All Whites v Paraguay Friday 2.00 AM

[Beef]

so, anyone think we can do it? would guarantee us a Final 16 spot if we do end up winning

they have a terrible record against South American teams but I'm a believer in momentum winning games, and the All Whites definitely have momentum

[Jigga]

2-0 to Paraguay

Just watched the Aus and the Ghana game. Aus are out of the world cup.

[Gym rat]

1-0 to the All whites :pray:

[nzmusclemonster]

[teamfatboy]

Would love to see it happen - hell, even a draw would be superb - but so much depends on them being able to find that big-match temperament and not get rattled, and then sustain it for the full length of the game. The Uruguay game should have helped them, but... and then there's the refs...

Fingers crossed !

[Gasp]

Not a hope. Quote me tomorrow.

I respect that they have "matched" teams so far but sadly you`ve got to win games to have any real credibility. I dont think thats going to happen against a South American team.

I`m not leaping on the All Whites bandwagon until they win a game.

I`ve noticed the initial spate of draws by a lot of the teams seems to have changed over the last few days and the top sides seem to be getting down to business.

[Beef]

Not a hope. Quote me tomorrow.

I respect that they have "matched" teams so far but sadly you`ve got to win games to have any real credibility. I dont think thats going to happen against a South American team.

yeah this is fair enough, but they had no credibility whatsoever when they qualified. media all around the world were writing us off, saying we wouldn't get a point out the world cup let alone draw with the defending champions. i agree, normally you need to win to gain credibility but the fact that no one respected our football team at all before this world cup gives these two draws real credibility IMO. hell, some of the all whites aren't even professionals, so to draw with the defending champions has definitely gained them credibility.

imagine if the Italian rugby team drew with the All Blacks- that'd be a bloody huge achievement for Italy. i know you can't really compare between sports but still, it highlights the magnitude of the all white's draw

i agree, we'll probably lose to Paraguay but the mere fact that we are have chance of going through to the final 16 is a victory in itself

[TonganTerror]

well a nil all draw makes for a successful tournament and a great achievement for NZ Football considering we are such a tiny no minute playing nation.My own views are not dissimilar to Gasp however its too early on a friday for a flaming lol.

On a seperate note defending champs Italy knocked out of the tourny beaten 3-2 by slovakia this morning :shock: !

[nate225]

To come away unbeaten from the World Cup is a huge achievement for NZL. Given we placed higher than Italy! (Interestingly I heard a comparison based on rankings that the NZ-Italy draw was the rugby equivalent of Israel drawing with All Blacks).

A shame we didn't notch up a win but the lads can hold their heads high knowing they have achieved more than any other NZ Soccer team!