New Zealand and Bahrain level in World Cup betting

New Zealand are level with Bahrain in the betting to decide who will finally make it through to South Africa 2010.

The All Whites came through the first away leg with a 0-0 draw and will need to win on Saturday in the Westpac Stadium in Wellington to make it to the World Cup.

Sportsbet's World Cup betting market sees nothing to choose between the two, with both teams on 2.60 for the win, and a normal time draw is on 3.10.

The psychological battle began earlier this week when an article in Bahrain newspaper The Gulf Daily described New Zealand as a "bunch of bruisers".

Goal.com quoted defender Ben Sigmund as responding: "Bruisers, I haven't heard that one before.

"If they are going to sit there and talk about bruisers, we'll just have to go out there and bruise them, I suppose."

Bahrain have never been to the World Cup before, and New Zealand have featured just once back in 1982, meaning much is at stake on Saturday.

Australia have already qualified for next year's tournament in South Africa, having sealed entry with a 0–0 draw away to Qatar in June.