Sumner: Believe the dream | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Reaching the second round of the World Cup might look impossible for the All Whites, but Steve Sumner - skipper in the historic 1982 campaign - reckons they might do it.

It would be one of the great World Cup achievements if they did. However, Sumner, who will receive FIFA's Order of Merit - its highest honour, and an award that has gone to football luminaries like Pele, Beckenbauer, and Sir Bobby Moore - in South Africa, sees potential to do more than just front for the three group matches.

"I like what our guys are saying," he said.

"John Adshead set us the target (in 1982) of scoring goals. We knew we could defend OK.

"(This time) they're talking of getting points, and I say go for it, pick up points, and even qualify for the second round."

He sees the road to round two like this:

Beat Slovakia, far from Europe's strongest team, in the first match;

Draw with Paraguay in the last group game - and if Paraguay and Slovakia draw and Italy beats everyone, the All Whites are through.

Sumner is the first to admit that this is the perfect scenario and would require a bit of luck for the Kiwis, but stranger things have happened in international football. Mighty Italy, winners of four World Cups including 2006, have famously lost to North Korea and Ireland at finals.

"You've got to dream and believe as a player you can get something out of it," said Sumner. "On our experience in 1982, I'd say go with confidence, back yourselves, and back your mates."

On the field at that level, the important thing was to be more decisive, he said.

The other three group F teams would all see New Zealand as a chance to get points and score goals, he said, and the group was likely to come down to goal difference.

Against teams like Italy the first 20min would be so important. "You've got to try and get into the pace and set the pace right from the word go."

The FIFA award gives Sumner a trip to the World Cup to receive it when he hadn't expected to be going.

He will be a guest of honour at the World Cup opener between South Africa and Mexico and also watch the All Whites' opening match, and hopes to get his biggest supporter, his wife Jude, to the World Cup, too.