All Whites: What a story!
Roar Guru By mactheblack, 21 Jun 2010 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
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- 2010 World Cup, all whites vs italy, FIFA Confederations Cup, football, Italy, new zealand all whites, Ryan Nelsen, World Cup
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What a story! What a shock! New Zealand All Whites’ thoroughly deserve praise for holding Italy to a 1-1 draw in Nelspruit.
Must admit, I, like many of local football fans in South Africa, don’t even know the names of the New Zealand players, except for captain, Ryan Nelsen. Italy’s big names roll off the tongue quite easily: Camaronesi, Cannavaro, etc. The big name players who could not beat their opponents, who were playing in only their second World Cup.
For a team having to qualify against teams like the Solomon Islands, coach Ricki Herbert after this showing can really build on a team for the future. They need to invest – and invest properly in this team, both strategically and financially.
They gave everyone a taste of what was possibly in store after a good showing in last year’s Confederations Cup in SA. What was really satisfying was the fact that New Zealand thoroughly deserved this result. A rock-solid defence allied with keen tactical awareness won the day.
Kudos to the goalkeeper – in my book the man of the match. He gave a sublime goalkeeping display, a pillar of stone in the defensive line, together with his colleagues.
A win would have been even sweeter, more historic. A draw is the result but a victory of huge significance to New Zealand. It’s not about how poorly Italy’s millionaires played on the day – that would be taking the credit away from New Zealand. They fought like tigers, defended like demons and gave the Italians a run for their money.
The night the bunch of mostly part-timers did ‘The Italian Job’. Italy don’t even deserve a mention – it was incredibly New Zealand’s night.
June 21st 2010 @ 2:32am
dasilva said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:32am | Report comment
It was a great result but “The night the bunch of mostly part-timers” is a bit inaccurate. Only Ivan Vicelich and the substitute Andrew Barron is a part time who plays in the New Zealand Semi-Professional league. You may count Simon Elliot who is currently without a club but his last club was in the MLS. The rest are professionals abeit playing in some unfashionable club in the A-league, Major League Soccer and the lower leagues in England.
June 21st 2010 @ 5:26am
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 5:26am | Report comment
Oh god there always has to be someone trying to take something away from New Zealands effort.
Do you realise how petty you sound?
This wasw a fantastic result for New Zealand football and I am off to work one very happy Kiwi, and it’s a Monday!!!
June 21st 2010 @ 9:03am
AndyRoo said | June 21st 2010 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Do you know how silly you sound!
Dasilva is just pointing out these players actualy have some decent credentials and a lot of them are full tiem pros.
It’s actually you that sounds disrespectful in insisting Ryan Nelson be called a semi pro.
NZ are the good news story of this world cup Socboy…. you should bloody enjoy it rather than getting upset.
June 21st 2010 @ 9:31am
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 9:31am | Report comment
sounds like the classic case of sour grapes.
Not to mention the making up of rubbish by you.
Show me where I have said Nelsen is a part time player come on I would love for you to show me.
Seems your research and quoting skills are as inept as the Italian team at the moment
June 21st 2010 @ 9:53am
Maximus said | June 21st 2010 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Socboy. We are behind you. Full stop.
June 21st 2010 @ 10:02am
AndyRoo said | June 21st 2010 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Article Quote “The night the bunch of mostly part-timers did ‘The Italian Job’”
Dasilva ““The night the bunch of mostly part-timers” is a bit inaccurate. Only Ivan Vicelich and the substitute Andrew Barron is a part time who plays in the New Zealand Semi-Professional league.”
Sookboy “Do you realise how petty you sound?”
So why were you upset with Dasilvas remarks? His pointing out that the starting 11 have 10 professionals and one former professional (Vicelich) is completely accurate and not demeaning. I actually think it’s insulting and patronizing to disagree with him, do you work for the BBC?
I brought up Nelson as an egample rather than list the entire team but Smeltz, Fallon, Wood, Killen, Elliot, Bertos, Smith, Nelson, Paston and Reid all strike me as deserving more than ” bunch of mostly part-timers “. It doesn’t dimminish from their achievment at all too be insulted and think that it does means I think you don’t quite grasp how big an achievment this is! Theirs no diminishing it.
Their aint no sour grapes here….. I have Kiwi parents and have more than likely been to more all Whites (admittedly cheering for the opposition) games than you and was 100% on board the Kiwis when they Played Bahrain, Slovakia and Italy.
June 21st 2010 @ 10:26am
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 10:26am | Report comment
So you still can’t show me where I said Ryan Nelsen is a part timer, you instead go on with some long winded spiel and still can not prove anywhere where I said something you accuse me of saying.
One word for you starts with M ends with a t
And now you resort to saying you have been to more matches than me, how could you possibly ever know?
You are just digging a deeper hole for youself
just incase you haven’t worked out the missing letters I’ll help you out .uppe…
June 21st 2010 @ 11:06am
AndyRoo said | June 21st 2010 @ 11:06am | Report comment
So you still can’t show me where I said Ryan Nelsen is a part timer, you instead go on with some long winded spiel and still can not prove anywhere where I said something you accuse me of saying.
I clarified what I was implying if you think the team is a” bunch of mostly part-timers” (you hammered Desilva for questioning it ) then you are going along with 5 or so out of the starting 11 are semi pros.10 of the 11 play for fully professional clubs and the one that doesn’t has 8 years in dutch football under his belt.
Craig Moore and Ruka who nhave played both game so far don’t have a club …doesn’t make the socceroos a team of amateurs.
And now you resort to saying you have been to more matches than me, how could you possibly ever know?
Well it wasn’t a **** measuring statement was letting you know it’s not sour grapes, I’m thrilled for NZ . But if I had to guess I would say you’re a Rugby fan because their the only ones who would think this achievement would be diminished by the players be professional, no football fan in the entire world thinks that.
Fair enough get on the bandwagon Socboy but I really think you are misreading things if you think NZ’s achievement is being diminished by pointing out that NZ football is not ***house. And don’t start bagging people that were on the bandwagon before you!
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/12/06/new-zealand-need-to-learn-their-place/
Andyroo suggesting we play against NZ every year
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/15/new-zealand-all-whites-lead-the-way-for-the-minnows/
Andyroo celebrating NZ qualification.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/05/18/the-socceroos-game-plan-in-south-africa/
More Andyroo celebrating NZ qualifying for the world cup, so you don’t have to click on the link here’s the quote
o My absolute favorite was NZ vs Bahrain fan comments before that match. Especially given NZ qualified for the world cup
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2009/11/11/1617537/world-cup-fan-vs-fan-new-zealand-bahrain
Best quotes from Mohammed of Bahrain
“Bahrain for sure, they have experience and New Zealand is under pressure at home and in front of their own fans. The first leg proved that we are the better side. ”
What did you learn about the other team?
“B -We are better than them. They are a very average team and play old-fashioned football. I didn’t see any strengths that New Zealand had. ”
Who is the dangerman from the opposition?
“B -I can’t say that I know any. I doubt that there are any dangerous players in the New Zealand team
June 21st 2010 @ 2:00pm
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
Another baseless attempt to justify your attack on me at the beginning of this thread,
Now you make even more ridiculous assumptions and accuse me of being a bandwagon jumper it just get’s even better.
I’ll leave you to do the name calling and make assumptions because it is hysterical at best.
You make false accusations and couldn’t prove I had said anything so you take your rant in a whole new direction now that is Classy I’ll give you three points for that effort!!
June 21st 2010 @ 2:16pm
dasilva said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
You didn’t say that Ryan Nelsen is a part timer but you called me sour grapes for pointing out the team is not full of a part timer. The Ryan Nelson being called a part timer is a perfect analogy to why that statement “mostly part timers” is incorrect
The fact is its disrespectful to the players of New Zealand to be considered part timers. Most of them are professional footballers and all of them had played professional football in the past.
June 21st 2010 @ 2:19pm
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
And there you go again assuming comments were made towards you, when in actuality they were not.
My comment was made in response to Andy roo not you at all Dasilva.
So how about you stop reacting before reading and follow the thread it is not I who have resorted to underhand tactics in this column at all, the name calling and assumptions are coming from you, Andy and Chris funny that
June 21st 2010 @ 2:28pm
AndyRoo said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
I will keep it simple then
Who are the part time players in the NZ starting 11?
I count 1….. Australia has one without a club at all in our starting 11.
June 21st 2010 @ 2:47pm
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
Like I said show me where I have said they were part timers Andy,
I have not even mentioned that but somehow you have tried to twist anything into an argument.
Go away and come back when you have some solid facts because as of now you are just making up a whole load of rubbish!
June 21st 2010 @ 3:11pm
dasilva said | June 21st 2010 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Socboy
You never said that they were part timers and yet you criticise me for saying they weren’t part timers and then you criticize Andyroo for defending the comments about part-timers
If you weren’t upset about my remarks that they weren’t part timers
What was about my comments that cause you to take away the achievement of the New Zealand. What was my comments that caused you think I was petty?
Until you are going to address what caused you to start the accusation it was perfectly reasonable for Andyroo to assume that the issues was about the part-timer comment
June 21st 2010 @ 1:08pm
dasilva said | June 21st 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
I’m not too sure how I’m trying to diminish New Zealand’s effort
Team of A-leaguers, MLS players and lower leagues in England drawing with a team with mostly Serie A players is a great achievement
Nevertheless they are not part-timers.
June 21st 2010 @ 3:27am
pothale said | June 21st 2010 @ 3:27am | Report comment
Amazing result. Reminds of the time when Ireland beat Italy 1-0 in the WC in 1994. Great result for another minnow nation at this World Cup in which the star teams have really failed to shine.
June 21st 2010 @ 7:22am
sheek said | June 21st 2010 @ 7:22am | Report comment
The magnificent performance of the All Whites is putting the Socceroos’ tepid effort to date under the spotlight.
We have the better players, the bigger names, but we’re struggling. It opens up a lot of questions I don’t want to answer right now…..
But great stuff, Kiwis….. !
June 21st 2010 @ 8:54am
jimbo said | June 21st 2010 @ 8:54am | Report comment
The Kiwis are made up of mostly A-League players with a lot of heart. Smeltz and Paston play in the A-League.
Hopefully with Pim gone we will pick our best players from now on and not those on the biggest pay packets sitting on the benches of some of the most famous clubs in the world,
June 21st 2010 @ 9:19am
Harry said | June 21st 2010 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Great stuff New Zealand.
At least one NZ football team knows how to play above itself in a World Cup!
(Sorry OJ and other kiwi’s, couldn’t resist a cheap shot).
June 21st 2010 @ 10:01am
DaMan3000 said | June 21st 2010 @ 10:01am | Report comment
I think that’s fair enough eh!
Are we gonna wear our black away strip v Paraguay?
June 21st 2010 @ 10:36am
Harry said | June 21st 2010 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Hows things in NZ? Nationwide support and world cup fever taking hold I hope. Good luck to them, a great story.
June 21st 2010 @ 9:33am
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Maybe Australia might want to come crawling back and play a team who know how to compete lol
Australasia doesn’t seem to bad now does it
June 21st 2010 @ 11:52am
AA said | June 21st 2010 @ 11:52am | Report comment
No, we still don’t want to play NZ.
June 21st 2010 @ 10:04am
ballboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Great result NZ and Italians should hang their heads in shame for another example of their National side having to cheat to win a game.
I have been looking forward to this World Cup for so long but will not watch another game due to the dives and poor referring decisions metered out to Australia, NZ, Brazil and others.
June 21st 2010 @ 10:54am
Lazza said | June 21st 2010 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Have you given up on Rugby after the ‘bloodgate’ cheating fiasco? Does Australia’s Cricket side impress you with their ‘win at all costs’ attitude?
The NZ player grabbed his shirt in the penalty box and was spotted by the referee. That’s a penalty? They are not always consistent but if you do that you’re taking a big risk.
Well done Kiwi’s by the way.
June 21st 2010 @ 10:04am
Harvey the Scouser said | June 21st 2010 @ 10:04am | Report comment
well done to the All Whites, enjoyed the game thoroughly, except for the Italian playactin
June 21st 2010 @ 11:20am
betty b said | June 21st 2010 @ 11:20am | Report comment
agree totally – what a story for NZ. That Italy could not score a goal (penalty aside) says everything for the all whites. Even the commentators retained an expectant call to the end. What will this mean for NZ football? Will Ricki Herbert be lost to bigger dollars elsehere? Will some NZ players pick up contracts in the big time? Will NZ give football a creditable place alongside rugby? For sure, kiwis will crow forever on these results.
Paraguay match will be interesting. They looked sharp last night, but their opponents looked pretty average.
June 21st 2010 @ 11:28am
Chris said | June 21st 2010 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Funny thing is a lot of Kiwis are so consumed by hatred of Australia they don’t realise that almost all Australians are actually barracking for the All Whites.
Shows what could have been for Australia if Pim didn’t hate the A-League so much. Instead our team is a bunch of pampered princesses with no fight – most of whom have spent so much time in Europe they don’t have Aussie accents anymore.
New Zealand select a group with nothing to lose – and reap the rewards.
June 21st 2010 @ 12:38pm
betty b said | June 21st 2010 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
yes, I’ve also noticed that Chris. A bit sad, but it’s in their national character. Can’t say I agree that our guys have no fight, or even worry much about their accents. They showed plenty v Ghana and expect same v Serbia. Those few nz players from UK/Europe also lose their accents – that’s the price we pay for not having a quality league. I think the coach has the biggest influence on our style and attitude (v Germany) but I don’t know what Graham Arnold’s job is. Surely he should ensure Aust content. Let’s hope the kiwis stop thinking this is a competition with us and advance to the next round. Then they’ll really have something to crow about.
June 21st 2010 @ 12:42pm
Al said | June 21st 2010 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
I don’t care that they hate us, I’m still supporting them as it is great for the A-League and also to see the sport grow over there.
June 21st 2010 @ 1:08pm
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Consumed by our hatred that would have to be one of the most ridiculous and self centred comments I have ever seen on this blog yet.
We don’t hate Australia at all we actually cheer you on at most sports, what we can’t stand is the we are so great and deserve to be held on a pedestal attitude that your teams and yourself seem to have.
Australia talk a good game pity they can’t play a good game.
Your lot (socceroos) seem to think they are so much better than what the really are, the Kiwis know we’re huge underdogs but we fight for every thing we push well above our weight in most sports we play. We don’t expect to have everyone kneel at our feet, we know we have to earn that right something the Socceroos seem to have missed. They barely scrapped past New Zealand having to resort to undehand tactics had it been a world cup two players would have gone for a skate.
What really shows through here is the fickle nature of so many Australian supporters who just can not accept that the Kiwis are doing very well better than the Australians at this stage. It seems you will look at any avenue you can to turn their achievements into something negative.
You so we hate you which is so far from the truth it’s funny, I’d say any kiwi reading your post would pity you more than anything!
June 21st 2010 @ 1:10pm
Ben said | June 21st 2010 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Good observations Chris. I’d like to support the All Whites but I’ve read so much from Kiwi supporters that just doesn’t show any respect for the Roos . . .
June 21st 2010 @ 1:21pm
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
This coming from a nation who thought New Zealand weren’t worthy opponents to play as a build up to the World Cup the same nation who were only weeks ago were saying New Zealand didn’t have a chance.
The Hypocrisy is laughable at best. Now the Kiwis have the good fortune of playing some fantastic football you are all looking for any chance you can to get some negativity going.
The Socceroos do not deserve accolades because they have so far failed to meet their much hyped status, It wasn’t Kiwis hyping them up either. The deserve no respect as they showed the Kiwis none.
But that’s right we’re expected to bow down to Australia now aren’t we, silly us we’ll just pack our toys and go back to our little corner
June 21st 2010 @ 2:48pm
Ben said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
Boy, that’s a little bit of an over-reaction. We’re all very happy for NZ, truly, but the chip on the shoulder attitude is so plainly obvious. If you cared to notice, most Aussies think that NZ are playing a better brand of football than the Socceroos, who have not lived up to their own hype – agreed. But you can’t honestly tell me that holding a faster, fitter and physically stronger team for 65 minutes with only ten men whilst retaining half the possession and then almost pinching a win is not a laudable effort? Australians everywhere are praising NZ for their admirable effort, but I’ve seen little recognition flowing in the opposite direction.
A huge congratulations to NZ for their draw, but let’s keep things in perspective – they had 30% of the possession, had 3 shots to 25 and 0 corners to 15. The All Whites played well, but judging by those statistics, luck (or inept Italians) had a lot to do with the outcome.
June 21st 2010 @ 2:50pm
Socboy said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
So Mark Pastons oustanding saves and the All Whites defense had nothing to do with it Ben is that what you are saying?
June 21st 2010 @ 3:05pm
Ben said | June 21st 2010 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
This reply again, is symptomatic of the chip on the shoulder attitude I just referred to. I clearly said: “the All Whites played well”. Sorry for not expanding on this comment, which I will do now for your satisfaction: Nelson is an excellent captain who is inspirational and leads by example – he played brilliantly last night. Also Paston had a great game in goals. And again, congratulations on the result. BUT – given the statistics, and the complete dominance of the game by the Italians, it is clear that there was some luck involved . . . as it is in every game.
June 21st 2010 @ 6:41pm
AA said | June 21st 2010 @ 6:41pm | Report comment
Paston was Ok but not flash. He did what was required, but he wasn’t extraordinary.
June 21st 2010 @ 2:58pm
Al said | June 21st 2010 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
Most of the Italian shots at goal were efforts from way outside the box, credit to the New Zealand defence for not allowing the Italians an easy passage to goal. The one time they managed it they dived their way to score.