DAY 10 REVIEW

Day 10 of the World Cup saw one of the biggest shocks of World Cup history, as 2000/1 outsiders New Zealand sensationally held world champions Italy to a 1-1 draw. And with a little more luck, it could have been even worse for Marcello Lippi’s men. This means victory in their final game against Paraguay will take the All Whites into the second round. They could not have got off to a better start, taking the lead inside seven minutes. Simone Pepe gave away a free-kick towards the halfway line. Former Fulham midfielder Simon Elliott whipped the ball in, and the hero from the opening game Winston Reid flicked it on. World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro could only help it into the path of former Mansfield, FC Wimbledon and Halifax striker Shane Smeltz, who was nerveless in prodding the ball past Gianluigi Buffon’s understudy Federico Marcehtti. The Italians slowly but surely came back into the match, with first Gianluca Zambrotta going close from long range, and then Ricardo Montolivo rattling the post from 30 yards with a swerving shot. The almost inevitable equaliser came just before the half hour mark, but in controversial circumstances. A cross from the left saw Daniele de Rossi tumble rather easily under a challenge from Ipswich defender Tommy Smith. Vincenzo Iaquinta easily stroked home the penalty, and it was game on. Italy finished the first half in the ascendancy, but Marcello Lippi was still proactive at the break, bringing on Antonio di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi for Alberto Gilardino and Pepe. After there wasn’t a marked improvement, on the hour, the talented young striker Giampaolo Pazzini replaced the ineffective Claudio Marschisio. Italy were being reduced to long-range pot shots, which suited New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert down to the ground. Montolivio and Camoranesi stung the palms of goalkeeper Mark Paston, but the underdogs twice came close to winning. Midfielder Ivan Vicelich struck a fierce volley just wide, before 18 year old striker Chris Wood, on as a substitute, turned Cannavaro inside out before firing just wide with the keeper beaten. But despite late pressure, the imperious Ryan Nelsen and his men held on for a famous point that keeps New Zealand’s World Cup dream alive.

The earlier game in Group F gave one of these teams the opportunity to take control of the group – and this opportunity was taking by Paraguay, who beat a lacklustre Slovakia. The Eastern Europeans had no answer to the incisive passing and quick interchange of Paraguay’s front three of Roque Santa Cruz, Lucas Barrios and Nelson Haedo Valdez. Santa Cruz, Cristian Riveros and Valdez all went close, before fine interplay between Barrios and Enrique Vera saw the former shoot just over the bar. After 27 minutes however, the same combination was not to be denied. Slovakia gave away the ball towards the left touchline, and the ball was worked back in-field to Barrios. The skilful forward bided his time, before releasing Vera who had made an excellent run from deep. The midfielder curled the ball into the corner, first time, with the outside of his right foot for an excellent goal. This brought a bit more life into the Slovakians, but despite Kornel Salata heading over unmarked, Santa Cruz almost doubled the lead after more sloppy defending, only to be denied by keeper Jan Mucha. Paraguay were strolling through the second half, a dangerous policy when the lead was only a goal. But the Slovakians had neither the flair or invention to punish the South Americans, with the much vaunted Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik particularly disappointing. They were finally put out of their misery with four minutes remaining, when Riveros smashed in a fierce drive from the edge of the box – leaving the winners needing a point in their final game against New Zealand to progress, and the losers staring elimination in the face.

The final game of the weekend gave us something we had wanted to see ever since the first ball was kicked in anger – Brazil finally arrived at this World Cup, after an unconvincing opening win over North Korea. The Boys from Brazil beat Sven Goran Eriksson’s Ivory Coast more easily than the 3-1 scoreline suggests, and the Africans will have their work cut out to qualify now. They were by no means the finished article, but there were enough flashes of brilliance to suggest the South Americans are finding their stride. Didier Drogba returned to the starting line-up for the Ivorians, just 16 days after breaking his arm, surprisingly replacing the impressive Gervinho. But too often he was isolated as his teammates defended in vast numbers, and struggled to get into the game. After a stodgy opening period, Brazil took the lead after 25 minutes. Kaka, showing flashes of his brilliance which have been so lacking at Real Madrid this season, slipped in Luis Fabiano, who took it round the last defender before smashing a fabulous shot from a tight angle into the roof of the net. Just after half-time, the striker scored his second, in both brilliant and controversial circumstances. He flicked the ball over one defender, before brilliantly jinked around another before finishing clinically left-footed. But despite looking like there was at least one, if not two handballs, there was barely a protest from the Ivorians. Minutes later, Drogba got his first sniff of goal, heading Aruna Dindane’s cross just wide, but after Kaka had brought the best out of keeper Boubacar Barry following a flowing move, the same player escaped down the left to cut the ball back for the onrushing Elano to sidefoot into the net and kill the match. But minutes later, the smiles of the former Manchester City midfielder turned to despair, as he was involved in a nasty tangle with Didier Zokora and was stretchered off. Brazil got slightly careless, and a long ball from Yaya Toure exposed a shocking offside trap, allowing Drogba to meander into the penalty area and glance the ball into the corner of the net. But it was too little too late, and tetchy scenes towards the end culminated in Kaka being sent-off in controversial circumstances – first being booked for pushing Yaya Toure, then receiving a second yellow a minute later following an innocuous collision with Ivorian substitute Kader Keita, who went down holding his face despite their being no contact with that part of the body. This was an unsavoury end to an entertaining game.


PLAYER OF THE DAY – Ryan Nelsen

In a game which is usually dominated by attackers and flair players, the Blackburn Rovers defender and New Zealand captain deserves a more than honourable mention here, His Premier League experience was crucial as he helped his country withstand a barrage of attacks from the world champions with a courageous display. He is the star turn in a limited squad, but he made sure they were more than the sum of their parts. On the few occasions the ball did make its way past him, his keeper Mark Paston was also superb. Nelsen’s outstanding moment came as the match was drawing to a close – right-back Gianluca Zambrotta cut inside and unleashed a left-footed shot that seemed destined for the top corner. But who flew himself in front of the ball for an outstanding block – that’s right, the head of Ryan Nelsen.

GOAL OF THE DAY – Enrique Vera.

It would have been easy to choose either of the goals scored by the outstanding Luis Fabiano. But I think Paraguay’s first was better, because it was so incisive in build up and execution, and we have now seen all the South American teams turn on the style. One minute Slovakia had the ball towards the left touchline. They lost possession, the ball was worked in-field to Lucas Barrios, and he waited for the run from deep from Vera, who finished beautifully with the outside of his boot when the ball was played into his path. You’re rarely likely to see two better consecutive touches.
MOMENT OF THE DAY – New Zealand.

The unheralded antipodeans showed there is more to football than talent – hard work, teamwork and a collective identity are also pretty important too. Their goal was scored by a former AFC Wimbledon, Mansfield and Halifax striker, and their country doesn’t have a professional league – the country’s top team, Wellington Phoenix (also managed by coach Ricki Herbert) play in Australia’s A-league, and apart from Ryan Nelsen, there are few recognisable names. However, with a bit more luck, the All Whites could have completed a sensational win, as West Brom’s teenage striker Chris Wood turned World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannvaro inside out before firing inches wide. What a day this was for New Zealand football.

COMEDY MOMENT OF THE DAY – Luis Fabiano and referee.

As Fabiano is trotting back to his half having doubled his tally with a controversial goal, the referee asks him if he controlled the ball with his hand. It seems quite curious that if the referee thought this was a possibility, he didn’t disallow the goal. Anyway, the Sevilla striker claimed adamantly, and not unsurprisingly, that the ball struck his chest. I think the jury’s still out on that one!

COTROVERSY OF THE DAY – Kaka’s red card.

A match sprinkled with some outstanding quality ended in disgrace, as a number of confrontations between the Ivorians and Brazilians in the last few minutes culminated with Kaka receiving a needless red card which rules him out of Brazil’s academic final group game, and maybe more. He need not have got involved with first Yaya Toure, and then Kader Keita, but in fairness, he definitely did not touch Keita’s face to warrant that reaction from the Galatasaray player. But, after Rivaldo’s shenanigans in 2002, maybe it’s a case of what goes around comes around?

FANTASY TEAM

There were yet more nondescript performances by my players. Zambrotta went close with a couple of efforts to earn himself an attacking bonus, but he could not keep out the mighty Kiwis at the other end to earn a clean sheet. And Marek Hamsik, the Slovakia playmaker, again failed to live up to his reputation as one of the most inspiring young players in European football.