The 2008 European champions will meet the Oceania champions for the first time when the two teams take to the field at the 42,000 capacity Rustenburg Stadium at 20:30 hours local time. Sunday’s match will be Spain’s first appearance at the Confederations Cup. Vicente Del Bosque’s side qualified for the tournament following their Euro success last summer. A goal from the Liverpool and Spain number ‘9’ proved enough, as Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the final.

The All Whites arrived in Rustenburg on June 8 following a goalless draw against Botswana in Gaborone. New Zealand continued their build up to their Confederations Cup debut against Spain with a friendly against Italy. The islanders had Europeans on the ropes for much of the game before slipping to a 4-3 defeat.

Vicente Del Bosque’s squad landed in South Africa on Wednesday following a long flight from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. The previous night had seen his side thrash Azerbaijan 6-0. Fernando Torres completed the rout with a well-taken goal four minutes from time in what was the European Champions final test before heading out to the Confederations Cup.

Domestically, New Zealand are just 180 minutes away from qualifying for only their second appearance at the World Cup finals. The champions of Oceania will face the fifth-ranked Asian side home and away in October and November for a place in the 2010 Brazil World Cup. Should they qualify, it will only be their second appearance at finals since taking part at the 1982 tournament held in Spain.

New Zealand will be without their captain and most influential player Ryan Nelsen. The veteran defender, who plays for English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, will miss the Confederations Cup after tearing a calf muscle in a league game against Chelsea.

Ryan Nelsen, who has lined-up for Blackburn against Torres’ Liverpool on several occasions, captained his club when the two clubs last met. It was the striker though who won the battle, scoring two, as the Reds strolled to a 4-0 victory. The Spaniard’s first of the afternoon was a sublime volley, a goal that later got voted by supporters as Liverpool’s ‘Goal of the Season’. A long ball from Jamie Carragher was chested down by Torres, who swivelled before cracking an unstoppable volley over Paul Robinson.

The All Whites coach Ricki Herbert believes that the game against ‘the best team in the world’ will have all of New Zealand glued to the television screens. “This is going to be a pinnacle for players, coaching staff etc and I think it is just fantastic for the game in New Zealand. The majority of the players play in the best competitions in the world and for the people in New Zealand, they watch them on television. To see their national team play against them will make the whole thing seem real, that it is possible for us to play the best team in the world.”

Following Sunday's game, Spain will face Iraq on June 17, kick-off at 16:00 hours local time.

Photo: J.A. Sirvent