New Zealand sweat on Reid physical fitness ahead of World Cup playoff

Soccer Football – 2018 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs – Peru v New Zealand – National Stadium, Lima, Peru – November 14,2017 New Zealand gamer Winston Reid goes to an interview at National Stadium. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo

June 10 (Reuters) – New Zealand are sweating on the physical fitness of Winston Reid ahead of next week’s World Cup playoff versus Costa Rica after the skilled protector missed out on Thursday’s scoreless draw with Oman in a warm-up friendly.

Bill Tuiloma captained the group in Reid’s lack as the All Whites handled the Omanis behind closed doors in Qatar, where they will satisfy Costa Rica next Tuesday with an area at this year’s World Cup finals on the line.

Reid was experiencing a groin concern, however coach Danny Hay stated he was positive the 33- year-old previous West Ham United centre back would be suitabled for the clash in Al Rayyan.

” He’s had more injuries most likely than I’ve had warm suppers over the last number of years, so he understands his body actually well,” Hay informed press reporters.

” The medical personnel are positive. We’ll simply undoubtedly cover a bit of cotton wool around him over the next number of days and after that begin ramping it up towards matchday.”

Hay made 9 modifications to the side that lost 1-0 to Peru in Barcelona last Sunday in their very first warm-up for the global playoff.

Despite developing most of scoring opportunities at Doha’s Education City Stadium, the New Zealanders were not able to discover the web for the 2nd succeeding match.

” It served its function. It was a chance to offer gamers minutes which’s precisely what it did,” Hay included.

” We come out of it injury-free which is the most crucial thing. We developed a variety of chances and most likely must have been up 2 or 3 objectives at half-time.”

New Zealand have actually formerly certified two times for the World Cup finals, most just recently in South Africa in 2010 when they went house unbeaten after drawing all 3 of their group matches.

Reporting by Nick Mulvenneydit; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell

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