Former All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen impressed by team as they prepare for US
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Last updated 13:37, October 11 2016
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Former All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen says the All Whites are playing some of their best football in recent years.
Ryan Nelsen likes what he sees from this current crop of All Whites.
The former New Zealand captain guided the All Whites to their last World Cup appearance in 2010 in South Africa and said their 2-1 loss to Mexico on Sunday in Nashville was their best performance in a long time.
"From afar where I'm watching, that last game against Mexico was a different level to what I've seen New Zealand teams play like and it's really positive.
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All Whites captain Winston Reid expects a more compact game against the United States on Wednesday (NZ time) than Sunday's match against Mexico.
"I was very impressed. I thought they pressured the Mexican players very well, high up the field.
"They turned the ball over many times in the Mexican half and I've watched that team many times and they don't normally do that because they're technically very good players."
Nelsen now lives in Washington DC, where the All Whites play the United States on Wednesday afternoon (NZ time).
He stopped by All Whites training on Tuesday (NZ time) and said seeing the team in camp had only enhanced his view of the Anthony Hudson's side.
"When you see from afar it's a wee bit different from when you're inside, but everybody you talk to from the inside says how positive it is."
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He expected New Zealand to perform even better than against Mexico when they meet an understrength US side.
"[USA have] brought in quite a few fresh faces, some guys that have been on the [cusp] of the team, so they'll be motivated to impress their coach.
"It will be a tough game, but I think if they can replicate what they did against Mexico then they will have more of a chance of winning the game."
Current All Whites skipper Winston Reid said the team was preparing for a more structured game than the helter-skelter affair in Nashville.
"I think they'll be a bit more like what we're used to playing against.
"They'll be a bit more compact, whereas with Mexico the players were all over the pitch and a little bit more kamikaze - this might look more like a normal football match."
Nelsen said the key to another strong run in World Cup qualifying for the team was not getting too far ahead of themselves.
"Sometimes you can look too far ahead, but ultimately it's about every day trying to get better, whether that's when you're in camp or when you're with your club.
"It's about trying to get better individually and when that time comes, which will come very soon, it's about trying to perform your best when asked upon."
Meanwhile, All Whites goalkeeper Jake Gleeson has been ruled out of Wednesday's match with a groin injury he brought into the camp. Stefan Marinovic and Tamati Williams are in line to start instead.
AT A GLANCE
All Whites v United States
When and where: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington D.C. and Sky Sport 2, Wednesday 1pm (NZ time)
Odds: USA $1.25, NZ $10, draw $5
New Zealand: Stefan Marinovic, Tamati Williams, Andrew Durante, Sam Brotherton, Michael Boxall, Kip Colvey, Themi Tzimopoulos, Winston Reid, Declan Wynne, Liam Graham, Clayton Lewis, Michael McGlinchey, Matt Ridenton, Te Atawhai Wihongi, Henry Cameron, Moses Dyer, Ryan Thomas, Kosta Barbarouses, Chris Wood, Monty Patterson, Marco Rojas, Rory Fallon
United States: David Bingham, Bill Hamid, William Yarbrough, Kellyn Acosta, Matt Besler, Steve Birnbaum, Omar Gonzalez, Michael Orozco, Tim Parker, DeAndre Yedlin, Paul Arriola, Michael Bradley, Lynden Gooch, Perry Kitchen, Sacha Kljestan, Danny Williams, Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Julian Green.