Serbia v New Zealand (featuring riots)

Xavi6

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/worldcup2010/55364/default.aspx

Vidic calms rioting Serbia fans

KLAGENFURT - Stand-in Serbia captain Nemanja Vidic had to appeal for calm over the microphone as his country's fans rioted during the second-half of a 1-0 World Cup warm-up defeat by New Zealand on Saturday.

Around 10,000 Serbia fans, mostly expatriates living in Austria, attended the match and trouble erupted in the second half when they threw burning flares, bottles and missiles on to the pitch.

Several of them then invaded the turf and had to be dragged away by security before Vidic, deputising as skipper for Dejan Stankovic, stepped in to urge calm as the match officials and New Zealand's players were getting ready to walk off.

The match was held up for several minutes before restarting.

The ugly scenes compounded a miserable afternoon for Serbia, whose experimental line-up was bereft of pace and ideas.

New Zealand, in contrast, stuck to their trademark hardworking approach and it paid dividends when Shane Smeltz scored the only goal in the 22nd minute.

The striker took a long ball into his stride and easily beat right back Antonio Rukavina, one of Serbia's second-choice starters who disappointed, before he steered a low shot into the bottom right corner.

The Kiwis came close to doubling their lead only three minutes later, when Rory Fallon saw a thunderous shot parried after he was set up by Smeltz.

Serbia improved after the break as Zoran Tosic made several darting runs on the left wing but his good performance was the only positive that coach Radomir Antic can take from an afternoon he will quickly want to forget.

The Serbians play Poland in Kufstein on Wednesday in the other match of their build-up in Austria and take on Cameroon in Belgrade on June 5 in their final warm-up before they depart for the month-long World Cup finals in South Africa.

Serbia are in Group D along with Germany, Australia and Ghana while New Zealand contest Group F with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUK510zRt2Y

Seaneh

Rory Fallon plays for NZ?

Handy league one player for swansea a few years ago, big lump of a lad.

Headshot

vidic probably told them

"sit down or ill f***ing murder ye"

eagle eye

A bit surreal but then again so is losing to New Zealand.

therecklessone

The English disease.

eagle eye

therecklessone wrote: »

The English disease.

Is that Association Football you are talking about?

MagicMarker

therecklessone wrote: »

The English disease.

mike65

I'll give therecklessone a free pass by assuming he is being sarcastic, but I can't be certain of that I have to say.

therecklessone

mike65 wrote: »

I'll give therecklessone a free pass by assuming he is being sarcastic, but I can't be certain of that I have to say.

Mike gets the gold star, MagicMarker gets a silver one for showing us his ability to use

newballsplease

I only saw 1 idiot there... not much of a riot. What were they rioting about anyway? or just general hooliganism?

The_Kew_Tour

Riot?

I seen worse in Temple Bar on Saturday night

Xavi6

adrian280582 wrote: »

Riot?

Yes riot. Read the story.

trouble erupted in the second half when they threw burning flares, bottles and missiles on to the pitch.

I seen worse in Temple Bar on Saturday night

Sure you have

m@cc@

eagle eye wrote: »

A bit surreal but then again so is losing to New Zealand.

I was at the Australia v NZ game and I can tell you you the Australians were very lucky to come away with a win. The Kiwis will be no pushovers at the WC if they play like that.