New Zealand’s Shane Smeltz against Italy in their friendly match at the Super stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday June 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
After the wonderful and dramatic late equaliser from Winston Reid against a disappointing Slovakia, New Zealand’s attention now turns to a dream date with the world champions (midnight tonight EST).
If the All Whites made the world sit up and take notice in their opener, imagine what they would if they took anything off the Azzurri?
So far, in a tournament that gets better by the day, we’ve seen the likes of USA, Switzerland, Mexico, Serbia and Algeria take points off the supposed big guns, but if the Kiwis can do the same here, it would be an upset to top the lot.
Late yesterday TAB Sportsbet had Italy at $1.20, the Kiwis at $13 and a draw $5.85.
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi, impressive in Italy’s opening 1-1 draw with Paraguay, is quoted by AAP as saying a loss would seriously impact their chances of getting out of the group, a la France in Group A.
“We’d have a drastic position in the standings,” De Rossi said. “It would be as serious as if New Zealand failed to get out the group stages at the Rugby World Cup.”
“There are teams that we should beat, we’re better. We need to play our game and of course be careful. They have big players so we won’t be playing the ball in the air. But we’re Italy and we should win.”
While it sounds cocky, there’s no doubt De Rossi is right.
He was backed up by central defender Giorgio Chiellini, who told fifa.com; “[New Zealand] are very physical. We played them in a friendly last year, they’re very dangerous in the air and from set pieces. But everyone knows that we should win. We have to give away as little as possible and to keep the ball on the ground rather than playing long balls. I don’t even want to think about the possibility of a draw or something else.”
But for the All Whites, it’s about the mission of making football the number one sport in New Zealand, as Rory Fallon confided to fifa.com;
“It [beating Italy] would just totally change the landscape of the nation. We’re trying to be the front-runners to show that football is the biggest sport on the planet. If we get through to the next round, we can change New Zealand. I think football now has a decent chance of becoming the most popular sport back home.”
Naturally enough, it will have to be the game of their lives. Ryan Nelsen, so influential against Slovakia, will look to keep things tight, and with Tim Brown back in contention, it will be interesting to see if Ricki Herbert sacrifices one of his three strikers in order to add more numbers to the midfield.
Despite the glorious opening game point, there is room for improvement from the likes of Leo Bertos, Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen. Bertos’s battle with young left back Domenico Criscito looks one potential avenue.
As I wrote in my Q & A on Wednesday, the Azzurri were impressive despite drawing with Paraguay. It was a high class affair, with plenty of aggression, good technique and will-to-win.
Italy had their game-face on, but there is room for improvement, particularly in the front third. Despite an impressive performance from Simon Pepe, Marcelo Lippi might find room for prolific Serie A striker Antonio Di Natale in place of either Vincenzo Iaquinta or Alberto Gilardino, while midfielder Mauro Cameronesi made an impact off the bench.
Of course, with Luigi Buffon out, Federico Marchetti continues in goal.
How much work he gets will be the interesting thing.
Join me here at 11.45pm tonight EST for a LIVE running analysis of the game in the comments section below and be sure to share your thoughts before, during and after the game.
Az
Guest
As an Aussie - I say: GOOOO NZ. And I hope all the aussie supporters and the Aussie team all go and support NZ to help them get over the line.
SamSport
Roar Pro
Along with a lot of people I can understand the rationale behind the Italian behaviour, but it doesnt make it ok. They don't just dive when they've been fouled, they do it when there was a legit challenge and when they're in the wrong also. So they are trying to con the ref.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
He went better than Close AF... when SBS were doing their preview and Dempsey and co were their normal patronising selves (in regards to anyone not European or seeded) about the odds for first goal scorer I was also thinking "Smeltzy could shock them".
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Nakal, How about those Australasians of ours---well done lads. The A-League is proud of "youse all" and keep the mutton-off and show no respect to those so called super power nations.. Go youse Australasians. One more good result and we have made Australasian History. :D
proud kiwi
Guest
AA its Fantastic how we can be outplayed, yet still fight out for a draw our Guys are so Manly. You may be right in many cases about the Kiwi Fans the fact is fans from all sporting codes support our teams on the world stage its part of being a Kiwi and thats maybe why we always do well we play for our team our coach our family and for all of New Zealand knowing they are behind us and we don't tend to be too critical of poor shows as no one knows more than a team themselves when they have let themselves down and maybe that is our secret. Soccer is being followed by a lot of us that are Die Hard Rugby Fans and although I appreciate the skill and fitness required it is a shame they can't make it a bit more physical for us girls that like to see a bit of rough and tumble rather than just tumble, moan and groan and just a little too much for my liking not so sexy but like you say thats the rules of the game I was more wondering what a ref has to gain in some of the games after all acting does come into most sports whats the saying....play the ref...personally nothing worse than men rolling around on the ground in the typical I'm faking it position of on their backs holding their knees or worse still the fetus position where as the in the air challenges by both teams were far more impressive although not legal in many cases ...as ruled by the ref in game vs Italy, I think our All Whites should just keep doing what they are doing works for me they seem to be having the time of their lives out there and good on them sure whatever happens from here they will all remember the moment for years to come and we will certainly remember them. I had a sports dinner in the last year having the honour of meeting John Ashead what a guy, with his type of passion spreading and the coaching of young talent right from primary school think this is only the beginning for New Zealand Soccer. The world has seen what happens when you put our men on the Rugby field and with Soccer Fever building watch this space..... onwards and upwards the future looks sweet for more to come in the future and like a lot of the comments say not bad for a country of 4 Million
katzilla
Roar Guru
Little bit hurt there AA? Not getting enough attention?
Socboy
Guest
Awesome AA you've really out done yourself in the muppet stakes
katzilla
Roar Guru
Owned again. The first comment in the last live comments of NZs game was about how they would get shown up against quality opposition. Only one Australasian team is getting shown up this world cup pal, its the one with the goal difference of -4.
proud kiwi
Guest
Ha Ha as a Kiwi I thought the Australasia headline was very funny and oh so typically Australian I'm just glad they are taking so much notice of our lads and can see by so many comments it is driving them bats well the ones that aren't real sports fans and appreciate great sporting feats regardless of by whom. A sports fan rather than a an expert in soccer I will always get up in the middle of the night to see NZ compete on the world stage as they heart they have always shown you can never write them off I watched Michael Campbell take our the US Open, many a Silver Fern battle and although very young at the time I remember sitting on the edge of my seat with Dad and the disappointment of the final bowl in what should have been an exciting end to a great cricket match ... the ball we all remember need I say more I always find the little things Australia do and say in the media or don't rather funny and surprised that some get so sore at what great sporting teams achieve. I remember being in Aussie on holiday when the Silver Ferns played the Aussie Diamonds big build up in Media how what great form the girls were in and what they were going to do to the Kiwi Gals. Next day I couldn't find a thing in the paper and was surprised until my Husband explained that as NZ won why depress their fans any further by giving the Kiwis a hand shake in the Media. Is it just the Media or are a lot of Australians not keen on clapping for great achievements by sports teams other than themselves, for me I just find it funny so many get sore
tania
Guest
Great to see the Aussies are taking notice of our Men who cares about Paraguay the boys have made NZ Proud....Discipline and composure a 10 man battle would not have been smart so hats off to how cooling they took it to Italy fine defensive effort with great Discipline . Not sure how the Aussie Lads have been going???? Haven't taken any notice but wondering if perhaps not so good as more interest is being taken in the All Whites
tania
Guest
well guess that quality oppostion you are wanting to see put NZ in ....its place.... isn't the Italy lads
dasilva
Roar Guru
A bit harsh Did anyone not recognize that this was not a gutsy back to the wall, put up the barricades draw with Italy. No one here has said that Italy didn't dominate possession, didn't create the best chances (In fact the New Zealand goal was offside and they probably should have lost this match) and didn't outplay New Zealand.
dasilva
Roar Guru
Trust me, I enjoy the disappointment of the Azurri as much as anyone I don't condone the italian behaviour but I try to understand their rationale behind it.
Nakal
Guest
Well if you can respect that type of dishonesty & hypocrisy that's your call, but I don't... never have & never will. What I respect is honest hard work & guts shown by the Kiwi team. It's the only reason I watched this game to see the Kiwis wipe the smile off the Azurri and a few Aussies faces...
dasilva
Roar Guru
It's not that clear cut A good dived requires a good striker. Also a good defender is less likely to be victim of a dive Why? If a defender makes a clumsy attempt at a tackle, the striker will decide to dive over the challenge even if there's no contact rather then running into the tackle and trip or fall and win the penalty legitimately (they will claim it will risk injury) or try to dribble around it (because it takes more work). A good defender will position themselves and challenge the ball cleanly giving the attacker less opportunity to do a convincing dive. An example, look at Lucas Neill who clumsily felled to the ground which set up a perfect opportunity for Grosso to take advantage of it. Again a player who is excellent at dribbling the ball is much more likely to set up diving opportunities in the game because they are more likely to wrong foot the defenders. That's why the most nortorious divers are generally technically gifted and excellent dribblers.
AA
Guest
NZ got outplayed by Italy after they scored early. Some of you have no real football knowhow.
dasilva
Roar Guru
There was initial shirt pulling, then De rossi dived. Sure there was no shirt pulling when he dived, but the referee sure the initial shirt pulling from the New zealand player. Then saw De rossi falled to the ground and join the dots Is it a stretch on sportsmanship, perhaps. However but shirt pulling is still a foul and De rossi milk it making sure the referee saw it. The yellow card, perhaps that was more dishonest. Hey I didn't say the Italian weren't dishonest either,
Nakal
Guest
Its obvious to me that you don't need skilled defenders or strikers to win a soccer game but good actors...
Nakal
Guest
The shirt pulling didn't cause the penalty, what caused the penalty was a man diving to the ground in the penalty area... he wasn't being held when he dived...as for Fallons yellow card he was in the air when the Italian jumped up & into his elbow.. where is the foul in that??? Look at both replays...
dasilva
Roar Guru
Playing devill's advocate here but all of those offences by the New Zealand teams are by the rules fouls. Including the shirt pulling that caused the penalty. The Italian embrace a rather pragmatic philosophy that if players foul you and therefore break the laws of the game. Then you should make sure you draw attention to the foul. This is why there is diving, injury feigns etc We will say they are behaving dishonestly. They will say we were behaving dishonestly by the physical challenge.