Compiled by CARL O'MALLEY

Here, there and everywhere: All-Whites' journeymen take road well travelled

NO DOUBT countless pundits will refer to the New Zealand team that takes on Slovakia today as the journeymen, mainly because they have no idea as to who they are, but there is some truth in the assumption.

Midfielder Simon Elliott is without a club at the moment but has played for nine in his time as a professional, his last club the San Jose Earthquakes, who let him go at the end of the 2009 season.

Winger Leo Bertos has also been at nine clubs since starting out in 1997, while goalkeeper James Bannatyne finds himself at the World Cup after just 57 appearances at eight different clubs.

The daddy of them all, however, is Wynton Rufer. The most famous All-White, whose goals took them to the 1982 World Cup where they suffered three defeats, played for 13 clubs in his 22-year career.

The striker played in six different countries and won six trophies with Werder Bremen between 1989 and 1995.

Ones to watch: Marek Hamsik and Gervinho

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI would be advised to keep an eye on Marek Hamsik when he lines out for Slovakia against New Zealand today.

The Napoli midfielder will be facing the Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign and is the go-to player for his country.

He has been top scorer for his club in the last two seasons and, at nearly 23, looks destined to be one of the best around for some time.

With Didier Drogba unlikely to feature for the Ivory Coast in today's game against Portugal, Sven-Goran Eriksson will be hopeful Gervais "Gervinho" Yao Kouassi can compensate.

The Lille attacker is coming off his best season with the French club, having scored 13 in 28 appearances.

The 23-year-old appears to be the Chelsea striker's heir apparent with the Ivory Coast and may well cause the likes of Ricardo Carvalho some problems in the Portuguese defence.