To see Socceroo and Kiwi fans at the MCG...

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For much of the game you would not have known that the All Whites were ranked 78th in the world by FIFA, 58 places below the Socceroos.

After Middlesbrough and former Celtic star Chris Killen gave the Kiwis the lead in the 16th minute, the All Whites almost went 2-0 up when another Killen shot just minutes later unluckily hit the post before the Socceroos snatched an undeserved win in the second half thanks to goals from Dario Vidosic and then Brett Holman with virtually the last kick of the match.

And while Australia played with just the one striker in Killen's club team-mate Scott McDonald upfront, the Kiwis' three-man strikeforce of Killen, Shane Smeltz and England-based Rory Fallon - who scored the winning goal in the memorable 1-0 win over Bahrain in November which took the Kiwis to the World Cup - constantly caused the Socceroos defence all kinds of problems.

Herbert said the form of Smeltz, Killen and Fallon alone proved the All Whites would not be the pushovers most experts think they will be in South Africa in a group in which they are paired with highly-rated Italy but also lesser lights in Paraguay and Slovakia.

"The history of New Zealand (football) tells you - you play one up front and you get 10 behind the ball and hope for a set play (to score) so hopefully we have changed that sort of thinking with the personnel we have," he said in reference to Smeltz, Killon and Fallon.

"I think we caused them (Australia) all sorts of problems with Rory's ability in the air while Chris is a good finisher and with Smeltz we have seen what he can do in and around the box.

"Maybe we surprised (people in Australia) with our performance but it was a good positive statement of what we are about and where we are at and although we have got a lot of work to do yet leading into the World Cup I was very pleased."

While Australia and New Zealand met regularly when both were in the Oceania confederation - indeed the All Whites famously knocked Australia out of the 1982 and 1990 World Cups in qualifying and also beat the Socceroos in the 1999 and 2002 Oceania Nations Cup Final - Monday night's clash was their first meeting in five years following Australia's move into Asia.

However Herbert says his team's performance showed his team was more than a capable opponent for the Socceroos and would like to see regular meetings between the two nations - as is the case in cricket through the annual Chappell-Hadlee trophy.

"It was a great match and I can only thank the FFA (Football Federation of Australia)," Herbert said.

"It was great for us to have (a World Cup warm-up) game here (in Melbourne) in front of a big crowd and with the big rivalry back again and hopefully that continues.

"Given the right timing and with all players fully fit I think it would be an amazing opportunity for the game (regular Australia-New Zealand fixtures) and hopefully people went away having enjoyed the game."

To see Socceroo and Kiwi fans at the MCG...

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