Tired Italy no great loss
ROB HUGHES, JOHANNESBURG Not since Pompeii has Italy fallen so low.
Kiwis on parade
Parade celebrating New Zealand's World Cup performance could be part of lead-up to A-League team Wellington Phoenix's game against Argentine club Boca Juniors.
Herbert looks towards Brazil 2014 for gallant All Whites
FRED WOODCOCK JOHANNESBURG: Ricki Herbert wants to remain All Whites coach and has a handshake agreement with New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum to continue in the role. But that is conditional on the support of Wellington Phoenix boss Terry Serepisos, Herbert's employer at club level.
Twilight of the footballing gods
In the wake of Italy's ignominious World Cup exit, Brazilian coach Dunga argued the notion of traditional footballing powers is becoming obsolete.
Pride and tears end wild New Zealand ride
TONY SMITH, STUFF.CO.NZ Unbeaten New Zealand are heading home to a heroes' welcome - their World Cup dream dashed after Slovakia beat world champions Italy.
Terror in our legs, heads and hearts: Lippi
Italian coach Marcello Lippi - a hero across Italy four years ago - has taken the blame for the reigning champions getting bundled out of the World Cup, going down 3-2 in a thriller with Slovakia at Ellis Park.
Italians just ain't what they used to be
SEBASTIAN HASSETT Straight away, he rolled the dice, bringing on talented striker Fabio Quagliarella for Gennaro Gattuso, with Christian Maggio hoisted in for Domenico Criscito.
Champions Italy knocked out of World Cup
DAVID DICK Italy are out ... repeat ... Italy are out of the World Cup after a brilliant Slovakian side were far too good for the reigning world champions, winning 3-2.
Kiwis 'gutted' as draw not enough
FRED WOODCOCK Dejected skipper Ryan Nelsen said he was "gutted" following New Zealand's exit from the World Cup after the All Whites drew 0-0 with Paraguay.
Kiwi skipper playing between Roque and hard place
TONY SMITH RYAN NELSEN and Roque Santa Cruz are good mates and near neighbours in England but they will soon be banging bodies in South Africa in the most important game of their lives.
Slovakia coach Weiss loses cool with expletive-laden outburst
Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss has lost his cool after his tactics were questioned for Slovakia's 2-0 loss to Paraguay at the World Cup, hurling expletives at his country's media and threatening to beat up one reporter.
Bucking the system: how one Italian is worth three times more than the entire Kiwi team
TONY SMITH, STUFF.CO.NZ New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has admitted he brought Wellington bank employee Andy Barron into yesterday's wonder World Cup draw with Italy to prove that amateur footballers can cut it with multimillionaire world champions.
NZ coach banked on Barron to make point about amateur players
TONY SMITH All Whites coach admits he brought on Wellington banker Andy Barron in draw against Italy to prove amateur footballers could foot it with multimillionaire world champions.
Paraguay in box seat to progress after strong win over Slovakia
RYAN LUCAS PARAGUAY'S Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros scored a goal each as their team took a big step towards the World Cup round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Slovakia in Group F.
Kiwis walk on air as Italians dive
GREG BAUM A souped-up Wellington Phoenix have taken all before them, writes Greg Baum in Nelspruit.
Fresh Herb could spice up Socceroos
DAN SILKSTONE ASK Ricki Herbert the question many Australian fans will be asking today and he mostly gives you the official company line. With his future to be decided after this World Cup - having captured Australia's attention with his intrepid Wellington Phoenix and the world's eyeballs with his fighting New Zealand side at this World Cup - does the tournament's most cut-price manager fancy the idea of taking on the Socceroos?
Who are these guys? Shock draw leaves Italian press pack stumped
DAN SILKSTONE THE headlines said it all and none mentioned New Zealand. ''Italy extinguished'' read La Repubblica. ''Flop Italia'' screamed Gazzeta dello Sport.
Smeltz: we can ride the wave all way to last 16
FRED WOODCOCK BELIEF has got the All Whites this far and it can get them into the knockout stages of the World Cup, goal-scorer Shane Smeltz says.
Fallon wants UK referee for decider
COEN LAMMERS RORY FALLON hopes FIFA will pick a British referee to control the All Whites' decisive group match against Paraguay after Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres took a grim view of his physical style.
Kiwis stop the nation with Italy draw
Minnows New Zealand are daring to dream of an improbable place in the last 16 at the World Cup after their brave 1-1 draw with defending champions Italy at the Mbombela Stadium here on Sunday.
Brave Kiwis hang on for historic draw
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Minnows New Zealand refused to be dominated by the reigning world champions, holding on for a gutsy point in Nelspruit.
Fighting All Whites make one more point
DAN SILKSTONE THIS was a famous day for New Zealand football, a famous day for New Zealand anything. Prime Minister John Key - watching from the stands - could never hope to make this kind of history as the All-Whites drew 1-1 with world champion Italy.
Paraguay has the answers for clueless Slovakians
JOHN WEAVER A powerful Paraguay side beat Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein on Sunday to leave the South Americans on the brink of qualification for the World Cup knockout phase.
NZ out to give Italy another big scare
COEN LAMMERS THE All Whites play the world champions, Italy, in the World Cup.
Losing to New Zealand unthinkable: De Rossi
Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi described the possibility of defeat to New Zealand on Sunday as unthinkable.
Humble All Whites need to avoid the trappings of fame
MICHAEL COCKERILL THE All Whites are what the Socceroos used to be like. Humble, respectful, appreciative, honest. They are happy to represent their country and ecstatic to be at the World Cup. There's an endearing, wide-eyed innocence about New Zealand's national team. The polar opposite of Australia's pampered, world-weary demeanour.
Buffon's World Cup appears to be over
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has suffered a recurrence of a herniated disc, it was revealed on Wednesday, with the injury looking virtually certain to end his World Cup hopes.
All White Reid an overnight sensation in Denmark, too
COEN LAMMERS, RUSTENBURG DANISH newspapers were scrambling yesterday to get a piece of the All Whites and Winston Reid. Their Winston Reid. The one who headed home an unlikely last-second equaliser against Slovakia on Tuesday to claim New Zealand's first-ever point at a World Cup.
New Zealand exultant but still can't take a joke
KATIE CHAPMAN NEW ZEALAND awoke to a brave new world yesterday - one where football, not rugby, dominated the front pages, the airwaves and the national sporting conscience. Pride and euphoria, jingoism and footballing curiosity were among the sentiments to sweep the nation, along with the faintest hint of schadenfreude, given the predicament confronting Australia after their 4-0 mauling at the hands of Germany.
Fallon talks up Kiwis' chances
STRIKER Rory Fallon is convinced the All Whites are good enough to beat world champions Italy and qualify for the second round of the World Cup - and says his confidence is born out of his Christian faith.
