All Whites settle into San Diego base as World Cup challenge looms

Warm weather and waves are making the All Whites’ team base in San Diego for the Football World Cup feel a bit like home.

The team’s training facilities at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium have been given the tick of approval by the playing group and experienced midfielder Joe Bell has also enjoyed the nearby beach on his day off.

“No complaints about the weather,” Bell , who plays his club football in Norway said.

“We got to see the surrounding area and it’s beautiful here.

“I’m a big fan of surfing, so it’s been nice to get down to the beaches and see the waves, it’s been fun.”

It is not all fun and games though.

The team are also focused on what lies ahead on the field against three teams ranked inside the top 30 in the world compared to New Zealand’s 85th ranking.

“Good to get the group together and working hard going into the first game. The boys are looking good and feeling good on the pitch as well so we’re just excited.

The All Whites are not flying under the radar in their temporary home.

At their training on Thursday (NZT) there as a large contingent of on-lookers - not many of them New Zealanders - to watch an intra-squad game.

“They’ve been really receptive to us.

“We had a heads up before that there’d be a few people there, but a great turnout and it shows, obviously, the excitement for the World Cup, but the excitement around us as well.

“It makes a cool atmosphere in training.”

The training sessions against each other will be the only ‘games’ the All Whites play before Tuesday’s opening match of the tournament against Iran in Los Angeles.

While other countries were playing international friendlies closer in time to their World Cup games, the All Whites two warm-up games against Haiti and England were played last week.

Bell said the teammate against teammate clashes were still an opportunity to catch coach Darren Bazeley’s eye for a place in the starting side.

“Obviously trying to show we’re ready and we want to compete and be on the starting team.

“But at the same time, the culture within the group that we have here, of course, we all want to be starting, but we recognise that we’re all going to play parts moving forward.

“I think it’s a healthy but competitive environment.”

With the World Cup so close Bell said the team was making to progress to where they wanted to be when the big moment arrived.

“The past four years have been leading into the next game of football, we’ve been focused on that the whole time and trying to take those small steps forward and now the test is coming.

“So that continues with the remaining training games leading into the first one.”

Tommy Smith is at his second World Cup, one of only two players, to have achieved that for New Zealand and he is happy to be back at the tournament 16 years later.

“A lot of the water under the bridge since then,” Smith said.

“It’s fantastic these are the experiences you want to play football for and to be here and part of this playing group is really exciting with the talent we’ve got in the squad and the goals we have hopefully it can be a really special tournament for us.”

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