Please, Please Send the Italians Home

Bully for New Zealand for drawing (and coming oh so close to beating) the cup holders of Italy. The Italian game is so centrally-driven by cheating through diving and over-acting that would shame a young Will Shatner, that it can hardly be called football at all. When the whole world is watching, the refs and FIFA need to do the right thing and send Azzurri-Ball to the trashbin of history. Don't forget to save room for CRon...

Rant aside, the All Whites deserve all credit. They nicked a goal early and played lights out, death or glory football to record a historic upset (yes, a draw can be an upset). Ryan Nelsen was one of the defensive standouts for me. I've always enjoyed his character and attitude when watching Blackburn in the EPL, and he was every bit as important to New Zealand as he is to his home club.

Could New Zealand go through? Could the Italians fail to advance? Only just and caring football gods would create such an outcome.