The Group of Death highlights Tuesday's action, but two of the tournament's bigger underdogs have a chance to grab an early lead in their group as New Zealand and Slovakia tangle in Group F action at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg, South Africa (7:30 a.m., ESPN/ESPN3.com).
With Italy and Paraguay playing to a stalemate on Monday, first place in the group is up for grabs. Not much is expected from New Zealand in this tournament, as they are the ranked 78th in the latest FIFA rankings, which is third-worst among all World Cup teams (South Africa is 83rd, North Korea is 105th). Former D.C. United player Ryan Nelsen captains the All Whites and will look to steer the ship for the upset.
Slovakia is making its World Cup debut as an independent nation (Czechoslovakia participated eight times before 1993). Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik is the one to watch for the European side, as the offense will run through the 22-year-old star-in-the-making.
If you are watching the game, please share any thoughts, opinions and play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the match!
No, Boyens didn’t play.
I wouldn’t mind Shane Smeltz in MLS. That cross to Reid was nice. Smeltz would be an excellent addition to Seattle who can’t score at all.
Was Boyens in the starting lineup?
I agree…wonder what I was doing watching this game but it turned out to be a good game. New Zealand surprised me and played a lot better than I expected.
It’s crazy because four out of the five lowest ranked teams have all earned points. A good omen for North Korea perhaps? Not likely…especially against Brazil.
Wonder why there is no link to document his “legendary status” … ha ha. Hope his celebration yellow doesn’t come back to haunt him … never know when you might have to give a “professional” foul and get yellowed for it, especially with 2 tough grp. games still to go.
All-Whites! All-Whites!
Wikipedia 9:27am – Winston Wiremu Reid (born July 3, 1988 in Auckland) is a Danish-New Zealand football player. His position of preference in at the heart of defence as a center back. He has achieved legendary status in New Zealand for his goal against Slovakia in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals.
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Already a legend. That was fast!
New Zealand 400-1 to win the Cup! GET ON IT!! lol
He scored 5 goals in one match last season for Gold Coast
Kiwis just drew it! What a world cup this is turning out to be!
A great come back
France players forgot the mantra of soccer that there is no “I” in “team”
I think there is too much slow motion in this world cup. It’s like every 5 seconds.
Watching France crumble under the pressure was well worth the price of admission.
Interesting!
A player from the American second devision league makes an appearance in the world cup
slow motion yelling is funny….
Let me get this straight… He was born to a US Father and German mother, but moved to Australia and now plays for New Zealand?
huh?
At least it’s better than France vs. Uruguay
This game isn’t bad. I think it was worth waking up at 7.
SLOV was offside on that goal. lets go kiwi’s
No one can count out the People’s Rooney
Is he any good? I mean, obv, we’re talking in relative terms. I wonder if he isn’t genuinely a Kiwi patriot or if he made a tactical decision to shoot for the lower hanging fruit with the Kiwis (no pun intended).
I’ve watched a few A-League matches and it seems like a decent competition, but I haven’t seen many. What’s your take?
He was born on an American army base in Germany to an American Soldier father and a German mother. They then moved to Australia when he was young. I don’t know if his father went with them or what.
I watch alot of A-League and hear the announcers talk about it every once in awhile.
Born in Germany to US father and British mother.
Ives..North Korea, not South Africa, is the lowest ranked nation in the WC. These are the countries that are ranked outside the top 32 in the world:
105- North Korea
83- South Africa
78- New Zealand
47- South Korea
45- Japan
38- Honduras
36- Denamark
34- Slovakia
He’s ‘merican? I just wikipedia’d him and there’s no trace of red white and blue
I got up early to watch Shane Smeltz. A little known Yank Abroad.
In other news, Didier Drogba has been cleared to play against Portugal with a cast on his arm. Be interesting to see if he’s still able to dive with that thing on 😉
I have a question to all of you.
A few months back, I think, FIFA decided to wipe out the yellow cards after the round of 16, not after the group stage. Is this right? Does any one know for sure?
lol its so bad that there are streams that aren’t working!
I agree with you guys. I think we are addicted to world cup soccer.
Yeah, when my alarm went off this morning, I was thinking what the heck is wrong with me waking up to watch this one.
Ives should hand out some kind of award for anyone who got up early to watch this crap 😉