Tommy’s all white after big New Zealand call!

“That’s not being disrespectful to

By Chris Dunlavy

Braintree Tiown defender Tommy Smith could be set to face the might of Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne after being named in New Zealand’s World Cup squad.

The 36-year-old, who was relegated from the National League with the Iron this season, has earned a recall to Darren Bazeley’s squad almost two years after winning the last of his 56 caps.

Along with Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood, Smith is one of only two players remaining from the All Whites’ last World Cup appearance in 2010 – and Bazeley says that experience was key to the former Ipswich defender’s recall.

“Tommy gives us one more player who has previously been to a World Cup and that experience could be vital,” said Bazeley, whose side face Iran, Egypt and Belgium in the group stages.

“He’ll take a lot of weight off the other leaders in the squad, like Woodsy, who can then concentrate on performing and playing.

ROCK ON, TOMMY! Tommy Smith has been selected in New Zealand’s World Cup squad

PICTURE: Alamy

him. He’s there as a player. He needs to be ready and he will be.

“But part of the selection criteria was ‘Do you add value off the pitch? Do you add to the dressing room culture? Do you bring leadership? Tommy is the best at that.

“He’s a bit of a cultural architect, and he’s been doing that role for a number of years.

“He’s probably the only player in the squad who I think could impact the performance by not playing, just because of the way he helps everyone else.”