Hopes on Bahrain

If New Zealand’s All Whites beat Bahrain on October 10 they will compete in their first World Cup since 1982 in Spain. Dunedin-born defender Andrew Boyens, 26, who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls, is interviewed by the New York Times’ Jack Bell ahead of the match. “I guess it’s the same thing it means to all footballers,” said Boyens, who has made 12 appearances for his national team. “That’s the pinnacle. That’s what you dream of when you’re a kid growing up, waiting to be a footballer. We’re a couple of games away from it. You don’t want to get too excited.” “It’s hard,” Boyens said. “We’re always going to be in the shadow of rugby and cricket. But I think if we were to go to a World Cup, the same way as the smaller countries really get behind their teams in the World Cup kind of environment, I think New Zealand is going to come out and do that for us as well.”