By Andrew Gourdie
The All Whites' achievements at the World Cup have been celebrated in Wellington today with a parade to honour our undefeated footballers.
Thousands turned out in the capital to congratulate the All Whites' on their successful campaign – but the players are still waiting to reap the rewards.
While the All Whites' performances in South Africa sent the rumour mill spinning with promises of big money moves to big clubs – a month on, it's all gone quiet.
“Since I got home there's been bits and pieces but as I say nothing that is going to make me go anywhere,” goalkeeper Mark Paston says.
There were suggestions Leo Bertos was heading to Germany with Bundesliga giants Werder Bremen.
“Unfortunately they're just rumours so there's been a little bit of interest from some small clubs but nothing big yet,” Bertos says.
In fact of the 11 players who started every match at the World Cup, only one player has confirmed a move.
Ivan Vicelich has signed a four-month deal to play in China; a former All Whites skipper with English Premier League experience believes the attitude of big clubs is changing.
“To actually say, ‘hey, these players that have played three good games on the bounce, are they capable of playing 50 or 60?’, and that's a big ask for some of those clubs to gamble on,” Danny Hay says.
Winston Reid seemed the most likely player to get picked up after the World Cup following his headline-grabbing heroics, but he's still waiting and hoping for a dream move to England.
“It's a pretty sluggish market, particularly in Europe right now, but I think there's clubs interested but we'll see how it goes,” Reid says.
Shane Smeltz sealed a lucrative move to China, but after walking out on the club after just five days, he is now working with the Australian Players Association to get back to Gold Coast United.
If there is a lesson for these players to be learned from Smeltz' sorry saga, it's that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
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