Nelsen attacks World Cup 'nightmare'

Nelsen signed for Blackburn in the January transfer window

New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen has told the BBC that attempting to qualify for the World Cup is a "nightmare."

The Christchurch-born defender, who recently signed for Blackburn Rovers from Major League Soccer side DC United, said that teams often focused on beating his team - knowing they would not manage to beat Australia, the region's major football side.

"It's a bit of a nightmare, in all honesty," he told BBC World Service's World Football programme.

"Most of these island nation teams pretty much know they can't beat Australia, so they say, 'New Zealand's the one to beat.'

"So they rest all their players during qualifying against Australia, and then come out and try and kick the living hell out of us."

Grass roots

The winner of the Oceania stage of World Cup qualifying enters a play-off against a South American team for a place in the Finals.

Australia are by far the most dominant team in the region - although New Zealand are the last Oceania team to qualify for the Finals, in Spain in 1982.

Fifa did briefly offer a place in the finals directly to the Oceania winners, but that offer was withdrawn after protests that it would, in practice, allow Australia a guaranteed appearance at each Finals.

New Zealand last qualified for the World Cup in 1982

Nelsen said that he did not himself have the "solution" to the problem.

However he also said that football in New Zealand had a bright future, with more young players showing interest in soccer than rugby union - the sport the country is traditionally famous for.

"Football at the grass roots level is actually bigger than rugby in New Zealand - there are more numbers that play the game," Nelsen said.

"It's just when they get into teenage years that they start with the rugby, obviously with the hope of playing professionally, as there are more chances of that.

"But nearly all New Zealanders are playing overseas, and it gives kids goals, opens up doors so that they can see that they can do it.

"Hopefully now we'll see more young New Zealanders trying their hand overseas."

Nelsen is only the third New Zealander in the Premier League.

"I think New Zealanders are all closet Premiership supporters - all they need is an excuse," he added.

"Now they have one - they watch more Premiership games there than they get here."