Nelsen “gutted” with World Cup exit

Nelsen “gutted” with World Cup exit

POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA –All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen paid a heartfelt tribute to the way the New Zealand public had got behind the team and said he felt “gutted” to not be able to pay them back with a place in FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

Nelsen was struck down by a stomach bug in the days leading up to the group F decider and said he physically felt “awful” and functioning at about 40 percent.

But he once again led a resolute All Whites flanked by Winston Reid and Tommy Smith and with valuable contributions from midfield through to the front three.
Nelsen said he wished the All Whites could have done better for the country that had given them “incredible” support.

“I still just feel really gutted, kind of let down, I feel disappointed. I know the whole country’s got behind us and I just feel like I want to say sorry to them in a way. We were so close, we just didn’t get there. Just gutted…. I just wish we could have done a bit better.”

The All Whites had come so far, had got so close and had wanted to get through to the next round, he said.

“I’m just sorry that we didn’t get there.”

Defender Tommy Smith also said all the players were “a bit gutted” as they had wanted to get through to the next round and it was disappointing not to have done that given the All Whites were undefeated.

Smith said he had loved every minute of being at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”I’m just sad it’s had to come to an end early in the competition.”

Smith said it was lovely to see his parents in the stands at the stadium tonight and see how proud they were. At the end of the match, he tried to get into the stands to see them only to be stopped by security. However, a FIFA official had stepped in after he explained he wanted to see his parents and see a photo of his nephew.

His mother had been waving the photo around at every game as she wanted to get it signed, he said.

His nephew was born just before Smith left for South Africa for the FIFA World Cup so he had not yet been able to meet him.

Smith said he would take a couple of weeks break and get away on holiday.

While disappointed to be knocked out at this stage, Smith felt that all the players had improved “as a player as well as a person” and it had been a great experience competing at the FIFA World Cup. It was something they would remember for the rest of their lives.

Defender Winston Reid said all the players had tried to give it their best.
“We said before the game that everyone had to play 110 percent and give it all they had and everyone did so we can’t complain.’’

“I don’t think anyone back in New Zealand would have thought we would be unbeaten in the group stage after three games. You know, everyone expected we were going to go out, get our arse kicked to be honest. But the guys worked hard and we stood together as a team and at moments we played some good football.”

The players and coaches remained on the pitch at the end of the match tonight to thank their supporters in the 34,850-strong crowd. Nelsen throw his football into the crowd and other players also threw their shirts at their fans.

Some of the players had thought about doing a haka at the end of the game tonight, but in the end that didn’t happen.

“We wanted to give something for the crowd but I looked over at Rory (Fallon) and a couple of the other guys’ faces and they were pretty down,” Reid said.
There was talk of a game in New Zealand before the end of the year and Reid said the players would “sort something out” for the crowd then.

ENDS

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