player, and
most of them are in decent leagues over throughout the world. Now.

(01:17):
So as much as chriss Wood is a massive you know,
I guess the rock solid striker that just can't stop scoring,
but you know that's a pretty well grounded team. And
you know they played Figi off the park on Friday
night and hopefully they can do the same again tonight.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
What was it like when you when you made it
there to the World Cup? What was it like being
part of the buzz?

Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well I was saying, and so one the other day.
We celebrated and partied for about a week afterwards, and
even my granddad at eighteen years of ages out until
five in the morning, so that probably count or something.
But there was just a hype in the build up, massive,
you know. And you know we obviously went to Bahrain

(02:04):
and Drew Millo over there and then came back to
New Zealand and it was all to play for We're
back in Wellington, you know, So it was a big
moment and it was probably a career highlight by a
long shot for me. You know, it was just inspirational
around what this country did and what it did for
the game, and you know, hopefully we can do it again.
I know that we keep talking about it's not as

(02:25):
hard getting there, and they've opened up another spot and
all those things, but for the game in New Zealand,
if the boys can go to another World Cup, it's
just it's a pinnacle of sport and you know, these
guys will be buzzing and it's a great achievement if
they can do it.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
He's hoping they do, and here's hoping they party like
you did, like it's twenty ten. Ben Sigmund all White
at the twenty ten World Cup. For more from Heather
Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks. It'd be
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