SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Italy held to shock draw by New Zealand

Record ID: 454985

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Italy held to shock draw by New Zealand
  • Date: 21st June 2010
  • Summary: NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 20, 2010) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF FANS STREAMING OUT OF MBOMBELA STADIUM VARIOUS OF ITALIAN FANS CHEERING AND BLOWING VUVUZELAS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) PHILIPO CINTI, ITALIAN FAN SAYING: "It is normal that Italy starts very slowly, its usually like this with Italy. It's very disappointing. I don't think they had a good finish ... they needed a good finish. They need to start scoring goals at some point." SOUTH AFRICAN ITALY FANS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ALECIO, ITALIAN FAN SAYING: "I am absolutely sure that Italy can still go on and beat Slovakia and draw level with Brazil on five World Cups. Go Italy." MORE FANS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN LUCA, ITALIAN FAN SAYING: "If a miracle happens I think we might be able to draw with Slovakia. There is no creativity... they are a bunch of... I love my Italy but there is no creativity. We are missing Cassano, Balotelli, players who can do something." NEW ZEALAND FANS CELEBRATING (SOUNDBITE) (English) GRANT SHEND, NEW ZEALAND FAN, SAYING: "It was outstanding, we should have won that game. The referee was a bit dodgy. The penalty wasn't really a penalty, we nearly got a goal near the end. It was outstanding, Paraguay next." MORE NEW ZEALAND FANS LEAVING STADIUM / WAVING FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM GRBICH, NEW ZEALAND FAN, SAYING: "When we came in, we thought New Zealand did really well and they really surprised us how really well they did, because they actually managed to go 1-1 with the world champions and that was just great. They have really got a chance next time round, because all we have to do in the next game is draw or win against Paraguay and we can go to the next round... Hey Kiwi!" VARIOUS OF FANS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAACVWXHDIHST9KQPNJAD6UGPA0
  • Story Text: World champions Italy suffered an embarrassing 1-1 draw with underdogs New Zealand in their second World Cup Group F match on Sunday (June 20), a result which complicates their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.
    New Zealand, ranked 78th in the world, took a shock lead on seven minutes after struggling Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro made a hash of trying to clear a free kick into the box and Shane Smeltz poked home.
    Italy had talked all week about the difficulties an unchanged New Zealand would pose from dead balls and they did not deal with the danger even if there was a slight suspicion of offside.
    But Italy leveled on 29 minutes with Vincenzo Iaquinta calmly scoring from a debatable penalty.
    Italian fans streaming out of the giraffe-shape roofed Mbombela stadium in northeastern South Africa, put on a brave face but most of them shared a feeling of disappointment.
    "It is normal that Italy starts very slowly, its usually like this with Italy. It's very disappointing. I don't think they had a good finish ... they needed a good finish. They need to start scoring goals at some point," said a disheartened Philipo Cinti.
    "I am absolutely sure that Italy can still go on and beat Slovakia and draw level with Brazil on five World Cups. Go Italy," said Alecio, a hopeful Italian fan.
    Some fans thought the Italian line up was just not convincing.
    "If a miracle happens I think we might be able to draw with Slovakia. There is no creativity... they are a bunch of... I love my Italy but there is no creativity. We are missing (Antonio) Cassano, (Mario) Balotelli, players who can do something," said John Luca, another Italian fan.
    The decision to award Italy a penalty was described by New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen as a "ridiculous call" by referee, Carlos Batres.
    Many New Zealand fans thought that they could have come out with a 1-0 win had it not been for that questioned penalty.
    "It was outstanding, we should have won that game. The referee was a bit dodgy. The penalty wasn't really a penalty, we nearly got a goal near the end. It was outstanding, Paraguay next," said New Zealand fan Grant Shend.
    Some All Whites fans said they were impressed with the team which comes from a country better known for their rugby prowess.
    "We thought New Zealand did really well and they really surprised us how really well they did, because they actually managed to go 1-1 with the world champions and that was just great," said Tom Grbich who travelled with his wife to South Africa from New Zealand.
    "They have really got a chance next time round, because all we have to do in the next game is draw or win against Paraguay and we can go to the next round... Hey Kiwi!"
    Italy, who wore black armbands following the death of 1968 European Championship winner Roberto Rosato, meet Slovakia in their final group game on Thursday at Johannesburg's Ellis Park needing a handsome win to definitely progress.
    Paraguay, New Zealand's next opponents Thursday, beat Slovakia 2-0 earlier to top the group with four points while Italy and New Zealand have two.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register