Tanzania, Botswana, Italy friendlies

Smeltz, Killen, Brockie was decent too.

I was hoping that this month would be an opportunity to scout for the Phoenix (Tanzanian or Iraqi striker anyone?) but at this rate the EPL will be poaching all the Phoenix players...

Italy have a bit of a habit of cruising through 'less important'games though don't they?

Actually, the same thought crossed my mind. Hope not.

I think Ricki will be really happy. I didnt see the game but looks like some changes could be made to our defense. On to the ultimate test.... SPAIN

i like the way that Brockie has the cobnfidence to nutmeg players at this level, he did it against Brasil too didn't he?

man what a game. i am speechless. I wish we had snatched a draw against my native Italy, but all I have to say is: All whites, I am proud of you.

yeah i feel like once we were leading our defensive mentality sort of went away. I like our style of play though.

Well done Ricki

If we play like that hopefully we can get something out of Iraq or South Africa though. The latter have been well off form in recent times.

We need to play like we did for the first 65 minutes for the full 90 though.

We will be talking about this result for weeks to come!!!

Would love to know what the Italians are saying in their press conference, it is still going

No, because now he can get a better offer that he'll throw a bigger tanty over missing.

south africa are under a lot of pressure to get to the semis, given they are at home and only have lowly Iraq and NZ in their way, so we could do OK

Heres hoping Smeltz can bugger off out of the gold coast. to some way better team overseas. 

World stage = opportunities. fingers crossed.

photos are up on fifa site

The Italians were playing with all their young guns first up...When NZ were 3 -2 up. It lead to mass subs and the Italian big guns were called in.Game over essentially.Spain will be well prepared for NZ now though.....

Just awesome

right, he's a muppet coach after running the world champions close...

Any online coverage of the press conference?

Well 4-3 FT win for Italy.

We bloody scared them or what? We leading or on par until the 72 minutes.

They step up a tad bit but we are getting in decent match fitness. We had variety of attacks.

They out numbered Bertos on the left wing. They were shut down from the centre midfield but were able to get around the back a bit from the wings as they step up. That will send a message to the other teams to attack us through the wings (fresh legs from Italy's subs), so we may need to shut the other teams wide midfield in the later half of the second half.

We forced them to play the switch ball more often by our pressure. I enjoyed the change of attack by switch from our centre midfield but got out by a bit of fatigue and the italian fresh legs on their wings. Pleased with our passing selections but started to be closed down by their fresh midfield a tad make our passing channels narrow.

Overall a great team effort. It is our best game I have ever seen the national team played and the funny thing is that we can actually play better on a few minor details which can change us to into decent top 40 team.

I love the Smeltz and Killen combo. Not since Rufer and Woodin that we had spark. I would even say better than Rufer and Woodin.

Ok where is our sport funding?!! People must not think that we cannot foot it with the World Champions, because we just did.

amen to everything everyone has said

link please

Unbelieveable effort. Great header by Killen. My only criticism is why didn't Rikki make any subs when the team was tiring at 3 all. We made 2, they made 6, probably this is where the game was lost. Gives huge confidence for the cup tho

no to the pics, can't navigate around the site

No we would have won. Most of their goals came from that weak point on the Right Back.

I have to say that hopefully this has envigorated Vicelich to stick around for the World Cup qualifier, because we need him. Here's hoping for the good confederation cup.

thanks mate

at least with Nelson out, when people say "but italy weren't playing with a full strength side" we can say "neither were we"

OK FROM THE FIFA HOME PAGE HOW DO YOU GET TO THE PUCTURES

result not yet up on nzsoccer.com i guess some things will never change

Why do we HAVE to find something to whine about ?

That's a cracking result, who cares about subs and whether NZSOCCER is updated.

FFS.

its on stuff.co.nz

aw smeltz is sooooo good!!! Before this game I wasnt so sure because his impressive international goal scoring record has come against fiji, vanuatu etc with the exception of his two against wales. but now im conviced hes good enough for Europe. This could be a very profitbale day for NZ FootbalL!!!

Excellent stuff.

Wow that is faster than the Super 14 Rugby photographers. Those FIFA photographers are quite savy.

Player ratings are on goal.com