World Cup 2010: Italy v New Zealand

Italy; present. New Zealand; present. Item one; 90 minutes of football between the reigning world champions and the tournament's minnows ... Photograph: Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Ryan Pierse - FIFA/guardian.co.uk Italy's Il Tricolore is flown proudly in the stadium. They'll be expecting a considerable victory today Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images Photograph: Ed Sykes/guardian.co.uk But what a start! Shane Smeltz gives the All Whites the lead after seven minutes, poking the ball beyond Federico Marchetti (albeit from an offside position) following a deep, diagonal free-kick Photograph: David Gray/Reuters Photograph: David Gray/guardian.co.uk Smeltz, who was actually born in Germany, runs off in bewildered celebration. Sadly, though, no sign of him doing the robo-boogie Photograph: Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photograph: Alessandra Tarantino/guardian.co.uk New Zealand's Winston Reid flings himself at Italy's Alberto Gilardino Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP Photograph: Michael Sohn/guardian.co.uk Giorgio Chiellini rolls around on the turf after being caught in the face Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images Photograph: David Cannon/guardian.co.uk Italian pressure builds and Kiwi goalkeeper Mark Paston is forced into a smart save Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP Photograph: Michael Sohn/guardian.co.uk New Zealand have buckled at last. Rather, Italy's Daniele De Rossi has buckled, earning a soft penalty for the Azzuri. There's no doubt Tommy Smith was guilty of shirt-tugging as the cross came over, but De Rossi's histrionics have drawn the referee in ... Photograph: Bernat Armangue/AP Photograph: Bernat Armangue/guardian.co.uk Vincenzo Iaquinta comfortably beats Paston from the spot as the keeper commits himself too early. Surely this will be the first of many for Italy Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP Photograph: Michael Sohn/guardian.co.uk Curious celebration, this one ... Iaquinta points to his unmissably large nose, prompting De Rossi to blow it as if it's a vuvuzela Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Photograph: Ezra Shaw/guardian.co.uk Ryan Nelsen is at the heart of a seemingly impermeable All Whites defence in the second half – the Blackburn defender using both his experience and sizable frame to thwart numerous Italian attacks Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Photograph: Ezra Shaw/guardian.co.uk The Italian coach Marcello Lippi grows increasingly frustrated by his team's inability to score Photograph: Claudio Villa/ Grazia Neri/Getty Images Photograph: Claudio Villa/ Grazia Neri/guardian.co.uk In the closing stages, Chris Wood almost snatches a winner for New Zealand with a shot which flashes across the goalmouth. Both sets of players are clearly jaded as this absorbing clash draws to a conclusion Photograph: David Gray/Reuters Photograph: David Gray/guardian.co.uk It ends 1-1. What a result for New Zealand. What a result for Ricki Herbert. That's as valorous a display as you'll see at the World Cup and, inconceivably, it means Italy may yet fail to qualify for the last 16 Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/guardian.co.uk