Italy -v- New Zealand, RTÉ and ITV, 3.00pm

RichTea

As a self-acclaimed Italophile I'm very much looking forward to this one.

The Azzurri weren't particularly special in their first game against Paraguay (1-1) but showed enough to at least ward off any major criticisms.

I'm looking for them to bounce back emphatically here and win by at least 2 goals. Gilardino and Montolivo please!

Pinturicchio

Gila-Iaquinta set for New Zealand

The Azzurri are in Nelspruit for tomorrow’s match with New Zealand, as Alberto Gilardino looks set to partner Vincenzo Iaquinta.

The Italy squad had its final training session in Southdowns College this morning, but Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon did not take part due to their injuries.

The latest indications from training suggest Marcello Lippi will switch to a 4-4-2 system, which proved more effective in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw with Paraguay.

Question marks remain over who will start up front, but Gilardino and Juventus striker Iaquinta appear to be the favourites.

Simone Pepe keeps his spot out wide with Claudio Marchisio moving to the flank from his trequartista role in the 4-2-3-1.

Lippi is effectively retaining the same starting XI that faced Paraguay, but ordering them in a different fashion.

http://www.football-italia.net/jun19r.html

Closed ac

Italy should win this comfortably. I'd say 3-0.

_Bella_

Come on New Zealand!

Wolfe Tone

Come on Italy! People laughed when I picked them as my WC winners, they have started not that bad at all when compared to others. When Pirlo gets back it will be pulled together. Wish DiNatale was starting though. One of the best in the world imho.

everdead.ie

1-0 new zeland

_Bella_

OH MY GOD! Go on New Zealand!

~Marky~

Go on the New Zealand lol

MagicMarker

lol

The Sparrow

NZ Ahead Brilliant!!

What was Cannavaro at?

JerryHandbag

Mamma Mia!

_Bella_

Thought Italy were in there!

445279.ie

Jesus, can't believe NZ have taken the lead!!

Seems to have given Italy the kick up the arse they needed tbh

Paul Tergat

FFS

was offside. Cmon Italy

cruiserweight

Well offside for the goal

Sherifu

Disastrous stuff from Italy

SarahBM

why are the italians wearing black arm bands???

ParkRunner

The Sparrow wrote: »

NZ Ahead Brilliant!!

What was Cannavaro at?

2nd game in a row Cannavaro found wanting in defence!

Dont be at yourself

Did Cannavaro not get the last touch to knock it on to Smeltz for the goal?

JerryHandbag

Was just watching "greatest world cup shocks" on youtube before this. This would be up there

ShaneU

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Was just watching "greatest world cup shocks" on youtube before this. This would be up there

So would the last 4 days.

dor83

SarahBM wrote: »

why are the italians wearing black arm bands???

In memory of Roberto Rosato.

IvySlayer

SarahBM wrote: »

why are the italians wearing black arm bands???

Roberto Rosato, a former Italian defender died today.

everdead.ie

Lovely strike

IvySlayer

Not a bad effort from Zambrotta there.

_Bella_

Loving the Italian dramatics

tbaymusicman

Fruck me the italians are some shower of cheating divers disgraceful antics

everdead.ie

Great strike great bend on it

_Bella_

What a strike... very unlucky!

_Bella_

PENALTY! unlucky for NZ decision could have gone either way

prinz

If all else fails throw yourself down.:mad:

Sherifu

Great strike, then a dodgy dive.

IvySlayer

Didn't see it, deserved?

cruiserweight

Stupid penalty to give away

1-1

Paul Tergat

Get in. Cmon Italy!!!

The Sparrow

IvySlayer wrote: »

Didn't see it, deserved?

pretty much. unlucky to get penalised but defender was clearly holding the shirt.

nice peno

cruiserweight

IvySlayer wrote: »

Didn't see it, deserved?

Tug on the jersey, could have stayed on his feet I suppose (why would he), but definite foul

ShaneU

His shirt was clearly being pulled, it's not his fault that he has to dive to get a penalty for it.

_Bella_

Seeing the replays the Italian definitely dived

prinz

IvySlayer wrote: »

Didn't see it, deserved?

Tug on the shirt, was probably a penalty, but the kind of thing goes on at every corner, free kick etc. Nothing major or blatant. He went down as if he'd been kneecapped ffs.

_Bella_

From BBC : That's shocking. That's not a penalty, he's hardly touched him. That's a disgrace, it's embarrassing really. There's slight contact and De Rossi, being a professional, has gone down and made a meal of it. New Zealand shouldn't get too disheartened."

SuperInfinity

_Bella_ wrote: »

From BBC : That's shocking. That's not a penalty, he's hardly touched him. That's a disgrace, it's embarrassing really. There's slight contact and De Rossi, being a professional, has gone down and made a meal of it. New Zealand shouldn't get too disheartened."

lol... I think someone is being a little bitter and spiteful, wishing the other "top" teams a bad campaign.

IvySlayer

Lol love that push from your woman

IH77

_Bella_ wrote: »

Seeing the replays the Italian definitely dived

they seem to have a history of doing that in world cups.

prinz

SuperInfinity wrote: »

lol... I think some people are being a little bitter and spiteful, wishing the other top teams out.

When the 'top teams' have to resort to that they deserve to go out. They were coming close to scoring anyway. Throwing yourself over in the box is not the way you want to do it.

_Bella_

SuperInfinity wrote: »

lol... I think someone is being a little bitter and spiteful, wishing the "other" top teams a bad campaign.

Be honest if that penalty was given against Ireland you would be pretty annoyed

Mrmoe

Following the laws to the word it was a penalty but it is very very rarely given, even in more obvious situations than this. I would guess that the referee did not see the shirt pull but was convinced by the dive.

prinz

Not to mention it was the latest in a long line of questionable antics coming from the Italians already in this match.

cruiserweight

_Bella_ wrote: »

From BBC : That's shocking. That's not a penalty, he's hardly touched him. That's a disgrace, it's embarrassing really. There's slight contact and De Rossi, being a professional, has gone down and made a meal of it. New Zealand shouldn't get too disheartened."

From Robbie Savage on BBC, I would hardly consider him to be an authority on fair play

Tug on the jersey is a foul, it occured in the box and therefore is a penalty. He went down easily yes, but if he had not been fouled then there would have been no penalty

SarahBM

all these so called pros go down to easy:mad:. FIFA and co are turning it into an no-contact sport, players wont be allowed touch eachother soon, if they keep going like this :rolleyes:
Send the bunch of softies to a GAA summer camp to toughen them up.:D

Morzadec

Anyone know who the welsh commentator on ITV is?