Daily WHUFC News - 14th December 2012

Reid aiming for World Cup double
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid is planning to represent New Zealand at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
finals in Brazil
11.12.2012

Winston Reid is hoping his fine form at West Ham United will lead to his
appearance at a second FIFA World Cup finals. Victories over New Caledonia,
Solomon Islands and Tahiti have put Reid's New Zealand in good shape to
advance from the Oceania Group 3 phase to a two-legged play-off with the
fourth-placed nation in the North, Central America and Caribbean region.
Having scored a memorable goal for his country against Slovakia at the last
World Cup finals in South Africa, Reid would love to appear at a second
tournament in Brazil in 18 months' time. "We're pretty much on track right
now. We have two games left in our group and, if we're lucky enough to go
through, we have to play the fourth-place team in the CONCACAF qualifiers. I
think the opportunity is there for us. We certainly fancy ourselves and back
ourselves to come through over the two legs. We'll see how it goes but
hopefully we can get to Brazil in 2014. "I hope they don't expect us to play
like Brazil if we get there! It would be an amazing experience to go to
Brazil and play in a World Cup there. I was fortunate enough to play in one
World Cup and there aren't a lot of people who get the opportunity to do
that, so to play in two would be really cool and something I would look
forward to."

The defender has enjoyed squaring off against the Pacific Island nations,
despite knowing little about the players and teams he has come up against.
"I've been to some weird and wonderful places to play for my country,"
confirmed the Hammers No2. "I've been to New Caledonia this year, which was
a real experience. It's a beautiful place and just visiting there is an
experience in itself. The teams we play down there are on a different level
and you never know what you are going to get because you don't have much of
a clue who the players are you are up against. "We played the Solomon
Islands at home in New Zealand and I remember I was in the Nike Store doing
a photo shoot and one of their coaches came in and bought 20 pairs of soccer
boots for their team! "The island nations obviously have less resource than
we do, but we still treat them with respect whenever we play against them.
It is always hot and muggy and they are more used to the conditions than we
are, so we never know what we're going to get. We are a big scalp so they
always want to beat us. We always have to try to put on the strongest
possible performance."

Aside from his World Cup experiences, Reid has also relished the challenge
of playing in front of huge crowds in friendly international matches across
the world since making his debut against rivals Australia in May 2010. "We
played China in Shanghai in a friendly recently and there were about 20,000
people there. We usually get big crowds when we play against Australia, too.
I think we played them at the Melbourne Cricket Ground once and there were
about 70,000 people in the crowd. Those sort of games are special because
Australia and New Zealand don't really like each other! "I remember we
played Mexico in Denver and there were 70,000 people there too and they were
all Mexicans - there weren't any Kiwis there! I get to travel around the
world and have experiences I would never have if I didn't play international
football, which is great."

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West Ham defender Guy Demel confirms he has retired from international
football
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
December 13, 2012 2:59pm
SSN

West Ham defender Guy Demel has confirmed to Sky Sports that he has retired
from international football with the Ivory Coast. Sky Sports revealed
earlier this month that Demel was poised to quit the international scene to
focus on his club commitments with West Ham. The full-back made 35
appearances for Ivory Coast and was a member of the squad for the 2006 and
2010 World Cup finals. Demel believes the time is right to quit
international football so that he can give his all to Sam Allardyce's side.
"I have decided to quit international football and it was not an easy
decision for me," Demel told Sky Sports. "I have enjoyed playing for my
country and going to the 2006 and 2010 World Cup and my country means a
great deal to me. "I wish Ivory Coast success in the future and I hope they
do well at the Africa Cup of Nations. "However, I am now 31 and it feel it
is the right to quit so that I can concentrate on West Ham. "Last season I
was injured a lot and I want to prepare and make sure I perform for West Ham
in the Premier League."

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Jack: I'm all right
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 13th December 2012
The Sun

JACK COLLISON has given injury-hit West Ham a huge boost by returning to
training this week. The Hammers have been clobbered by knocks to some big
names. But Collison - out since the summer after knee surgery - could even
feature in this Sunday's crunch at West Brom. Midfielder Mohamed Diame is
out for three weeks with a hamstring strain and striker Andy Carroll is
crocked long-term with knee problems. Collison said: "It's been frustrating.
Just because it has been my knee injured, everyone has jumped to the
conclusion that I'm walking wounded and will never be the same again.
"That's not true. I've had surgery but I'll back as strong as ever and I'm
desperate to play in the Prem again. It's been a nightmare not being able to
help the lads." Collison, 24, missed a year with a serious knee injury in
2009. Hammers manager Sam Allardyce claimed it was a similar situation to
Tottenham defender Ledley King, who retired after years of battling a knee
problem. Collison said: "My knee will have to be managed to some extent but
it won't make me any less of a player. "I want to play on for as long as I
can. I met Ray Wilkins recently and he played into his 40s. He was such an
inspiration."

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