Paul Watson

New Zealand are actually a pretty interesting team to watch.

And I think one of the weird things for New Zealand is there's this double-edged sword.

Qualification was really easy, so that's great for them.

But also, qualification didn't push them at all.

They played five matches in World Cup qualification, which...

I think when you compare it to, was it Iraq who played the most games, which was something like 21.

They played five matches.

They beat New Caledonia 3-0 in the final.

That was the hardest test.

They slashed Fiji 7-0 in the semifinals.

So they really weren't pushed at all through qualification.

The big thing for New Zealand has been the return of Chris Wood.

That's enormous for them because without Wood, I think there was this worry about where the goals were going to come.

That said, they actually had this friendly against Chile where everyone was saying, well, they're not going to score any goals.

And they won 4-1.

And it was kind of a chance for a couple of the guys that have been in Wood's shadow to step up.

So Costa Barbarousis, this 36-year-old who missed out on the 2010 squad, he's having this chance to kind of redeem that.

He scores about 100 goals in the A-League every season.

He's a brilliant player in his own way.

He's one of these like legends kind of veteran players and he just gives everything.