New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has disregarded objections from
Rory Fallon and Plymouth Argyle by selecting the England-based
forward for a March 3 World Cup warmup against Mexico at the Rose
Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Herbert also picked Ipswich defender Tommy Smith, a former
England youth national team member, for his 17-man roster.
Fallon sought to be excused from the exhibition to stay with
Plymouth Argyle as it tries to avoid relegation from England's
second-tier League Championship.
New Zealand's roster includes A-League scoring leader Shane
Smeltz; Chris Killen, who recently transferred from Glasgow Celtic
to Middlesbrough; and West Bromwich Albion's Chris Wood.
Only two players are missing from the lineup that beat
Bahrain 1-0 in September to qualify for the World Cup: Goalkeeper
Mark Paston is injured and defender Ivan Vicelich is suspended.
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The roster:
Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss
(Melbourne Victory, Australia)
Defenders: Andrew Boyens (New York, Major League Soccer),
Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn,
England), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Brentford,
England)
Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos
(Wellington Phoenix), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Simon Elliott
(San Jose, Major League Soccer), Michael McGlinchey (Morthwell,
Scotland), Craig Henderson (Mjallby, Sweden)
Forwards: Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle, England), Chris
Killen (Middlesbrough, England), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United,
Australia), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion, England)
