Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen may skip the remainder of New Zealand's World Cup campaign.

Nelsen is ready to give New Zealand the boot - if his wife goes into labour early.

The Kiwi skipper's second child is due on World Cup final day.

But he said: "If it comes early, it could be interesting.

"If it did, I'd have to get on the plane and head straight home.

"Nothing would stop me being at my child's birth."

Nelsen, 32, faces world champions Italy tomorrow and added: "We believe we can get a result."