Manager – Ricki Herbert

FIFA Ranking – 78

Schedule – Slovakia (6/15), Italy (6/20), Paraguay (6/24)

Qualification – First place, Oceania

Big name player- Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers)

Last time they qualified for WC – 1982

The colorfully named “All Whites” could conceivably be the worst team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.  Consider the following:

• Two members of their squad are not signed by a professional club
• Their best international result ever was a 0-0 draw against Iraq in the 2009 Confederations Cup, the first ever point in a FIFA tournament.
• They lost to Fiji in World Cup qualifying

If you are looking for an underdog club to root for, this is the club to watch.  New Zealand made the World Cup after fairly easily placing first in the Oceania Qualification group but to qualify they still had to win 1-0 in aggregate over Asia’s fifth place squad Bahrain.  Oceania does not include Australia, but does include New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu, which are not exactly soccer powerhouses.  In New Zealand itself, soccer comes in behind rugby and cricket in popularity, and their top club (Wellington Phoenix) plays in the Australian A-league.

New Zealand’s record in international tournaments is quite discouraging.  Their first and only trip to the Word Cup before this year was in 1982, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage and scored only two goals in three defeats.  They have not faired much better in the Confederations Cup, losing eight matches with the one draw against Iraq and having a -22 goal difference.

The man tasked with guiding the All Whites in South Africa is Ricki Herbert, a star defender from the 1982 World Cup squad.  He is the current manager of the Wellington Phoenix and also managed the New Zealand U-23 squad in the Olympics.  In the qualification matches his club played in a 4-4-2 formation but against more experienced competition they may fall back into a 5-3-2 to play more conservatively and prevent blowouts. 

The biggest name player on the club is Ryan Nelsen, a defender for the Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League.  Prior to joining the Rovers, Nelsen played college ball at Stanford for fellow Kiwi Bobby Clark and was drafted by DC United.  The former Rover captain has led their stingy defense and looks to do the same for the All Whites.  He will partner with young Winston Reid, a dual New Zealand-Danish citizen who is an up-and-coming player in Danish football.

The All White attack will be lead by Chris Kellen, a Celtic backup striker, and Shane Smeltz, who notched eight goals during the Oceania Qualification stage and is arguably the best offensive footballer in New Zealand.  The squad is very tall, with an average player height of just over six feet, so their aerial ability is without question.  And they can score at times – they notched three goals against Italy in a friendly last year and defeated Serbia in another friendly this year.

Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup is a major victory for New Zealand this year, so any points in the group stage is icing on the cake for this club.  As such, the other three squads should use the Kiwis to paid their point total and goal difference.  But a team who overlooks the All Whites and fails to take them seriously could become the new high point of New Zealand soccer history.

Thank you Mr. De Rossi for your two goals against Hector Cuper’s Georgia and what goals they were.  With a cannon shot in the 16th minute, coming from over 25 yards out, Daniele De Rossi would provide Italy the match winner.  No chance for the Georgian keeper as De Rossi’s kick from straight out was rising and curved into the upper right-hand corner.

De Rossi went on to add a second goal in the final moments closing this one down for the Azzurri.  Aquilani went close on two occasions of his own and the big difference for the Azzurri was the forced switch to a Roma midfield (exception Pirlo).  It was a breath of fresh air with De Rossi and Alberto Aquilani on at the same time now if Lippi would only add Simone Perrotta to that mix.  For too long have Azzurri coaching stuck to the favored AC Milan midfield of Pirlo, Gattuso etc.  If it takes a Gattuso injury to see the light so be it.  Love the emotion and commitment of Gennaro Gattuso but the man can’t play the total 90 anymore. 

Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie would make the starting XI after surviving a late injury scare. Legrottaglie played the entire 90 minutes while Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Di Natale and Luca Toni all made way for second half substitutes.  The back four were still finding their places in this one and Georgian midfielder Levan Kenia really should’ve levelled 1 – 1 but he stumbled when he had a chance to tap in from six yards out.

Match Highlights

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Starting XI

Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Dossena; Pirlo (Palombo 46), De Rossi, Aquilani; Camoranesi, Toni (Iaquinta 70), Di Natale (Del Piero 56)

Georgia: Loria; Lobjanidze, Salukvadze, Kaladze, Eliava (Kvaskvhvadze 46); Kenia, Khmaladze, Kobiashvili, Menteshashvili (Odikadze 68); Iashvili, Mchelidze (Siradze 54)

Despite an early lead off a well struck ball by Di Natale into the bottom left-hand corner of the islander’s goal, Cyprus with their attacking play, equalized in the 29th minute off the foot of Aloneftis.

Italy have been the victim of poor defending however no blame can be given to Gigi Buffon the Italian keeper, as Cyprus kept pushing and eventually dominated the back four of Italy with a well deserved goal.  

Manager Lippi was forced to make two substitutions early on (a possible excuse for their disorganized state) so that will limit options for the second 45.  Gamberini(4′) and Gross (18′) are the players who made way for substitutes Barzaghi and Cassetti.  Alessandro Del Piero did not start for the Azzurri because of pre-match injury concerns. Manager Lippi has decided to play a two prong attack with Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino up front, supported by Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi on the flanks.

Head to Head Meetings between these two have seen Italy win 5, and draw 1 with 17 goals for and 2 goals against.

For game stats see below, and remember the 2nd half coverage is viewable LIVE at SportsXchange[dot]com for FREE.

Starting XI  for Italy - Buffon, Zambrotta, Gamberini, Cannavaro, Grosso, Camoranesi, DeRossi, Pirlo, Gilardino, Di Natale, Toni

NEWSFLASH – Gennaro Gattuso brought on for Luca Toni at the start of the second half, Lippi has no more substitutions, looks like the manager feels some holes have to be plugged.

Late Update

ITALY WIN 2 – 1 in the dying moments literally off the last touch of the ball Gilardino backheels the ball to Camoranesi who chips it over the final defender for Di Natale to score the winner and his second goal of the match.  This was the most entertaining play of the entire 90 minutes for the Azzurri in my opinion. Marcello Lippi was probably pleasantly pleased with the late recovery but he definitely kept that to himself as the rest of the bench celebrated the late winner by Di Natale.