What A Result, Yet What Could Have Been…

June 20th, 2010 | by: ChrisS |

Well, more history has been made, the All Whites got a draw with holders Italy, and there was more than a hint of disappointment that they didn’t take all three points.

Lochhead mans up to Zambrotta

After taking a surprisingly unsurprising early lead when a Winston Reid free kick was turned in by a combination of Fabio Cannivaro and Shane Smeltz, Italy were once again rewarded for their old tricks when Daniele de Rossi was awarded a very soft foul by Tommy Smith in the box. Unfortunately, Mark Paston was unable to ensure that justice prevailed, although he did go on to have a Man of the Match level performance that will probably see him taking Premiership calls before too long.

Form a nice orderly line, please

The draw is being trumpeted as being on of the biggest results in the history of the World Cup by ESPN, but one must realize the special circumstances. This is Italy, and they knew they have one more game, against a Slovakia team that is already down. If they do not win that game, that will be the historic event. If New Zealand had won today’s game, they could have played for a draw in their third game, with a Paraguay team that would also go through with a draw. Italy (and those that they can influence) was not going to allow that. Now New Zealand need to win next week, and by more goals than Italy….right….well, at least it’s nice that these scenarios are even being considered, and Ricki Herbert said as much in his post game interview.

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ChrisS

I’m curious about that…the espn commentators were talking about how that goal was offsides then said that because it touched off cannivaro somehow it was ok…did not seem to quite make sense. another case of the ref being confused on a set piece, but obviously they aren’t the only ones
Goarnaut

Bravo brave Kiwis.

Inspiring. I am not from NZ, but Serbia supporter.

But your side showed the most guts and heart that I have seen anywhere. A little bit of luck and you could have won the game outright.

Even so this is a huge victory.
JoseJosue

Well this match made a believer out of me
Mack

Dude, just be glad the offside goal was allowed and those hugh elbows went unpunished. It all evened out.
Mack

Those “high” elbows. Sorry.

Good result for NZ by the way.
http://japan.worldcupblog.org/ Aidan

Agree on the offside goal – but “high elbows”? The Italians were simply trying to get Fallon sent off. His arms were up but he wasn't elbowing anybody. Cannavaro and Chielini cried about it (when they weren't rolling around on the floor) and then dished it out themselves. In neither cases were the fouls that bad.

It's very sad for Italy that they thought they really needed to get New Zealand down to 10 men in order to be able to beat them. Very poor.

But yes I agree, the goals evened themselves out – neither should have been allowed.
Arcade Zen

Well done Kiwis! Though it was a draw and the result was as good as if New Zealand has won the World Cup. They defended like true Maori warriors. Who would have thought of all this six months ago? I bet the whole world was putting their money on Italian’s to trash you guys. But you guys defy all odds. Congratulations!

As for the Azzurris? Well you can’t beat these guys at the Rugby World Cup and you can’t beat them here either. Perhaps the best thing to do is give up your throne and leave South Africa immediately. Bet tons of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese awaits you upon your arrival in Rome.
mike

Just a correction there, the All Whites don't have to win by more margins than Italy. If they both win, they'll both go through.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/RLJFM62CMJVEB6CQGJ5FWIG4IQ David

Dear New Zealand friends, please find enclosed musings on tomorrow's game, but am makinf references to great upset of your team as well.

English fans, don't fret, the mice will not roar anymore

To start it off simply: tomorrow, there are only two possible scenarios: 1. England plays brilliantly (not likely) 2. England acts as in the first two games (likely) and will be generously awarded one, and if necessary, two penalty shots.

'cause England will win, as a departure of English superstars (well-deserved, I hope you agree) would be financially non-viable, even devastating, for FIFA. True, FIFA has liked upsets, surprises if you will, but (almost) always made sure they were kept in the qualifying round as the moral winners. This year, unfortunately, Slovenia is standing on the way of FIFA and FIFA will not “hesitate for a moment to put her down.” And believe me, FIFA will do it rather gently with what I call “A Subtle Touch of FIFA Hand”.

The Big 5, so far, scored only 8 goals in 10 matches, won only two, lost three games: Italy, England, and France have yet to win a single game (with only one game to go). I guess it is a high time FIFA helps these poor countries as it has already done in the past, from 1930 to 2006. Hell, what am I talking about, “past is never dead and buried, it hasn't even passed yet”, and with old habits dying so hard, FIFA is doing it right now, in front of our own eyes…

On Sunday, I went for a late lunch and as I just stepped through the doors of the pub saw 1-0 for New Zealand. “Great,” I said, and then there was this sad guy sitting next to TV screen saying he was cheering for Italy (he was a Slovenian born in Italy). I responded that I always cheered for the little ones, but that he should not worry: in half an hour, Italy would get a penalty kick. And they (Italians, I mean) got it in 15 minutes; a subtle foul that was indeed there, so you cannot hold anything against the referee. Then I started joking with the pub personnel how the great diver Gerrard would get on Wednesday, first one penalty he would miss, and then another one to finally score it. They somehow did not agree with me, and also did not find it so amusing. Well, the hope dies last… But imagine Italy losing against New Zealand: it would be almost impossible for them to qualify to the next round.

Yesterday, something awkward happened: Swiss guy (actually Kosovo Albanian) was first sent out, so to make Switzerland weak and meek, and then Spain was also awarded another subtle penalty shot which they rightfully missed (there is still God somewhere – well, at least sometimes). Spain needs to win their group as they should not play against Brazil. And now they are in a good position to do so but with 3-0 they would mucho improve it. (Explanation: in the last round, Spain beats Chile 1-0, and they will be first in the group providing Switzerland beats Honduras with less than two goals difference; if Switzerland-Honduras ends 2-0, then Switzerland is on the top, so yesterday's 3-0 would have provided much, much more comfort to the “furia”.)

You guys probably don't remember the 1982 World Cup game between Spain and Yugoslavia, when Spain was generously awarded a penalty shot – few minutes after Yugoslavia scored the leading goal – for a foul committed more than 1 m outside of the penalty box area (you can find it on youtube and watch it); Spain later won 2-1. Well, you likely read about the one of the Top 100 controversial moments of World Cups, the fixed game Austria-Germany during the same tournament that kicked out great Algerian team. “Hand of God” of A.D. 1986 was so obvious, and such a flagrant cheating that it made me personally so upset, I had not watched football for years: but as I grew older, I realized there were tons of “subtle touches of FIFA hand” and other “hands of God” (like most recent ones committed by Henry or Luis Fabio – the big ones can always get away with it) and “divings” (e.g., recent friendly match England-Slovenia).

Yesterday night, BBC News triumphantly (and with firm voice of relief) announced that superstars are reasserting their power. On the flight from Munchen to Dusseldorf (also yesterday), I read in the Wall Street Journal an article Why the mice keep on roaring; in Financial Times, one guy was proudly proclaiming that Big 5 account for only 5 % of the world population, yet they have won majority of titles from 1966 to 2006; maybe, he should have looked Western Europe's GDP (nominal or PPP) instead.

My father always taught me that “the best predictor of the future is the past.” So, English friends, don't worry, Slovenia with the population of Northern Ireland and GDP more than 4 times smaller than that of Ireland, will not roar any longer; little brown mouse (as Ian Anderson would sing) “smile your little smile … take some tea with me awhile,” but the all powerful eye of FIFA will be watching from above and make sure the mouse is “sitting in the cage…” one way or the other. Although I wish it would be different: the little kid's feeling for justice just doesn't want to die…

Enjoy the games.
ChrisS

Nice post…watching it happen today…France following orders?…this one will be really hard to explain…it’s certainly wouldn’t be subtle…I live in California, and the Mexicans will not be very happy