Italy, eh? Slightly more newsworthy than a goalless draw between Paraguay and New Zealand. But stay with us, because this was a bit special, too. Tedious, yes. But a bit special all the same.
Proof comes with a glance at the group F standings and the realisation that the words “New Zealand” are above “Italy”. The rank outsiders, derided before the tournament as fruitless Kiwis, were better over the past three games than the world champions. Three draws for the nation whose only previous finals appearance, in 1982, brought three defeats.
That is a triumph, even if the dominant emotion in the immediate aftermath of yesterday’s game was dejection that New Zealand failed to turn a minor miracle into a major one. One goal, one solitary goal, and Ricki Herbert’s men would have won the group.
However, while superb at frustrating, New Zealand are not good at creating. They had four shots against Paraguay, the group winners who will face Japan in the round of 16, none accurate. With a total of three efforts on target all tournament, it is amazing they managed to score twice.
Herbert, the coach, said he was “proud and disappointed at the same time. To go three games unbeaten in the tournament, I wouldn’t even have dreamed it. And it would have only taken once chance . . . Can you get any closer? A lot of people thought because we had amateurs we weren’t good enough. That’s dead and buried now.”
Advertisement
Paraguay (4-3-3): J Villar – D Caniza, J Caceres, P Da Silva, C Morel – E Vera, V Caceres, C Riveros – O Cardozo (sub: L Barrios, 66), R Santa Cruz, N Valdez (sub: E Benitez, 66). Booked: V Caceres, Santa Cruz.
New Zealand (4-3-3): M Paston – W Reid, R Nelsen, T Smith, T Lochhead – L Bertos, I Vicelich, S Elliott – C Killen (sub: J Christie, 79), R Fallon (sub: C Wood, 69), S Smeltz.
Referee: Y Nishimura (Japan).