The Ka Mate of the All Whites strikes terror into the opposition
Do you remember Brandi Chastain’s condescension after the US Women’s team demolished the Kiwis, 4-0 in the Beijing Olympics.
“We have to remember. New Zealand is a small island in the middle of the ocean, so they don’t get a lot of games.”
Brandi, stand up and applaud the All Whites right now. It was a magnificent display by them. They exited the stadium to a standing ovation by everyone including the Italians.
This was not a timid team that went into damage control mode to stop the Italians.
They took the game to them. And there might have been a hint of an offside in the Shane Smeltz goal but weren’t the Azzurri good enough to come back and put the Kiwis to the sword.
Lets put it this way, given Koman Coulibaly’s track record (a linesman for this match), Tommy Smith could have mugged Daniele De Rossi in full view and he would not have given a spot kick. But such has been the inconsistency in officiating that a mild shirt pull by Smith was punished. Maybe it was a make up call. Who can divine such intention?
Robbie Savage who knows a thing or two about fouls:
“That’s shocking. That’s not a penalty, he’s hardly touched him. That’s a disgrace, it’s embarrassing really. There’s slight contact and De Rossi, being a professional, has gone down and made a meal of it. New Zealand shouldn’t get too disheartened.”
With the score reading 1-1 at halftime, New Zealand were looking at a team that would surely storm back with Lippi introducing the attacking talent of Pazzini, Camoranesi, and Di Natale.
But we saw Mark Paston, Ryan Nelsen, Winston Reid, Leo Bertos, Ivan Vicelich, and every Kiwi play their socks off. Paston was magnificent denying Montolivo’s fearsome blast and then Camoranesi from 30 yards out. Wenger, I’ve heard that you might be in the market for a goalkeeper?
23 shots on goal to 3. 15 corners to none. 57% possession to 43%. 571 passes to 310. Every stat in favour of the Azzurri. But they just could not take flight past the Kiwis who remained stubborn to the end.
New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen:
“It was an amazing effort from the lads, lots of determination and guts – and their goal shouldn’t have been, no way. They are an amazing team, Italy, but everyone put in an incredible shift – I’ve cramped every single muscle in my legs!”
Extraordinary. Do we know what this match will do to the rugby nation? We can’t have the Kiwis all playing football after this, can we? They can advance if they draw against Paraguay and the Slovaks hold Italy. A coin toss? Rule nothing out in this World Cup.