‘Proud But Also Hurting’ – Bazeley On Kiwi Opener

First things first: Yes, Northampton-born Darren Bazeley sounds much more like a Kiwi these days than when we last met him.

Secondly, that’s no surprise given that it’s already more than two decades since he made the huge decision to uproot his family and move to the other side of the world.

The 53-year-old, also looking considerably more tanned than during his 1999-2002 spell with Wolves, gives every impression of enjoying his first experience of a World Cup finals.

And he will be back in the spotlight as his New Zealand side prepare to resume their Group G programme against Egypt on Monday.

The All Whites kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 Tuesday draw against Iran in the city in which Wolves are historically best known in America, Los Angeles.

Now they are moving over the Canadian border to face Egypt in Vancouver, another centre in which a sizeable Wanderers following was built up from the club’s exhibition games there against Aberdeen in 1972.

Bazeley’s side have already made history by becoming only the second team from New Zealand to score twice in a game in a World Cup finals.

Eli Just’s brace was also ground-breaking. The Motherwell forward is the first All White to score twice in a World Cup finals match and only the fifth New Zealander ever to score in the tournament proper.

The draw also left his side top of Group G after Egypt and Belgium drew 1-1 but Bazeley was still left with mixed emotions.

“We have taken a few people by surprise,” he said. “We are disappointed not to win after leading twice and we go away thinking: ‘What if?’

“But this was a really strong performance that I am very proud of. We have still not won a game at a World Cup but we came so close and that hurts.

“We didn’t lose, though, and we are in the tournament. We showed the world who we are and who our players are.”

The Kiwis, who narrowly lost to England in a recent friendly in Tampa, also complete their group programme in Vancouver, with Belgium as their opponents.

Only twice before have New Zealand reached the World Cup – in 1982 and 2010. And the common denominator was another former Wolves man, Ricki Herbert, who played 43 years ago in Spain and was then manager of the side who went to South Africa a decade and a half ago and recorded three draws in their three games.

Bazeley (left) also took his adopted nation to the Olympics in Paris.