AW v Defending Champs June 21 @ 2am SS2,

Totally agree. Just want them to perform well, suffer no injuries and no cards.

I hope they win.

Big question...who's the ref going to be for this game?
Any insights into his past performances... is he known for throwing out cards for fairly light challenges as the Spanish ref on Germany v Serbia game for instance...??

RedGed2010-06-19 17:43:35

No worries. Rory says they will.

Might just test that out tomorrow - see if the TAB can help pay for our Boca Jnr tickets.

Ref is Carlos Batres

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Batres

He refereed Algeria vs Slovenia. He gave a red card (2nd yellow for an obvious deliberate handball), and three other yellows. I don't remember any glaring errors, but it was a forgettable game anyhow so *shrugs*...

Batres is a ref who is not afraid to show cards... in atlante - new england (superliga semifinal '08) he showed 11 yellow cards and 6 red cards XD XD
and he was right!

probably camoranesi will not end the game XD

Any word on Brown and his chances of starting or at least making it to the bench? Surely he gets a look in!!

less than 19 hours till kick off!!!

Same starting 11 as last game, Tim on the bench.

Brown not starting - Vicilich to play in midfield with Elliot. TVNZ and Dompost both cover this.

Ricki said he would still be happy enough to use Brown off the bench but I doubt he'll get a run tonight. Come on Boys, do us proud

found this article interesting despite the poor translation, interesting about the ref too

http://sportitalia.com/shownews.aspx?id=14058

Can't see Brown getting a run, although i'd rather see him on for Vicelich instead of plodder.

I'll be watching the Paraguay Slovakia game tonight before the big one, it's gunna be huge!

2-1 Italy is my prediction, and i'll be more than happy if that happens. ScoobyD2010-06-20 13:42:33

They're starting Vicelich and Eliott together again?!

Didn't Ricki see how sh*t they were together in the last game?

Use Lil Mac if you can't use Brownie. Vicelich is not good enough to play midfield, especially with teams looking to move the ball (including OURS)

nz to win 2-1 smeltzy and fallon

I'll translate that for you guys:

They won't do the haka and their feet are a lot less scary than their hands. Besides, between Nelspruit and the sea, on which NZ can say to be superior to Italy [America's cup allusion], there are about 200Kms.

Therefore we are safe and, really, very little should scare [Italy coach] Marcello Lippi, going into the second game of Group F.

But do not underestimate NZ: Herbert's men arrived to SA with nothing to lose and to underestimate their effort would be a trap in which Lippi should not fall.

We have also seen less-than-glittering performances in this WC from the "big" teams, with some results going the minnows' way.

Against Slovakia, NZ was under the pump but displayed all the determination which is characteristic of the NZ people.
They will never give up, we know this from rugby, sailing and having watched NZ against Hamsik and his team-mates. Reid's last-minute goal gave NZ their first point at a WC final and against Italy they will try to do the same.

Speaking of determination, Tim Brown, one of the most-awaited NZ players, was in hospital less than a month ago, to have surgery on his fractured shoulder.
He should take part in the contest.

We have our superior technical skills. Keep the ball on the ground, play a quick passing game, and stay away from physical challenges: these are the solutions to Lippi's problems. Italy should also pay attention to the 42 y.o. Guatemalan refree, Carlos Batres. He is meant to be a very strict refree, and he averages about 5 yellow cards and a red each game. There it is, the only All Black we should be very afraid of...



Have to say, this is probably the most fair article I've read in the Italian press in a long time. I am sick of their cockiness and over-confidence. I've read stuff like: NZ is full of amateur and unattached players and then followed a list of players (most of whom were actually contracted or, even worse, were Aussies)!!!

Hope we can do the impossible tonight!

Cheers for the translation nzpower. Am hoping for the impossible to!! All going (ridiculously) well Italy will get lazy and we will stay determined and sneak in a win!!

starting to buzz up on this game

Yeah, me too... 9 hours to go!

FIRE UP                     FIRE UP
FIRE UP                     FIRE UP
FIRE UP                   FIRE UP
FIRE UP       R        FIRE UP
   FIRE UP     IRE       FIRE UP
    FIRE UP   FIRE U    FIRE UP
     FIRE UP FIRE UP FIRE UP
      FIRE UP FIRE UP FIRE UP
       FIRE U        IRE UP
        RE U           RE U

I copied this off someone off the slovakia thread hope you dont mind.

They are playing with their number 2 keeper and apparently he is not good in the air - perfect for us as we already have a height advantage up front.

We can send the ball down the wing and cross in for a header to finish it - heck, we've already scored our two most important goals that way. bring it on.

Wouldn't mind seeing Killen show more creativity directly in front of goal though, he hasn't even begun to show his potential recently and he knows it.

Am down in Wellington from Auckland for this game. Was there a good atmosphere at the big screen on Queen's Wharf last time? Very tempted to watch there, but not if no one will be there.

Kings would be a better bet by the sound of it.

Hasn't really hit me we're playing yet! Starting to get nervous though, so great to still be in with a chance 

0-2 or better please.

8 hours!! and only 5 and a half for the paraguay v slovakia, which I'll probably watch. getting more nervous!!

Hurts me to say this cause I love Pasty, but wouldn't Italy's number 2 still be better than him?

Yes.

Yes. All starting keepers in the serie a would be better than Pasty

match day, the boys will be having their breakfast, 8 weetbix all round

(Tom Rewi, I dont mind)



Fired Up                                                Fired Up Fired                                                 Fired Up
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            Fired Up                        Fired Up                    Fired Up                         Fired Up
               Fired Up                  Fired Up                          Fired Up                   Fired Up
                  Fired Up            Fired Up                                Fired Up             Fired Up
                     Fired Up      Fired Up                                      Fired Up       Fired Up
                        Fired Up Fired Up                                            Fired Up Fired Up
                          Fired Up Fired                                                  Fired Up Fired 
                             Fired  Up                                                          Fired  Up
                               Fired                                                                 Fired    


Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken
     Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken
          Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken
                Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Fark
          Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken  
     Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken
Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken Farken

7 hours and 26 mins to go...
Paraguay and Slovakia to draw
NZ v Italy to draw...too excited !!!

hmm.. same starting 11

Wow.. TV1 have two and a half hours of buildup. Pretty solid effort.

That is a long build up. Are they showing the Paraguay Slovakia game without telling us?

Can someone tell me who scored our 3 goals at the con fed cup against Italy?

Killen got 2 and Smeltz got the other.

1 hour of that is highlights from this mornings games. Still fair play to TV1 though.