Brilliant result for NZ, and after watching the match highlights probably the right result.

Nz goal was offside. IT glanced off a NZ players head, then hit the stomach of an Italian. However, the NZ header counts as a pass and the Italian's contact was just a deflection, leaving the player offside. No goal.

De Rossi did go to ground, but that was after not insignificant shirt pulling which in itself is punishable for a penalty. It is harsh, but it (sort of) stands.

As such, a fair result.

Ricky Herbert is too negative, I reckon he blew it, should have brought on Paul Ifill.

well done kiwis! hope you lads go through.Cool-cat you always knock everyone, you are a small minded ,bitter excuse for a fan

Pfft offside my arse, didn't look like Reid got any contact on that ball at all. Even if it did brush his hair, there's no way you could say it had an effect on the balls path and you couldn't expect a referee to pick that up.

Bloody Italy trying to dive their way through the world cup. Disgraceful.

Good work NZ!

Oh Yeah!! I'm just so proud to be Australasian this morning. Great stuff Kiwis. I couldnt have honeymooned in a better country. :) Oh and FUCK YOU ITALY!!!!!!

Congratulations NZ! Keep proving Pim wrong about the A-League.

Fucking diving cheating Italians and they got away with it again.

Hope the cunts get eliminated against Slovakia and NZ get a result against Paraguay.

I think the Italians are guilty of giving Football a bad name so I recommend that they be banished from International matches for 5 years so they can go back to hollywood for further acting lessons. The worst team to watch with their prima donna attitude and sleazy and sneaky ways.
You dont see the Aussies or Kiwis going down and playacting. Spaghetti lovers HARDEN UP.
Algreco
and try to milk things

Great result the boys really did us proud. Before the start everyone said we were going to get smashed yet after 2 games have only conceded 2 goals, one was offside and the other was a penalty.
I was worried beyond measure with Rory Fallon thought he was going to get sent. It was clear the plan was to not contest against him but stand behind his left shoulder so when he jumps with his arm even slightly raised it would be in the area of the defenders head and we now all know how good the italians are at theatrics.
That penalty although technically a penalty was clearly a dive when he saw he would not make it, looked as though someone had tied his shoes together. He should have got a yellow for being a fairy cnut (no offense to fairies).

Definately beleive the Paraguay will be the real test as their style is far more dangerous. They were dynamite against Slovakia (who were rubbish) and with the table as it stands probably cannot afford to lose against us as if italy win and they lose they would be out.
If we go behind against them it could get ugly (4 or 5-0) as we will be forced to chase the game which will open up and play into their hands. We may have only 3 or 4 genuine chances compared to their 12 or so, so we must make them pay to have any chance. I would take a 2-2 draw right now as could see Italy being held 1-1 against Slovakia (who wont play that bad again and who are still alive for a spot)which would put us through on goals.

I am predicting NZs world cup in 2014, if at all existent, to be much like Australia's - a dissapointing shadow of four years prior. Why? Because NZ will today enjoy the spoils of a draw, ignore the footballing reality of the game, and ensconse themselves in the false believe that "team spirit" is enough to do anything of lasting significance in football.

NZ made absolutely no play in this game. Its an awesome result for football in this region for sure, but the reality of that performance was that if the game was played 20 times over, they'd be lucky to get this result more than once or twice. If NZ don't acknoweldge that, just like Australia failed to acknowledge our impotent performance against 10 man italy in 2006), they'll be nothing more than a curious World Cup statistic in four years time.

In this WC, every 'undergod' team that has beaten (or in this case drawn) against a major team, has done so through dogged determination and defensive cohesion. That's fine,of itself, but none of them have come even close to outplaying their opposition, even for sections of the game. Switzerland v Spain, Serbia v Germany, NZ v Italy. NZ didn't even play counter - they simply collected the ball after each and every impotent Italian attack and gave it back to do so all over again.

So yes, a draw is a great result for NZ football no doubt and they should feel proud and spirited. But let's put tenacity and the "ANZAC spirit" aside for a moment --- in a footballing sense, a meaningful sense, what the hell are we celebrating here?

Cheating Kents dive again haha. Well done!! new zuland doin wull. Oh and look the A-League strikes again! A-League > Serie A pim shouldve picked more youth I reckon especially for defence.

We're celebrating the right result for football - a team of battlers and part-timers that should have won against the Holders, but for a dived-for penalty.

Who cares how it came about? They clung on and defended bravely to the last. What are they going to do, outplay Italy?

^^^
What we are celbrating is the growth and promotion of the game in this region. We celebrating the fact that NZ and Aus are now competitive on the world stage. These are the first steps on our path to becoming successful football nations.....and that my friend is worthy of geat celebration!

and Captain Awesome, there is no celebration like a 'geat' celebration! LOL
Sorry mate, I'm not being a pedant, but I just couldn't let that one pass! :)

I've got no problem with celebrating a draw and agree its great for football in the region (you obviously didn't read my thread). But mark by words, if NZ take this result as a SUSTAINABLE measure of their footballing capability they will be lost to obscurity in the future. After Aus vs Italy, we spent all our energy complaining about how we were "hard done by" instead of dissecting our tactical ineptitude. We then proceeded to get spanked in the Asian Cup, are struggling at this world cup and will unlikely qualify for the next. We learned nothing from that experience.

You cannot become a SUSTAINABLY competitive footballing nation by stacking your defenses and hoping you'll convert from one or two set-pieces per game, and that has been a major disappointment at what has been so far a World Cup of very mediocre quality (jabulani aside). I'm not saying NZ shouldn't enjoy the result, I just hope in a few days time when it settles down they won't take it as an indicaton of their actual capability. These results happen in football all the time, most of them are isolated curiosities.

What's with the massive Kiwi love-in this morning? I'm sure our 'friends' across the ditch don't share the same feelings for the Roos . . .

Go home you sheepshagers! Forza Azzuri!

Overall, NZ were outplayed for the majority of the game. But in Football, idf your opposition doesnt pull the trigger, you survive:)

The NZ goal was offside and replays show that clearly and the Italian player did dive but was being held back by the shirt at the time. If you give an Italian any chance to dive, they know when to do it. You see it in just about any game they are in. Australia knows it all too well unfortunately.

The Italians are too slow and old these days and really are no comparison to 4 years ago, so comparing results between this game and Australia's 4 years ago is abit hard to do.

Great result though to hold the Italians.

:lol: x2. NZ was completely outplayed by Italy after they scored the first goal. You lot on here are big bandwagoners. The result went NZ's way, but geez, if you have a good look at the game football wise...Italy looked better for all but the first few minutes of that game.

Great post and spot on.

There'a bandwagon element on here that hasn't been exposed before.

Yep completely out played by Italy but so what they still couldnt score the winner.Bet some of you guys would have taken the same reult against Germany if you could.As for if we get to the cup next time it turning in into something similar as you campaign this time that wont happen,as we have no intention of hiring Pim.Nice to see so many positive comments from you guys but gee a couple of you must lead a miserable life.

DS dosnt matter how good a football team looks as far as i know the result is what counts.yep the way they have played hasnt been pretty but they have also not played to their potential either.End of day we go into the last game with an outside chance of advancing and isnt that what its all about you dont get points for looking good.

To all those saying how Smeltz was offsides...have a look at Cannavaro and tell me he didn't handball it. He literally handed the ball to Smeltz who was more than happy to score. All I can say it was good to see the kiwi's get a goal out of it..would have loved it even more had the ref spotted the hand ball, red carded Cannavaro and pointed to the penalty spot for NZ.

I don't understand the love-in either. I have listened to plenty of Kiwi football supporters and pundits on international radio shows expressing their delight that Australia have fucked up in this world cup when they have done so well.

All White/Wellington fans regularly sing "Same old Aussies, always cheating" at games.

It's time to realise that NZ is hanging onto the coattails of Australian football with little respect or gratitude of what we have gifted them.

It's time to remove Wellington from the A-League.

Did you say "it's time"? Here you go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqMCZBjvmD4

If you go back a few posts you will see I acknowledged the result.

PS - You created your account today just to say that post above, who's multi are you?

Edited by diego's son: 21/6/2010 12:58:40 PM

What, and Australian fans don't use the term "sheep shagger" in their chants when their side plays the Phoenix? Some Perth Glory fans spend half the game doing it.

We are very aware of what Australian football has done for us and we are thankfull.

In the normal course of things a lot of All Whites fans are happy to get behind the Socceroos (I for one own several pieces of Socceroo merchandise), but since Grella got away with that horror tackle on Bertos the goodwill has been lost.

I expect normal service to resume post-world cup however, and for most Kiwi football fans to be behind Australia at the Asian Cup.

"controversial Vincenzo Iaquinta penalty"?

are u mad? shirt pull inside the box is a penalty. full stop.

It Smeltz is interfering with play (he was) then it is offside (as it should have been imo)

:)

You both have no idea what you are talking about. Just because we had to hang on in this game doesn't mean we are going to base our future development on putting 10 men behind the ball.

NZ play with an attacking formation (3-4-3) but sometimes you have to adapt and defend like we did today. That dosen't mean that will be the NZ game plan for our teams going forward.

Just because in your opinion thats the way Australian football has gone dosen't mean thats the we we will develop.

You have both made it clear in your posts here & in Diego's Sons case on the Fever web site that you don't like the NZ team doing well. In this case you are projecting your frustrations about Aussies recent tactics & results onto us and are a bit upset that we didn't get spanked by the Italians.