Braintree to City of Angels: NZ veteran's unlikely World Cup journey

AI Summary

New Zealand defender Tommy Smith’s unlikely journey to the World Cup includes playing in lower-tier English football with Braintree Town. Despite his club's relegation, the veteran earned a call-up to the national team’s World Cup squad.

Veteran New Zealand defender Tommy Smith admits there's only one reason he toiled away all last season in an English football backwater -- a ticket to his second World Cup.Smith's club Braintree Town were relegated to the sixth tier of English football at the end of the season, but the 36-year-old centre-back still earned a shock call-up to New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley's World Cup squad.