World Cup Group F preview: Italy v New Zealand
Italy and New Zealand will be delighted after they took a point from their opening games.
Defending champions Italy struggled against Paraguay, and had it not been for a goalkeeping error allowing Daniele de Rossi to equalise, then they may not have found a goal.
For New Zealand, they were extremely delighted as a last-minute header from Winston Reid gave them their first World Cup point.
The Italians never looked like scoring against a well-drilled Paraguay side, as Marcello Lippi’s men were unable to string a series of attacks. Paraguay keeper Justo Villar gave Italy a gift when he completely missed the ball from a corner. Coach Lippi refused to make a fuss about the stuttering start from the champions. “I have never seen a big team come to a World Cup finals and start at 100 per cent. Teams need to grow throughout a tournament and they do that through their results.
"We're not at 100 per cent but that's the same for everyone. I'm very satisfied with the progress the team is making. I would say 70 per cent of the players are there and when the rest improve physically and tactically we'll score goals and create more chances. There's nothing to worry about,” said Lippi.
Keeper Gianluigi Buffon came off at half-time against Paraguay, and he will miss the game against the Kiwis with a herniated disc in his back. This is a big blow for the Italians, as fears continue to grow that his tournament could be over.
Captain Fabio Cannavaro, playing in his last international event before he retires, has called on his teammates to get over the draw and start again. “A team like Italy has to win these sort of matches. We have to grow up as a team in the next game and concentrate. In the second half, we were more focused and played better,” said the 37-year-old.
New Zealand picked up their first World Cup point, and it was more a case of Slovakia in the first game failing to capitalise on their lead rather than New Zealand playing well. Reid’s header with seconds to go was down to the Kiwi’s team spirit, according to captain Ryan Nelsen. “I think it is down to spirit. You're playing at altitude, it's windy, it's sunny and you are playing a really well organised team. In those circumstances, to create two chances in the last two minutes; you only do it by chancing your arm, by fighting, by giving it everything and the boys did that."
Reid had made a match-saving tackle moments before he scored, and the skipper believes it was a turning point in the match. “Winston is just a young kid, a young man and that is what you have to do in top international sport. You have to keep your confidence and try to affect the game. It only takes a couple of seconds to do something special and he did that. It was not just the goal, he also had a fantastic block when Vittek had a chance to score a second which would probably have killed us,” said Nelsen.
New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert is eagerly anticipating this match and feels they can make the last 16. “It's still a long way to go. The immediate focus is the next game – Italy. But it is possible, we've just got to keep working hard and believing in ourselves and see what happens. We will keep on dreaming. The reality is we have a chance like anybody else. It will be tough but we are competitors and right up there. I am sure the Italians will be hoping to secure three points, we have the utmost respect for them but we will be up for it,” said Herbert.
Italy should be wary of a buoyed New Zealand side and will have to play better than they did against Paraguay if they want to defend their trophy.
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