Riera is all-white
We'll still be rolling out Jeremy Christie in 2026.
Or we could develop our own talent
Or we could develop our own talent
Better believe it!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/1037583...
"Shane Smeltz was omitted as the Sydney FC striker works his way back to full fitness, while Emblen admitted he'd love to be able to select Spaniard Albert Riera, the 30-year-old Wellington Phoenix midfielder.
"He would be great but he's only four years in and I think you need to be here for five to be eligible. I'm sure behind the scenes things are going on. What a year he's had - grabbing [Andrea] Pirlo's shirt and a year ago he was playing Central United in winter. It's pretty amazing and if there is a way he can become an All White, I'm sure we'll be looking into it."
I think that says it all.
So it's official that he wants to play for the All Whites. Could be in time for World Cup qualifiers in 2016/17!
So far away
It was a nothing story, didn't even say if he was even part way down the path of being eligible.
My understanding is that FIFA regs state you have to live in a country for 5 years and become a naturalized citizen before you can play for them. In NZ you need to hold residence for 5 years before you can become a citizen. But they can fast-track citizenship for sporting reasons - they did it for Irene van Dyk. So once Riera has been here 5 years NZF should look into that, regardless of when Riera applied for residence.
Said that he went back to spain for a long spell after his first year in NZ though.
Said that he went back to spain for a long spell after his first year in NZ though.
Depends on how long I guess, but worst case scenario it means waiting two years not one - he would still be in the team by the next world cup.
My understanding is that FIFA regs state you have to live in a country for 5 years and become a naturalized citizen before you can play for them. In NZ you need to hold residence for 5 years before you can become a citizen. But they can fast-track citizenship for sporting reasons - they did it for Irene van Dyk. So once Riera has been here 5 years NZF should look into that, regardless of when Riera applied for residence.
And Daniel..
My understanding is that FIFA regs state you have to live in a country for 5 years and become a naturalized citizen before you can play for them. In NZ you need to hold residence for 5 years before you can become a citizen. But they can fast-track citizenship for sporting reasons - they did it for Irene van Dyk. So once Riera has been here 5 years NZF should look into that, regardless of when Riera applied for residence.
And Daniel..
My understanding is that FIFA regs state you have to live in a country for 5 years and become a naturalized citizen before you can play for them. In NZ you need to hold residence for 5 years before you can become a citizen. But they can fast-track citizenship for sporting reasons - they did it for Irene van Dyk. So once Riera has been here 5 years NZF should look into that, regardless of when Riera applied for residence.
And Daniel..
Lets be honest, Tommy Smith of Ipswich only spent about six years in NZ as a schoolboy and has a pretty tenuous link to being a NZer. He's in the All Whites because he qualifies, but as his recent reluctance to play AW friendlies shows, I wouldn't say he's jumping out of his skin to don the white shirt. However he has been a battler for the cause in the past. I would think if he could get into the England squad he's much prefer that.
In the past the All Whites provided an opportunity for middling British players to get to be internationals. Some showed great commitment and stayed in NZ others returned to Britain. It's a difficult one when it comes to internationals. Even Rory Fallon, although born here to a NZ mother, tried to break into English age group ranks before accepting the AWs were his only international outlet.
I'd much prefer an AW squad all born in NZ, or fully naturalized. But if there's a good player from overseas who spends enough time playing in NZ to qualify, then we'd be a bit short-sighted to overlook them. If Tade ever becomes a NZ resident (he must qualify next year) then I'd much prefer him over Brockie in the AWs. Imagine Tade and Wood up front - now there's a goal scoring duo. Much as I rate Reira I think he's too old to be useful for the AWs. As for McGlinchey, he only spent eight months here after being born in Wellington but that is still a link. If he spends a few seasons at the Nix, as I hope he does, then that only reinforces his connection. But I still think of him as a Scot at heart.
So you are ok with Tade (5 years in NZ) but uneasy about Smith (6 years)?
Well Tade is an adult and has lived here for a while and Smith was born in the UK and lived here as a youth so he know more about the UK than NZ. He also played for England U17 & 18 so he more than likely chose NZ because he had no show of making the full England team.
the other thing about smith is that he was asked several times to play for new zealand and said no
he only said yes after we had qualified for south africa 2010
My understanding is that FIFA regs state you have to live in a country for 5 years and become a naturalized citizen before you can play for them. In NZ you need to hold residence for 5 years before you can become a citizen. But they can fast-track citizenship for sporting reasons - they did it for Irene van Dyk. So once Riera has been here 5 years NZF should look into that, regardless of when Riera applied for residence.
And Daniel..
ZING!
The silly thing about it was when he got NZ citizenship he hadn't even been here 5 years so couldn't play for the All Whites at that time.
My understanding is that FIFA regs state you have to live in a country for 5 years and become a naturalized citizen before you can play for them. In NZ you need to hold residence for 5 years before you can become a citizen. But they can fast-track citizenship for sporting reasons - they did it for Irene van Dyk. So once Riera has been here 5 years NZF should look into that, regardless of when Riera applied for residence.
And Daniel..
ZING!
The silly thing about it was when he got NZ citizenship he hadn't even been here 5 years so couldn't play for the All Whites at that time.
Best guarantee Riera commits to AW's is he gets a Kiwi girlfriend up the duff. Up to you 1<3 Nix.
Depending on the character of any such lady he may be requesting a one way ticket out.
Best guarantee Riera commits to AW's is he gets a Kiwi girlfriend up the duff. Up to you 1<3 Nix.
I would personally be over the moon if Riera played in either some WC qualifying games or even in the WC itself. I think he has it in him to do really well and help us out big time...
...however I do think that we should be working to create a new stock of MFs, young, fit, kiwi MFs to fill the gap which, need I remind anyone, has not yet been filled since Brown and Elliot retired, and that was about 4 years back.
I would personally be over the moon if Riera played in either some WC qualifying games or even in the WC itself. I think he has it in him to do really well and help us out big time...
...however I do think that we should be working to create a new stock of MFs, young, fit, kiwi MFs to fill the gap which, need I remind anyone, has not yet been filled since Brown and Elliot retired, and that was about 4 years back.
^ Phone Declan.
^ Phone Declan.
10k tackles
10k long balls
10k passes
Sorted!!!
We need a shark load of reinforcements next season and the Kiwi and Ausy playing stock seems a little thin. We have two foreign spots if we drop A-Rod but sometimes its better the devil you know, and we know that he can perform the role. It looks like we're also sizing up this new Alex Jones character as well so that will be no import slots left for the front and rear end of the team.
Did anyone figure out if and when Riera was eligible to be an NZ citizen? If he was to be fast tracked for the World Cup it should be going on now. He should have met the FIFA five year rule already.
I remember that Krishna didn't apply for residency until 2013 so he's still a few years away from being a citizen.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/albert-riera/profil/...
according to transfer market, reira has spanish and nz nationalities
does anyone know if he ever got his eligibility sorted?
it's too late now
Not for the qualifiers
Not for the qualifiers
is he eligable?
is he eligable?
if he isn't, he will be close, has to live here for 5 years which he must have done, similar to the Durante situation
I would guess Hudson doesn't think Riera's mobile enough for his "midfield"
In Russia we asked this question to people in the know and well connected to the AWs and were told Hudson wants Riera "yesterday" but due to going home to Spain for holidays is in the same boat as Krishna.
Both have been in NZ more then the required 5 years but have huge residency gaps although NZF is trying to push the NZ Govt. for Reira.
I would guess Hudson doesn't think Riera's mobile enough for his "midfield"
I watched Riera play for Central at the weekend against Birkenhead. He did nothing and anyone that seriously thinks he is international standard is bonkers. To slow and to old!
Watched the game and yes unfortunately Riera is past it far to slow but that does't mean Hudson won't pick him. On the game Birkenhead were by far the better side and Central had a lot of their stars playing.Tade getting sent off towards the end didn't help Central what an arrogant fool, ref did a good job.
Riera is now a Kiwi and is also out injured for six weeks. https://twitter.com/AucklandCity_FC/status/1049199139852967937
I know he's old now, but just one game it would be cool to see him as an All White. The guy would have thought he would never play an international game, I like it when shark like this happens (even though I know this probably won't)
