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New Zealand Needs Collective Effort to Stop Salah, Says Former Coach Herbert

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • New Zealand must employ a collective defensive strategy to contain Egypt's star player Mohamed Salah in their upcoming World Cup match, according to former coach Ricki Herbert.
  • Herbert advised balancing tight marking of Salah with avoiding over-commitment to prevent isolation elsewhere on the field.
  • He believes Egypt presents a tougher challenge than Iran and emphasized the importance of New Zealand enjoying the World Cup moment without external pressure.

New Zealand faces a significant challenge in containing Egyptian star Mohamed Salah during their World Cup encounter, with former coach Ricki Herbert stressing the need for a unified team effort. Herbert, who guided New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup, told Reuters that the All Whites must remain calm and disciplined to neutralize Salah's threat.

He's a world-class player, so he'll need to be given that respect. If he gets New Zealand isolated in 1 v 1 situations, then he will make life extremely difficult.

— Ricki HerbertDescribing the threat posed by Mohamed Salah and the need for respect in marking him.

"He's a world-class player, so he'll need to be given that respect," Herbert said, emphasizing the danger Salah poses in one-on-one situations. "If he gets New Zealand isolated in 1 v 1 situations, then he will make life extremely difficult." However, he cautioned against over-committing defenders to mark Salah, as this could leave other areas of the pitch vulnerable.

Herbert highlighted the importance of maintaining a compact defense. "So, it will be about making sure we're tight and tidy, eliminate his ability to turn and play forward and hurt us with those killing passes," he explained. The attacking partnership between Salah and Omar Marmoush is expected to test New Zealand's defense significantly, with Herbert considering Egypt a tougher opponent than Iran, whom New Zealand drew with 2-2 in their opener.

So, it will be about making sure we're tight and tidy, eliminate his ability to turn and play forward and hurt us with those killing passes.

— Ricki HerbertAdvising on the defensive tactics required to neutralize Salah's playmaking abilities.

Reflecting on New Zealand's performance against Iran, Herbert noted that the team could have secured a victory. He also offered advice to the current squad, encouraging them to embrace the World Cup experience. "Make sure you enjoy the moment because you don't want to bring any external pressure to the game," he urged. "But you are at the World Cup, the biggest sporting event in the world. If we deal with that and bring the appropriate, positive emotions to the game, I think we've a chance."

Make sure you enjoy the moment because you don't want to bring any external pressure to the game.

— Ricki HerbertEncouraging the New Zealand players to embrace the World Cup experience.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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