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World Cup Group A and Sunday: France in shambles after latest WCup rift
KNYSNA, South Africa (AP) — France's World Cup ambitions lay in ruins Sunday after public rifts erupted between players, coaches and national officials over Nicolas Anelka, who was thrown out of the squad for insulting team coach Raymond Domenech.
The squabbling was even brought to the attention of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Amid chaotic scenes at France's training field in Knysna, Domenech had the humiliating task of explaining why the whole of his squad was sitting on a bus, curtains drawn, refusing to join in a public training session in front of 200 local fans.
Before his brief speech, Domenech had already been busy intervening in a heated argument between his captain Patrice Evra and the team's fitness coach Robert Duverne.
Moments after that altercation, the players were calmly walking back onto the team bus, united in protest at Anelka's exclusion. Some 200 people who had turned out to watch the practice session got only a few handshakes from players before being snubbed.
Then, in another moment of drama, France team director Jean-Louis Valentin stormed off, shouting that he was "ashamed" of the players for not training. Cornered by reporters, Valentin announced his resignation from the French Football Federation on the spot.
Anelka was kicked off the team the previous evening as punishment after his profanity-laced tirade against Domenech, whose tactics and management skills have been called into question, was splashed across the front page of sports daily L'Equipe back home in France.
"Everyone in the whole world is mocking us now," winger Franck Ribery said live on television some five hours before training had even started. "I'm furious, because we're not playing football any more."
Duverne told RTL radio station on Sunday night that he had not leaked the story of Anelka's rant to L'Equipe, and that this was not the reason for his clash with Evra.
"I am not the mole and the players don't think I could be," Duverne said. "At no time did the players think I was, it's very important to say so ... that I could be the mole is unacceptable."
Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot said "the indignation of the French" was enormous and that she had spoken to Sarkozy about it.
After the protesting players climbed back on the bus, Domenech stood alone outside with a handful of trainers and officials. After a few minutes, the bus curtains were drawn, so even Domenech was shut out.
In a statement, the federation distanced itself from what it called "the unacceptable behavior of the players representing our country."
But Domenech, reading a players' statement, said their decision not to train was the FFF's fault for treating Anelka unfairly. Then the bus left.
"The French Football Federation did not at any time try to protect the group. They took a decision uniquely based on facts reported by the press," Domenech said as he read from the statement. "As a consequence and to show our opposition to the decision taken by officials of the federation, all the players decided not to take part in today's training session."
Domenech's next task is holding his squad together long enough to play Tuesday's game against host South Africa, where France must win — and hope Mexico and Uruguay don't draw — to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round. Domenech had announced before the World Cup that he was standing down after a six-year reign as France coach. The French federation has already selected Laurent Blanc as Domenech's successor.
For Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, France's calamitous behavior was bewildering.
"What can I say, if something like this happens, I am going to say bye. This is where our paths part," he said.
Domenech backs decision to throw out Anelka
KNYSNA, South Africa (AP) — Nicolas Anelka's exclusion from France's World Cup squad for his profane blast at Raymond Domenech is just the latest example of the coach's inability to manage his high-profile stars.
Domenech dropped Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri in an attempt to dispense with those he identified as troublemakers in his malfunctioning 2008 European Championship squad, but still failed to get the best out of players rated among Europe's best.
France's 2-0 loss to Mexico followed a drab 0-0 draw with Uruguay, placing it on the verge of another group-stage exit.
"Of course things have been blown apart," winger Franck Ribery said Sunday on French television. "It's France that is suffering. I am suffering."
Fans have long been frustrated that Domenech kept his job after Euro 2008, despite the poor performances and an embarrassing marriage proposal live on television.
"Everyone in the whole world is mocking us now," Ribery said. "I'm gutted, because we're not playing football any more. The French team is a childhood dream, an honor, and since Euro 2008 I've been suffering."
Domenech defended the decision to send Anelka home, saying the Chelsea striker turned down a chance to apologize.
Anelka was sent home Saturday, hours after revelations of his angry tirade during Domenech's team talk during halftime of Thursday's defeat to Mexico were revealed by sports daily L'Equipe.
"I gave him the chance to come and talk and to say sorry," Domenech said Sunday. "He didn't want to and that's why I went along with (the French Football Federation)."
Domenech claims not to have a personal grudge against Anelka, but insists the FFF had no choice but to fire the striker from the squad once the news became public.
He then blamed L'Equipe, which has had increasingly tense relations with the coach during the World Cup, for publishing details of the clash in such a virulent way, with the expletives splashed across its front page.
But Domenech also appears to love the limelight.
After Italy knocked France out of Euro 2008, millions of disappointed television viewers waited to hear the coach's explanations. Domenech instead proposed to his girlfriend.
Domenech survived despite his public ambivalence toward fans' feelings, but Anelka was kicked out of the World Cup following a private rant.
"Nico was sent home for voicing his opinion," said England defender John Terry, Anelka's club captain at Chelsea. "If Nico had something to say to me, I would stand up and listen.
"It's obviously the wrong decision. He's a great player as well."
Former France boss Gerard Houllier, the technical director of the French football federation, says Domenech and his close entourage never listen to others.
"They did their own thing in their corner," Houllier told RMC radio.
Domenech's individualistic approach is reflected in the team's performances, and midfielder Jeremy Toulalan even admitted that his side was made up of individuals with no teamwork after the Mexico defeat.
"There must be something missing when you're not winning," Toulalan said. "The problem is a collective one."
-- Jerome Pugmire
Commentary: France's players act like brats
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — It would be easy to tritely argue that the full-blown insurrection by France's World Cup players shows that the long-admired French spirit of revolution is alive, well and refusing to practice free kicks in a field in South Africa.
But these rebellious Bleus aren't hungry peasants clamoring for morsels of brioche and a modicum of justice, they're multimillionaires blessed with fantasy lives many of their fans would give their left legs for.
And unforgivably, they're acting like spoiled brats.
Refusing to train. Cursing out their coach. Sulking en masse on their team bus, curtains drawn. Having fits in view of television cameras.
"Everyone in the whole world is mocking us now," winger Franck Ribery says. "I'm furious, because we're not playing football anymore."
The shame of it. Forget about medals for services to la Belle France. Monsieur Sarkozy, please make a note: This lot deserve the Legion of Dishonor.
How sad.
The glorious days of 1998 when France fell head over heels in love with its multi-ethnic World Cup-winning team of "Blacks, Blancs, Beurs" — blacks, whites and Arabs — feel so far away now.
Twelve years ago, in the footballers' faces flashed up in lights on the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris, France saw itself and loved what it saw. One nation, one people, united behind Zinedine Zidane.
Now, the French are one nation united in disillusion with Les Bleus. One reason why this drawn-out, crockery-hurling divorce with the team has hurt so much for the French is that the love of 1998 felt so good.
Coach Raymond Domenech will get much of the flak for Le Incroyable Meltdown in France's World Cup camp. Rightly so. During his six years in charge of the national team, he has proved to be a poor manager, incapable of building harmony. France's stars grace some of Europe's most successful clubs. But when brought together for national duties under Domenech, they struggle to score and struggle to win. Having failed to hit the net in two matches at this World Cup, they are within a whisker of going home.
But it is not all the coach's fault.
His bosses at the French Football Federation must also shoulder some blame for having faith in Domenech for so long. They should have ditched him after France flunked out of Euro 2008, when he made a fool of himself by proposing marriage to his partner, Estelle Denis, on live television just moments after his side was eliminated.
Domenech was utterly discredited in the eyes of many in France after that. It has been open-season against him, and by extension his players, ever since. Fans and the media in France, joined by 1998 veterans-turned-pundits like retired defender Bixente Lizarazu, have made life insufferable for him and his team, with constant and unrelenting criticism. For months, they have been booed and whistled when they play. They are such easy targets that even Sarkozy's sports minister had a crack at the team ahead of the World Cup, needling it for the lavish accommodations it chose in South Africa.
In short, nothing the players or Domenech do is ever good enough. The squad's biggest crime has been failing to live up to the almost impossibly high standards set by the winners of 1998. Zidane, now retired, has shown up here in South Africa, his presence alone a reminder of everything that the team of 2010 is not. That 1998 veteran Laurent Blanc will take over from Domenech after this World Cup is more proof of the enduring power — and burden — of that achievement 12 years ago. Inner city riots in 2005 also blew apart the myth that France bought into in 1998 of a multi-ethnic country living in fraternal and equitable harmony.
So, finally, the team has cracked under the weight of all this history, the expectation, the intense pressures of a World Cup and Domenech's inability to turn the French into winners again.
All that remains now is the morbid fascination of seeing how France will play in its last Group A match against South Africa.
France's players have performed so badly on and off the field at the World Cup that it is anybody's guess what will happen on Tuesday. Maybe they will rouse themselves and try to save some honor. Or perhaps they will just heap more disgrace upon themselves by going out with a sulky whimper.
Either way, the spirit of 1998 is truly dead.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester@ap.org.
Sunday
Brazil beats Ivory Coast 3-1 to reach 2nd round
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Brute force and hand balls aside, Brazil has achieved its first objective at the World Cup: advancing out of Group G.
Luis Fabiano scored a pair of goals, one with the aid of touches with his arm and his hand, while Elano added another as Brazil beat Ivory Coast 3-1 Sunday to secure a spot in the second round from Group G.
In a physical match that saw Brazil star Kaka ejected with two late yellow cards, the five-time champions showed they can deal out the rough stuff with the pretty plays.
"It's true, the ball really touched my hand and then my shoulder," Luis Fabiano said of his second goal. "But it was involuntary. It was one of the greatest goals I've scored in my career."
Luis Fabiano got his first goal in six matches for the national team with a powerful right-footed shot in the 25th minute after a perfect pass by Kaka between defenders. He jumped over defender Kolo Toure before firing into the top of the net from a difficult angle.
Luis Fabiano added to the lead in the 50th with his left foot from near the penalty spot after beating two defenders inside the area — helped by his sleight-of-hand.
Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was livid that that the second goal counted.
"It shouldn't have been allowed," Eriksson said. "They got a goal free. That's a 2-nil goal — that changed everything.
"It's even more difficult if he's allowed to use his hands. Of course it's a hand ball. It's not once, it's twice."
Elano scored Brazil's third goal in the 62nd after another setup by Kaka. Elano hurt his right shin a little later and left the field on a stretcher.
Kaka then received his two yellow cards late in the game and will be suspended for Brazil's next match, against Portugal. Kaka got into an altercation with Kader Keita near the end of the match.
"The red card was completely unfair," Brazil coach Dunga said.
Kaka did not want to talk about the ejection, but complained of rough play by the Ivory Coast players.
"It was a tough match," he said. "It got violent in two or three plays there."
Didier Drogba, playing from the start for the first time after breaking his right arm in a warmup game, scored the lone goal for Ivory Coast with a header in the 79th.
The victory gives Brazil six points from two matches, and left the Africans with one point and in difficult position to advance from the group stage. Portugal and North Korea play Monday in Cape Town.
It was a physical match at Soccer City, with hard fouls from both sides and players confronting each other at times. Brazil had plenty of chances to scores more, but mistakes on the final pass cost it on a few occasions.
Brazil has won all six matches it played against African nations at the World Cup. The last was 3-0 over Ghana in the round of 16 of the 2006 tournament in Germany. Drogba's goal was the first Brazil conceded to African nations in soccer's biggest showcase.
"I think Brazil can go all the way," Eriksson said. "To beat Brazil you must be almost perfect."
Luis Fabiano hadn't scored in more than nine months for Brazil since connecting twice in a victory against Argentina last September in a World Cup qualifier.
Kaka, coming off a season plagued by injuries, again was far from his best, but showed his poise on Sunday by setting up Luis Fabiano's first-half goal and Elano's third in front of 84,455 fans.
Brazil made some uncharacteristic passing mistakes in the beginning and was not able to take control of the match, allowing the Ivorians to threaten on counterattacks and free kicks. Yet Ivory Coast put nearly all its players on defense when Brazil held possession, leaving Drogba alone up front. The striker is playing with a special protective cast approve by FIFA.
-- Tales Azzoni
Handy Luis Fabiano ends scoring drought
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Luis Fabiano ended a six-match scoring drought in style on Sunday, helping Brazil beat the Ivory Coast 3-1 with a powerful shot from a difficult angle and then a goal that followed a controversial hand ball.
Luis Fabiano scored his first international goal in more than nine months in the 25th minute. He jumped over a challenge before firing his angled shot into the top of the net before the goalkeeper could raise his arms to block it.
"I knew it was going to happen," Luis Fabiano said. "I had been trying and I knew that I had to keep insisting. The ball would eventually get in."
The first goal ended the drought, but it was his second that was the talking point after the game.
He beat two defenders in the area, but replays showed he used an arm twice to control the ball before his volleyed shot.
"It's true, the ball really touched my hand and then my shoulder," he said. "But it was involuntary. It was one of the greatest goals I've scored in my career."
The French referee went to Luis Fabiano immediately after the goal and appeared to indicate he thought the ball came off the Brazilian striker's shoulder rather than arm.
"I don't know what he was saying, I didn't understand a thing," the 29-year-old Luis Fabiano said.
The Sevilla striker celebrated his first goal by showing six fingers with his hands, honoring the sixth birthday of his daughter Giovanna, which happened two days previously. He said the second goal was for his other daughter, Gabriela.
Last year at the Confederations Cup, Luis Fabiano also scored on Giovanna's birthday and honored her in similar fashion.
Luis Fabiano was the top scorer in last year's Confederations Cup with five goals, helping Brazil win the title with two goals in a 3-2 win over the United States in the final.
After scoring two goals against Argentina in Rosario on Sept. 5, he had been blanked in his six following matches. He hadn't even been able to score against the lowly African teams that Brazil picked to play its warmups ahead of the World Cup — Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
The striker arrived in South Africa nursing a sore left thigh that forced him out of several matches last season.
He now has an impressive 27 goals in 40 matches with Brazil.
-- Tales Azzoni
Corner Kicks: Brazil restores some normalcy to crazy World Cup
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — France is imploding, England's in therapy and there's no good way to explain what Italy was doing drawing with junior varsity New Zealand.
Nice to know there's one thing you can count on at this topsy-turvy World Cup.
For all this wailing and moaning about Brazil ditching its "beautiful game," the five-time champs sure looked pretty running over Ivory Coast on Sunday night. Sure, the first two scores were pure brute force. And those folks at WWE are scrambling to find Kaka's number right about now.
But the Brazilians finished off the night with a goal so pretty even Pele would be proud.
The theme so far in South Africa is survival. Spain came in as a favorite and promptly lost its first game. England was forced to hold a team meeting after two listless draws. Netherlands is through to the knockout round, but it owes FIFA some style points after its forgettable first two games.
Brazil, however, is living up to its advance billing.
"I think Brazil can go all the way," Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said. "To beat Brazil you must be almost perfect."
Brazil coach Dunga has set off a national debate with his shift to a more European, defensive style, and snub of the great Ronaldinho. Brazil, fans cried, isn't Brazil without its trademark flair and free-flowing style.
But there's a method to his madness. Ronaldinho and Co. had some of the prettiest moves four years ago in Germany, yet they were on their way home after the quarterfinals. Dunga, meanwhile, was part of that hard-nosed team that won the 1994 World Cup. Beauty is irrelevant if no one's watching you.
Besides, it's not as if Brazil has morphed into a smashmouth football team — the American version, that is. It's the true definition of a team, and one that plays a complete game.
The defense simply strong-arms anyone who dares get in its way. Burly Maicon may as well be a man playing among boys for the imposing force that he is, and the next person who beats Lucio will be the first. Ivory Coast did have a couple of threats on counterattacks, but there was always a feeling they were futile, that Brazil would find a way to turn the attacker around or force an off-balance shot.
Yes, the stat sheet will show that Didier Drogba scored. Made Brazil look silly, too, with a perfect header off a give-and-go with Gervinho. But Drogba's goal in the 79th minute was the definition of garbage time, with Brazil's mind already on its travel itinerary for the round of 16.
As for that offense, it isn't as breathtaking as, say, Ronaldo's magic in 2002. (Though Luis Fabiano handling the ball twice on his second goal certainly counts as a trick.) But it has its moments.
At one point in the second half, the Brazilians looked like cats playing with hapless mice. Clustered at midfield, Ivory Coast would no sooner close in than the Brazilian who had the ball would deftly send it to a teammate. Though Brazil barely advanced the ball, it was mesmerizing to watch and the Ivorians could do nothing to disrupt it.
And that goal by Elano? What a beauty.
Charging down the left sideline with an Ivory Coast defender hard on his heels, Kaka made a silky-smooth cross to Elano. Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry never had a chance as Elano played a perfect volley with the side of his left foot from 10 yards out. Players can practice that shot 1,000 times and never make it. Yet Elano made it look as effortless as dribbling.
Even Luis Fabiano's handball can be overlooked among the rest of his jaw-dropping artistry. He passed the ball to himself twice, chested it and then banged it into the goal with a hard left-footed shot. It's more than a little reminiscent of Pele's "Sombrero" at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Yet the most impressive thing about Brazil is that we haven't seen its best. Not even close.
More than a few of Brazil's passes were off the mark. Kaka is still recovering from the groin and thigh problems that sidelined him for big chunks of the season at Real Madrid. Though much more effective Sunday night than in Brazil's first game against North Korea — he also set up Luis Fabiano's first goal — he's creating plays for his teammates more than dazzling by himself.
Brazil is winning. And that is a beautiful thing.
-- Nancy Armour
Italy held to stunning 1-1 draw by N. Zealand
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — The meaning of a World Cup draw couldn't be more opposite than in Italy's 1-1 tie with New Zealand on Sunday.
For the Azzurri, the one point was depressing. For the Kiwis, it was monumental.
Defending champion Italy had to rally to get the draw in the latest World Cup stunner. With two successive ties, the 78th-ranked All Whites are in position to advance to the second round if they can beat Paraguay on Thursday. The Italians also would move on from Group F if they beat Slovakia.
"I think that stopped the nation," New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert said. "It's the most incredible result we've had across the board. As a football coach, it's way above anything we've achieved in the history of the game.
"We are always daring to dream. At the World Cup anything is possible — we've seen some strange results — but nothing as big as that one."
Or as small if you have an Italian perspective.
"We're just sorry we didn't win a match we could have," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "If we didn't win against New Zealand it's our fault. Once again, the opponent scored on their first chance. We were able to control the game after that, but this was a match we should have won."
New Zealand took the lead after only seven minutes when Italy's 36-year-old captain Fabio Cannavaro made a horrendous error, handing a goal to Shane Smeltz. A long free kick from Simon Elliott sailed deep into Italy's area, off Cannavaro's hip as he fell and directly toward the waiting Smeltz for the tap-in.
It was New Zealand's only shot on goal the entire match.
Riccardo Montolivo hit the goalpost for Italy in the 27th, then Vincenzo Iaquinta equalized two minutes later with a penalty kick. Tommy Smith was given a yellow card for tugging down Daniele De Rossi inside the area on a corner kick.
Iaquinta appeared to celebrate as if he were blowing a vuvuzela, the plastic trumpets that have become a symbol of this World Cup.
"We've got to keep our heads up and move on," he said.
At the final whistle, however, the celebration was located in one corner of the Mbombela Stadium, where a small section of New Zealand fans marked their country's historic result by taking off their shirts and waving them around deliriously.
"I'm very very proud," Herbert said. "We knew we'd be up against it, but we had great resilience and stayed organized."
Paraguay leads the group with four points, Italy and New Zealand have two points each and Slovakia is last with one point.
Italy meets Slovakia in its final group match Thursday. All four teams could still advance.
Playing in only its second World Cup — having lost all three of its matches in 1982 — New Zealand gained a point for the second consecutive game after also drawing 1-1 with Slovakia in its opener.
"It's fantastic," Herbert added. "We feel we're deserving and the nation is going with us to Round 3 (of the opening group games)."
Long after the game ended, New Zealand fans remained inside the stadium, moving down to the lower level to continue celebrating, waving flags and blowing on vuvuzelas as the All Whites reserves played a training match.
"This is the best result since I've been involved," said New Zealand forward Chris Killen, who plays for Middlesbrough in England. "It was a great achievement tonight. Every one of us got cramped."
Kiwis goalkeeper Mark Paston was virtually flawless, preserving the draw with a leaping save on a long, powerful shot by Montolivo in the 70th.
Italy controlled virtually throughout the match, but New Zealand nearly won when substitute Chris Wood sent an angled shot just wide in the 83rd.
Italy was also held to a 1-1 draw by Paraguay in its opener. The Azzurri looked sharper than against the South Americans, but couldn't beat the physical and tall Kiwis in the air and again had a tough time weaving their way through to the goal area.
The Italians haven't won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November, a streak of five games that includes four draws and a 2-1 loss to Mexico in a World Cup warmup.
Coach Marcello Lippi could make no excuses despite missing his top two players: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (herniated disk) and midfielder Andrea Pirlo (left calf) both injured.
Buffon could miss the rest of the tournament and Federico Marchetti of small Serie A club Cagliari got his first World Cup start in Italy's net.
Pirlo is likely to return against Slovakia.
Italy wore black armbands in memory of former national team defender Roberto Rosato, who died Sunday at the age of 66.
-- Andrew Dampf
So close: Impressive New Zealand surprise Italy
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen accused the referee of having "stars in his eyes" for awarding a penalty which cost the All Whites an historic World Cup win over defending champion Italy on Sunday.
Italy equalized with Vincenzo Iaquinta penalty in the 29th minute after Daniele De Rossi tumbled in the area under a challenge from New Zealand defender Tommy Smith.
Nelsen branded the penalty decision from Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres as "ridiculous."
"If that's the best FIFA have to offer then I'd hate to see the worst," Nelsen said. "Every ball we put forward he blew the whistle before there was even contact."
Nelsen was still fuming an hour after the game finished.
"Even De Rossi said to me he was laughing," Nelsen said. De Rossi "couldn't believe (the referee) had given it. He was laughing."
Nonetheless, Nelsen said the draw was an "amazing result" and added that his team had "put in an incredible effort."
Nelsen made no apologies for his team's tough approach, which clearly upset the Italy players in the first half after some robust aerial challenges from Kiwi striker Rory Fallon.
"We're strong. We're good in the air," Nelsen said. "That's part of the game. It's not being negative, it's just a strength of ours.
"The Italians knew it so they obviously knew they would hit the ground and pretend there were elbows and the referee saw stars."
Nelsen said he thought officials were harsher on infringements from teams like New Zealand than they were on the higher-profile teams.
"That's what New Zealand teams always have to go up against because if (referees) make mistakes against us nobody really sees anything, but if they make them against Italy the whole world complains," he said. "If that's the best FIFA have to offer than I'd hate to see the worst."
New Zealand has been the surprise team of the tournament with two draws in its opening matches against Slovakia and Italy in Group F. With two points, they're equal with Italy and two behind group leader Paraguay with one first-round match remaining.
The New Zealanders, whose only other World Cup appearance was in 1982, can ensure a spot in the round of 16 with a win over Paraguay in their final group game on Thursday.
-- Mark Walsh
Smeltz: Kiwis are happy to stay as underdogs
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — New Zealand's performance in the shock 1-1 draw with Italy at the World Cup was motivated by the widespread belief the team was going to be thrashed, according to Shane Smeltz, who scored the opening goal.
The Kiwis striker pounced on a mistake by captain Fabio Cannavaro to prod the ball past goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and put New Zealand 1-0 up in the seventh minute against the defending World Cup champions.
Vincenzo Iaquinta equalized with a contentious penalty but New Zealand held on to move to two points in Group F alongside Italy, two behind leader Paraguay.
"People were talking about this game and saying it was going to be three, four nil to Italy. It gets us up for it and spurs us on a little bit," Smeltz said Sunday. "As soon as the ball hit the back of the net, I had a quick look around and the ref wasn't blowing up for anything, so I was really excited.
"I couldn't have written the script any better, scoring a goal. I'm really pleased and it was a lot of hard work that's just all paying off at the moment."
Smeltz was born in Germany to an American serviceman father and an English mother, and has lived in Australia since he was 6.
"My old man was in the American army and he was shipped to Germany and at a base there," Smeltz said before the tournament. "My mother was a pilot and was with my old man there, and that's how I came about. Although they were born in the U.S. and England, they were both raised in New Zealand.
"When I left Germany, just before I turned 1, I was on my mother's passport and she had a Kiwi passport. When I moved to Australia at the age of 6, I was still on that and never changed it."
Smeltz has been top scorer in the Australian A-League for the past two seasons, but failed to break through when he tried his luck in Europe, having unsatisfying experiences in the lower leagues in the England before returning home.
He was starting out in Australia's national league when an uncle alerted New Zealand officials that he held Kiwi citizenship, and he was picked for the under-20 team.
"At that stage I was just trying to get myself out there and make a name for myself," Smeltz says. "I was 18 and not really thinking too much about playing internationals. Then the opportunity came and it was surprise but it didn't take me long to make a decision and I'm obviously pleased with how it's turned out."
-- Mark Walsh
Italy forwards still can't find the target
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Italy's struggling forwards still can't find the goal and it's becoming a serious problem for the defending champions at the World Cup.
For the second consecutive game, Italy controlled play from start to finish but no forward hit the target — save for Vincenzo Iaquinta's penalty shot — in a shocking 1-1 draw with 78th-ranked New Zealand on Sunday.
The Italians have scored only five goals in their last seven matches and only one forward has scored in open play: Fabio Quagliarella in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in a pre-World Cup friendly.
"We're lacking quality in the scoring area," midfielder Daniele De Rossi said. "We played the entire match in their half but we don't have enough to show for it."
De Rossi scored a second-half equalizer in the Azzurri's opening 1-1 draw with Paraguay and was voted player of the match against New Zealand.
"We've got to improve right away or we won't even advance," said De Rossi, looking ahead to the last Group F game against Slovakia on Thursday. "If we can't win a game we deserve to be eliminated."
Paraguay leads the group with four points, two clear of Italy and New Zealand and three ahead of Slovakia.
Coach Marcello Lippi reverted from a 4-2-3-1 to a more traditional 4-4-2 against New Zealand, with Alberto Gilardino and Iaquinta up front. As was the case against Paraguay, Gilardino hardly made an impact and was replaced at halftime by Antonio Di Natale, who led the Serie A with 29 goals for Udinese this past season.
Lippi had midfielders Simone Pepe and Claudio Marchisio swap sides midway through the first half, then switched Pepe for Mauro Camoranesi to start the second half.
So, could all the tactical changes be confusing the Azzurri?
"I don't know," captain Fabio Cannavaro said. "Lippi often changes tactics during the middle of a game, so it doesn't surprise me. Sometimes it works well and sometimes it doesn't."
Italy had 23 shots to New Zealand's three and led 7-1 in shots on goal. The Italians struggled in the air, though, against the physical and tall All Whites.
"All of our shots were from long range. We should have kept the ball on the ground more," left back Domenico Criscito said.
Lippi left 1.93-meter (6-foot-4) striker Luca Toni at home, and never really considered calling up controversial but talented scorers Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli.
"I didn't leave home any phenomenal players that would have altered the course of the game. It would have gone the same way with them," Lippi said. "You can't blame one area. It's not a question of attack, defense or midfield. I made those changes because I wanted to get a different look. I wanted to test all the weapons available to me."
Italy finished the game against New Zealand with three forwards, with Giampaolo Pazzini joining Di Natale and Iaquinta — but the most dangerous scoring attempts came from midfield. New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston was forced to make a leaping save on a long, powerful shot from Riccardo Montolivo that could have won the game in the 70th minute.
Montolivo also hit the post in the first half.
The only forward who hasn't played yet is Quagliarella, while Gilardino seems a candidate to be benched against Slovakia.
"Often I play with my back facing the goal and that penalizes me," Gilardino said. "I've got to try and get deeper. We've got to finish better."
Italy can console itself with the fact that it also drew its opening two games in 1982, when it went on to win its third World Cup title.
However, the problems with this team don't lie purely in attack.
At 36, Cannavaro appears to have lost his touch. He made a horrendous error to hand New Zealand the lead in the seventh minute following a free kick, and was also beaten to a header following a set piece against Paraguay.
"What can I say? These things happen," Cannavaro said. "But we don't like to put the blame on a single player."
-- Andrew Dampf
Italy to honor Rosato against New Zealand
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Italy will wear black armbands against New Zealand on Sunday in memory of former national team defender Roberto Rosato.
Rosato, who died Sunday at the age of 66, played 37 times for Italy and was a member of the Azzurri side that won the 1968 European Championship. He also played on the team that lost the 1970 World Cup final to Brazil.
Rosato also played for Torino, AC Milan and Genoa over a long Serie A career.
Italy drew 1-1 with Paraguay in its World Cup opener and will close out Group F play against Slovakia on Thursday.
Paraguay beats Slovakia 2-0 at the World Cup
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — At a World Cup lacking offense, Paraguay showed some punch.
Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros each scored Sunday as Paraguay took a big step toward the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Slovakia.
The win puts Paraguay atop Group F with four points after two matches. Defending champion Italy and New Zealand tied 1-1 later Sunday, leaving each with two points. Slovakia has one.
"We played a good match and we are getting closer to the round of 16," Vera said. "Our intention now is to be first in the group."
Playing with a three-man front line spearheaded by Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguay controlled the tempo from the start at Free State Stadium.
Vera broke through for La Albirroja in the 27th when forward Lucas Barrios slipped a pass into the box and Vera angled it past Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha with a one-time shot.
Riveros added a goal in the 86th minute, a left-footed blast from the edge of the penalty area.
"We did very well in the first half and we got a goal, but that didn't mean we could relax in the second (half), and I don't believe we did," Vera said.
Playing in its first major tournament since the former Czechoslovakia divided in 1993, Slovakia looked outclassed and unsure of itself facing a big, physical Paraguayan team that beat both Argentina and Brazil in World Cup qualifying.
"We made two mistakes and conceded two goals," Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said. "There was always a punishment for our mistakes. Our opponent was a really high quality opponent and their victory was deserved."
After Paraguay tied Italy 1-1 in its World Cup opener, national coach Gerardo Martino opted to switch from a 4-4-2 formation to an attacking 4-3-3 against Slovakia, with Santa Cruz, Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios up front.
The trio of powerful strikers proved a handful for the Slovakia defense, outjumping, outmuscling and outrunning the Slovaks.
Forced to focus on defending, Slovakia never mounted a serious challenge to Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar. Slovakia's first and only shot on goal came with Robert Vittek's drive in injury time.
"We played better today because we made some corrections from the first game, and we got the early goal, which we were looking to get," Martino said.
"We barely gave Slovakia any chances to score early in the match, and that made a difference. And yes, it is a good thing we have gotten a lead against both of our opponents so far."
Santa Cruz, who plays for Manchester City, was a welcome addition to Paraguay's starting lineup. The striker has been hampered by a leg injury, and only came on as a second-half substitute against Italy.
He made his presence felt almost immediately Sunday, collecting a ball at the top of the box in the 3rd minute and hitting a right-footed shot that forced a diving save from Mucha.
He also came close to scoring in the 39th, when he broke free for a low right-footed drive that Mucha kicked wide — and Vera headed his cross just wide of the left post in the 72nd.
"This is a result that will put us in a good position, but the result of the next game will decide," Martino said. "This is a very significant win for us, of course, but the math shows that we are not through yet."
-- Ryan Lucas
Paraguay sets sights on first quarterfinal
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — Paraguay has its sights on a first World Cup quarterfinal after Sunday's 2-0 win over Slovakia.
With a 1-1 draw against World Cup holder Italy in the bag and striker Roque Santa Cruz back to full fitness, there are plenty of reasons for the South Americans' optimism.
"These results have strengthened us mentally and spiritually, not just as football players but in our attitude as well," coach Gerardo Martino said. "I think we should take advantage as much as possible of the result of this match and I am going beyond the pure mathematics of the result."
And Paraguay's campaign was boosted further just hours after its win over Slovakia when Italy was held to a surprise 1-1 draw by minnow New Zealand, leaving Paraguay in control of the Group F.
Paraguay is at its eighth World Cup, and fourth in a row, but Martino and his players are enjoying a deeper feeling of contentment in the camp than in previous competitions.
"Our minds are very open," Santa Cruz said. "We are thinking if we keep performing as well as we expect ... and keep working as hard as we are now, anything is possible."
The Paraguayans have been a smiling, joyful unit since they arrived in Bloemfontein on Saturday morning — something the unraveling France team is certain not to be when it arrives in the same city Monday for its final group game against South Africa.
Martino even casually joked with the Paraguayan journalists in his pre-match media conference, the media responding with complements about the strength of the team.
The Argentine coach's team plays adventurous, attacking football and led by a three-man attack of Santa Cruz, Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios.
"We were good in defense and we were good in attack," said midfielder Enrique Vera, who opened the scoring against Slovakia in the first half with a well-worked goal. "We followed the instructions of the coach, we scored, we won and we are now getting closer to the round of 16."
Paraguay appears popular with the opposition, too.
"Our opponent was a really high quality opponent and their victory was deserved," Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said. "My favorite has always been Paraguay and this was confirmed today."
Weiss also interrupted one of Santa Cruz's post-match interviews to give the Manchester City striker a hug and a pat on the back.
Santa Cruz, who shook off a persistent leg injury to give an assured performance against the Slovaks, said the group was simply enjoying its football — but had also set itself the serious goal of reaching a first World Cup quarterfinal.
"We have time now to recover and go and relax and enjoy today a little bit and from tomorrow onwards start thinking of the next game," Santa Cruz said. "Paraguay's never been in the World Cup quarterfinals. There is always time to change history. We are very proud of our result today."
-- Gerald Imray
