New Zealand's Lord Nelsen: Italy 1-1 New Zealand

Italy line-up: Marchetti, Criscito, Chiellini, Cannavaro (c), De Rossi, Pepe (Di Natale, HT), Iaquinta, Gilardino (Camoranesi, HT), Marchisio (Pazzini, 61'), Monotlivo
New Zealand line-up: Paston, Lochhead, Reid, Vicelich (Christie, 81'), Nelsen (c), Elliot, Smeltz, Killen (Barron, 93'), Bertos, Fallon (Wood, 63'), Smith

Another shock result in this year's World Cup but Italy only have themselves to blame. Yes Nelsen, Paston and co. pulled off some fantastic heroics but Lippi has a great problem on his hands. New Zealand fielded a somewhat surprising 4-3-3 formation which was certainly a bold move and it paid off within seven minutes. A lofted free-kick was flicked on to Smeltz, who in fairness was in an offside position, and he slotted home to give the Kiwis a shock lead. However from there Italy just held all-out attack and Chiellini had a great chance to equalise from a corner but wasted it. Montolivo came closer still as he smashed a 25 yarder against the post much to the relief of spectator Paston in goal. But just before the half-hour mark Italy were level; Smith hauled De Rossi down in the box and Iaquinta slotted the penalty home.

The second half carried on with Italy constantly attacking, the inclusion of Camoranesi and Di Natale boosted the attack. But New Zealand's defence stayed strong and prevented Italy from taking the lead. Captain Nelsen put in a huge shift as did Paston and they fully deserved their hard worked point. Substitute Wood nearly snatched a unlikely victory with a one-on-one against Marchetti who just slotted a whisker wide of the post and scores finished level. Italy could well be a casualty in this World Cup and their problem is attacking options, they don't seem to have a prolific international goalscorer such as Del Piero or Paolo Rossi and this is why they can't win games. The omission of Camoranesi from the starting line-up again seemed, to me, to be ludicrous. He changed the game against Paraguay and should have started today, another question I have for Lippi is why leave out Gattuso? I know he doesn't boast any real attacking threat but he's a Roy Keane type player which would allow Lippi to place three attacking midfielders around him without any defensive worries. One final query for Mr.Lippi is the exclusion of Giuseppe Rossi from the squad, they have very few attacking options as it is and Rossi provided a threat with goals in him in the Confederations Cup last year, scoring a beauty against USA. But Italy for me aren't going much further past the group stage if indeed they do progress.