Italy v New Zealand Live

Click here to Watch Italy v New Zealand Live

                         

A year after they met in an international friendly, Italy and New Zealand will lock horns for the first time in a World Cup game this weekend at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. Use your membership with Ole Ole Football and see Italy vs New Zealand live on your computer.

The Italians were fortunate to escape with a point against Paraguay. Guaranies defender Antolin Alcaraz gave Paraguay the lead shortly before half time when he nodded in a free kick from Aureliano Torres. The Azzurri scratched around a while for an equaliser, which finally arrived in the 63^rd minute courtesy of a goalkeeping howler from Paraguay’s Justo Villar. Simone Pepe’s corner kick was misjudged by Villar and Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi took advantage of the Paraguayan No.1’s generosity to give Italy an equaliser.

The Azzurri lost influential stopper Gianluigi Buffon to injury against Paraguay and he will not take the field against the All Whites. Cagliari’s Federico Marchetti is expected to deputise for Buffon on Sunday. Midfielder Andrea Pirlo, whose ball distribution and control was sorely missed against Paraguay, will also sit out this fixture.

New Zealand picked up their first ever World Cup finals point when they drew 1-1 with Slovakia in their Group F opener. The All Whites trailed for much of the second half, but managed to score a dramatic injury time goal through Winston Reid to cancel out Robert Vittek’s opener for Slovakia.  It ended a run of three straight World Cup defeats for the All Whites and prompted coach Ricki Herbert to label the draw as his side’s greatest ever soccer result.

Italy beat New Zealand 4-3 in June 2009 despite trailing on three occasions during the fixture. Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino both scored braces for the Azzurri that evening. Neither Iaquinta nor Gilardino managed to muster a single shot on target against Paraguay though. Italy will be wary of New Zealand’s threat at set pieces, which the All Whites used successfully against the Azzuri in the only past meeting between the two sides.

Watch live Group F streaming and the Italy vs New Zealand game live on your computer by joining Ole Ole Football today.