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New Zealand's Tommy Smith (second left) given a yellow card - Source: Reuters -
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All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen is fuming with the referee's performance in this morning's 1-1 draw against Italy at the World Cup in Nelspruit.
Shane Smeltz fired New Zealand into a seventh minute lead with Italy equalising from the penalty spot in the 29th minute.
But Nelsen says the Guatemalan referee got sucked in by an Italian dive when Tommy Smith was judged to have pulled down Daniele de Rossi in the box.
He says it was a ridiculous decision and even the Italians could not believe a penalty was given.
"It wasn't a goal," Nelsen said after the game.
"It was a ridiculous call and I think the guys will be disappointed that we ended up drawing because it was a dodgy goal."
Nelsen was superb in the middle of New Zealand's defence and is one of the few New Zealanders to play regularly at the highest level in European club football, for Blackburn Rovers in the English premier league.
He said he had tried to use that experience to help the more junior members of the squad.
"The rest of the team don't play against world class players so they don't see that they make a lot of mistakes too and that they're very human," Nelsen said after the match.
"That's what I was trying to tell the boys. Most of our guys are better athletes and when you're a better athlete, you're stronger and faster and you can really do things."
Nelsen was shouting and gesturing at his fellow defenders throughout the game, marshalling them and organising them to combat the Italians.
He fell to the ground just a few minutes from the final whistle, suffering from cramp, put picked himself up to finish.
"Every muscle in my legs cramped, I couldn't even move," he said. "But when you've worked so hard for 85 minutes you're not going to give up in the last five minutes."
Paraguay now top Group F on four points after a 2-0 win over Slovakia.
If New Zealand can beat the South Americans in their final Group game on Friday, the All Whites will qualify for the second round.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentporouraukawa said on 2010-06-21 @ 20:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
Still basking in one of NZ's best ever sports performances - but WHEN is soccer/football going to join the 21st Century and use video replay evidence. Would only enhance the atmosphere, and quickly thwart the various actors on show. Go NZ v Paraquay
Tottenham said on 2010-06-21 @ 16:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
Done it again !!!At 1.00am am frantically looking for my "Peter Blake/America's Cup Red Socks".Wearing them for Slovakia match proved lucky. Finally find them at the bottom of the wash basket.Pulled them on B4 kick-off and they worked Lady Luck againThey will be washed, dried, ironed and kissed before we take on Paraguay. We need the Pastons, Nelsens, Herberts .. but the Red Sox will be there. What a dive to con a penalty. And I thought Andy Haden held the Sports Actor of the Year Award
kiwicatz said on 2010-06-21 @ 15:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
So very very proud to be a kiwi!! NZ we have to look after these boys, reward them and the coach and help them get a better profile, and better opposition to play against. Australia got out of Oceania and has improved - can NZ become Asian league as well?
Boaz1 said on 2010-06-21 @ 14:10 NZDT: Report abusive post
Go ALL WHITES, nice game you played against ITALY, GO KIWIS!!!!
Wolfman said on 2010-06-21 @ 12:40 NZDT: Report abusive post
NZ All Whites Football team 1 v Italian Olympic Diving Team 1. They even had a judge in a yellow shirt awarding them 10 out of 10 for every dive. The officials at this World Cup are turning the Tournament into a Farce. I though Blatter told the officials to get tough on these professional divers, well perhaps they will with the minnows but let the overpaid Europeans get away with it.