Bazeley’s Kiwis Book Their Place On Big Stage

Darren Bazeley is celebrating World Cup success after leading New Zealand to the finals for only the third time.

The former Wolves utility man oversaw the clinching victory over New Caledonia in Auckland – a 3-0 win that came despite the departure of an injured Chris Wood just after half-time.

The scoreline was still blank at that point but three goals in the final half-hour ensured it was mission accomplished.

Bazeley, who also took the nation to the Paris Olympics, can now start planning for the tournament finals in America, Canada and Mexico in the summer of next year following a night of joy at Eden Park.

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.

Now that honour rests with head coach Bazeley, whose team will have an early taste of one of the countries in which they might be competing in around 15 months’ time.

They are playing international friendlies against Ivory Coast and Ukraine this June in Toronto – the city Wolves were due to visit in 2001 during the latter stages of Bazeley’s Molineux career. 

Of yesterday’s success, he said: “We had a lot of possession but we had to play differently. We made some changes at half-time and were more forward-thinking with our runs and our passes and we made the game safe. But it probably wasn’t as safe as we all wanted it to be.”

Northampton-born Bazeley has had substantial spells working in distant parts with two of his former Wolves team-mates, Neil Emblen and Carl Robinson, since waving goodbye to the UK.

And another of his Molineux colleagues, Paul Simpson, has made a satisfactory start after returning to international football.

A few months on from his sacking by Carlisle, the 58-year-old, who was born four days before England’s World Cup final victory, was unveiled over the weekend as an assistant to Jamaica manager Steve McClaren.

And his posting began with a 1-1 draw away to St Vincent/Grenadines, who the Reggae Boyz face again in a return fixture in Kingston tomorrow.

Simpson, like Keith Downing, had a successful stint working with England age-group sides before returning to the club game.