Group F - Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

[Athlai]

**** wonder where we'd rank in the world now?

 

[_Ed_]

Right, now I'm going to try to get some sleep, if I can. Night, guys. Historic day!

If you're still not convinced how big this is, check out the ESPN.com front page.

 

[Bahnz]

Nelsen was just a colossus tonight, just killing any and every chance of a goal that came within his postcode. Vicelich was magnificent too, feel a bit sorry for Tim Brown, can't see any chance of him getting back into the starting 11, even if he were to be fit by friday.

 

[pasag]

NZ

 

[Somerset]

Nelsen was just a colossus tonight, just killing any and every chance of a goal that came within his postcode. Vicelich was magnificent too, feel a bit sorry for Tim Brown, can't see any chance of him getting back into the starting 11, even if he were to be fit by friday.

Thats two in a row where Nelson's been a giant in defence, even more impressive when you consider hes got two relatively inexperienced and young right and left backs to work with - but hes marshalling them superbly and playing out of his skin. Been sensational to watch.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

 

[G.I.Joe]

You can't possibly drop the goalkeeper after that performance. That would be beyond ridiculous - it's like being dropped after a double century.

Not that that's never happened before

Well Done NZ!

 

[Matteh]

Think it's amazing that a minnow like Italy can struggle onto a draw against mighty New Zealand.

Ah no wait, this isn't rugby...

 

[social]

Love iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!

Is NZ the world's greatest sporting nation?

4 million people and a team from their 828th ranked sport draws with the world champs and makes them look horrible in the process

As for Italy - take your overrated, overpaid, over-protected, gelled up, worst WC winning team in history, and **** off back to your hairdresser taking your incompetent refs with you!

 

[NZTailender]

Awesome result! So stoked with the All Whites - the little team that could.

Who'd a thunk our greatest challenge now may be in fact Paraguay?

 

[Furball]

Was pretty poor at times IMO, its a shame the referee didn't let the play continue when there was clearly a fair contest for the ball and a theatric from the Italians - the dive that got them awarded a penalty would've scored well off the high board at the Olympics. Either way, makes the draw all the more memorable given every second aerial ball in the Italian half seemed to result in a free kick.

It was a penalty. There's no provision in the laws of the game that allow you to treat who you're marking at a corner to a bout of WWE wrestling.

 

[Quaggas]

Congrats to the All Whites on a fantastic game!

Curious if anyone's seen the following article by Paul Rees in the Guardian on Saturday, and what's your reaction as NZ and/or rugby fans? (pardon if it's already been posted/discussed)

New Zealand rugby in fear of an All Whites takeover

Is this just WC fever, or a realistic analysis?

 

[Matteh]

It was a penalty. There's no provision in the laws of the game that allow you to treat who you're marking at a corner to a bout of WWE wrestling.

It's technically a penalty, but it's very very soft given Di Rossi wasn't going to get on the end of that cross and more often than not those aren't given, especially with the dive.

 

[Smudge]

Don't want to jinx him, but Paston looks a bollock waiting to be dropped to me. Doesn't instill confidence with his handling or his control.

Congrats to the All Whites on a fantastic game!

Curious if anyone's seen the following article by Paul Rees in the Guardian on Saturday, and what's your reaction as NZ and/or rugby fans? (pardon if it's already been posted/discussed)

New Zealand rugby in fear of an All Whites takeover

Is this just WC fever, or a realistic analysis?

WC fever. I hope for NZ Football's sake that they take full advantage of the exposure and the cash injection this time around, unlike after 1982, but rugby will always be number one.

 

[L Trumper]

As expected australians are crying aloud about the penalty than kiwis. Even in the minute by minute reports all over the internet it was australina who are whingeing.....
For the record thats a penalty, yeah it was soft. But arguing if that was a penalty every match has 20 penalties is bull****. On the contrary, players stop this wrestling nonsense in the box. After the penlaty, none of the defenders in the match resorted to shirt pulling in side the boxes, which is good for game.
Oh!! by the way, the freekick that paraguay scored agaist italy is never was one, imagine the out cry if it happened for italy instead of against them. All the whiners and whingeing boys around the world would have a field day...

For the australians, it was four years ago and there is no one hell aus was going to win that match so stop moaning. And it was a penalty then too....

 

[PhoenixFire]

You have to realise that everyone in football whinges about something at one point or another during every single match. Diving, crap refs, crap players, overpaid players ect. So much wrong with the sport, but it is still enterataining for some reason. Imagine if FIFA grew a pair of balls and managed to get rid of all the rubbish that comes along with it.

 

[L Trumper]

You have to realise that everyone in football whinges about something at one point or another during every single match. Diving, crap refs, crap players, overpaid players ect. So much wrong with the sport, but it is still enterataining for some reason. Imagine if FIFA grew a pair of balls and managed to get rid of all the rubbish that comes along with it.

 

[Burgey]

Wonderful from NZ, just wonderful.

Major footballing powerhouse gets iffy penalty to save blushes vs much smaller nation shocker.

 

[Ausage]

Haha go you Kiwis. Awesome result.

There's no way that the Italians diving and rolling around can be condoned. Honestly how anyone on this forum can say it's anything but utter garbage is beyond me.

Good to hear Nelsen was awesome again. Maybe he'll start putting performances like that in for Rovers again

 

[Burgey]

As expected australians are crying aloud about the penalty than kiwis. Even in the minute by minute reports all over the internet it was australina who are whingeing.....
For the record thats a penalty, yeah it was soft. But arguing if that was a penalty every match has 20 penalties is bull****. On the contrary, players stop this wrestling nonsense in the box. After the penlaty, none of the defenders in the match resorted to shirt pulling in side the boxes, which is good for game.
Oh!! by the way, the freekick that paraguay scored agaist italy is never was one, imagine the out cry if it happened for italy instead of against them. All the whiners and whingeing boys around the world would have a field day...

For the australians, it was four years ago and there is no one hell aus was going to win that match so stop moaning. And it was a penalty then too....

What's up your arse then mate? People find the way the Italians throw themselves to the ground when a light zephyr blows across the ground disagreeable. What's the problem with that?

It's a classic Boy Who Cries Wolf scenario. You can't carry on the way they do, then expect that when they actually have a genuine grievance for the world to look upon them with any pity. It's a blight on the game.