World takes notice of All Whites
Stuff
Last updated 10:36 21/06/2010
The unlikely success of the All Whites continues to capture the hearts and minds of the world media, with praise being heaped on the tournament's plucky minnows.
The Kiwis appear to have absolved all previously-held doubts about them not deserving a place at the sport's showpiece, holding the current world champions to a one-all draw overnight.
While also criticising the performance of the Italians, ranked 73 places above New Zealand, media outlets have heaped praise on Ryan Nelson and his troops.
The UK's Guardian website called the draw the "feelgood hit of the summer".
"Extraordinary stuff. They put in such a resourceful display, and were led sensationally by the brilliant Ryan Nelsen."
Italy's "minnowphobia" continued: "But today is all about New Zealand, who have infused this World Cup with the sort of innocent, everyman charm that was seemingly lost to top-level football."
In England, The Telegraph's correspondent Rory Smith waxed lyrical:
"All over the glistening, ultra-modern Mbombela Stadium, patches of white whirled, New Zealand shirts stripped from chests and held aloft in defiance and delight. The team that came as cannon fodder had just detonated Italy's World Cup hopes.
"The reigning champions, of course, can still qualify for the last 16 with victory in their final game against Slovakia. They most likely will. But any pretence Marcello Lippi and his side had of retaining their trophy was exposed as folly by the team from the ultimate backwater, the proverbial team of part-timers and no-hopers ....
"There was nothing lucky about this point, though, for New Zealand, standard-bearers of the smaller nations. They qualified by beating the likes of Vanuatu ... but any doubts that they might not have deserved their place can be cast aside."
According to the Observer, the All Whites defended "like giants".
Italy were "uninspired and unable to break down dogged defending even with a mountain of possession", but "that should detract in any way from what was unquestionably New Zealand football's finest hour".
The current world champions dominated the match but in the end they "huffed and puffed but could not do enough to win".
The Observer criticised the Italian centre-halves for "collapsing as if poleaxed every time they were involved in an aerial challenge, Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini reacting as if allergic to some fairly innocuous contact with Plymouth's Rory Fallon".
The Independent conceded Italy's overall dominance but "outstanding" goalkeeper Mark Paston kept the All Whites in it.
The draw led the USA's Sports Illustrated website which reported that neither goal should have stood but pointed out that Italy, in spite of having the supposed easiest draw of any footballing superpower, had failed to live up to their billing.
It criticised Italy's theatrics, in particular those of captain Fabio Cannavaro as an "embarrassment".
"Every World Cup needs underdogs, and there is none more appealing than the Kiwis. So pray for Slovakia to pull the upset and send Italy home where they belong."
Other outlets were less forthcoming in their praise, though they recognised the guts of the All Whites.
The Financial Times called the All Whites "a dogged but technically average New Zealand team".
The draw would not go down well with Italian fans and media who were "likely to inflict the same mauling on the misfiring Azzuri that the English and French media have handed down to their teams", it said.
Italian media were full of backhanded compliments, with La Gazzetta calling the All Whites "a team of excellent athletes, but mediocre footballers".
Smeltz's early goal "seemed like a nightmare, but it wasn't: Italy was losing."
"Despite an immediate reaction, Italy was not able to turn things right: New Zealand played long balls to their giant forwards, the Italians suffered physically, while their opponents helped their cause often using their elbows.
"It was Italy's mistake to respond with similar tactics, with long passes to Gilardino, who was repeatedly beaten to the ball by Herbert's centre-backs, who aren't exactly lightening fast."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/world-cup/3834701/World-takes-notice-of-All-Whites