<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-june-2010/image/9122590?term=New+Zealand" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>The biggest “win” in New Zealand soccer history was also a major victory for the Italian national team.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Slovakia was the better club for ninety minutes today, taking a 1-0 lead over New Zealand early in the second half on a goal by Robert Vittek.&nbsp; The All Whites, who looked like a club playing in their first World Cup in decades, hung tough but could not find an equalizer until Shane Smeltz sent in a cross which Winston Reid headed past Jan Mucha in<a href="http:\/\/soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=264062&amp;cc=5901&amp;ver=us" target="_blank"> the third minute of&nbsp;stoppage time</a>.&nbsp; The draw was New Zealand’s first World Cup point ever and only their second point in a FIFA competition.</p>
<p>But more importantly for Azzurri fans, Group F is back to square one.&nbsp; All four clubs have a point and are squared on goal difference and points scored.&nbsp; While this raises the importance of every subsequent match – since any unseen tie or victory could be even more definitive – it also should be a relief for Italian fans everywhere.</p>
<p>Italy’s draw with Paraguay can generously be described as a poor performance.&nbsp; <a href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/italy-fight-out-a-positive-1-1-draw/2562" target="_blank">You can read an excellent summary of the match here</a>, but in short Lippi’s squad played as many detractors said they would play – slowly and uncreatively.&nbsp; As Serie A fans know, the Azzurri have a wealth of talent and are a squad that can play with the best in the world.&nbsp; Maybe Italy has joined clubs like England, the Netherlands, and Portugal as quality clubs that are off to slow starts.</p>
<p>But the draw today allows Italy to continue to control its own destiny over the next two matches.&nbsp; If Slovakia would have won today, it would have been atop Group F and Italy may have depended on other results to see if it would advance.&nbsp; Now Italy’s path to the next round looks a bit easier.&nbsp; New Zealand looked pretty good against Slovakia but this squad’s goal was to earn a point before going home and building off of that for future tournaments.&nbsp; An angry Italian team should gain a full three points from the All Whites, which would allow them to control their own destiny heading into the final match against Slovakia.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And after yesterday’s performance, this may be the best thing&nbsp;they can ask for. </p>
<p><a href="http:\/\/answers.polldaddy.com/poll/3350033/">Which team had the best performance in the first Group F matches?</a></p>
<p><span style="font:9px">(<a href="http:\/\/www.polldaddy.com">polls</a>)</span></p>


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