New Zealand show us how its done

Following the German side's emphatic win in the second round match of the 2006 World Cup, a 3-0 drubbing of Sweden, the German fans took to the streets singing 'Sieht ihr England, so wird das gemacht', This translates to "See England, that's how its done', a taunt referring to the English side's rather laboured progress through the tournament to that point.

If the New Zealand fans were of a mind to do so, they could direct the same chants at Australia fans today. New Zealand popped up to grab a dramatic draw in the final minute of their game against Slovakia today, and thereby kept their hopes in the tournament alive until at least game three. One thing that was clear was where New Zealand will be finding their goals. With a couple of decent crossers of the ball, and a couple of tall players that a strong in the air, it was there for all to see that set pieces and high crosses will be the most likely source of any more goals that the All Whites manage. The fact that both goals in the Italy Paraguay game came from corners bodes well for New Zealand - and the likely absence of 'keeper Gianluiggi Buffon from the Italy side gives NZ just the slightest bit of hope.

From the Australian point of view though, the lesson was in the attitude that New Zealand showed. While Slovakia is not Germany, the All Whites still started as significant underdogs against a side with far more top league experience. Nevertheless, New Zealand played with courage, seeking to take the game to their opponents and trying to create chances both before and after conceding a goal. The late equaliser was scored by Winston Reid - a defender. How many times did Lucas Neill of Craig Moore venture as far as the opposing penalty area? I suspect zero. New Zealand weren't the best team on the park, but they gave themselves a chance. That is exactly what Australia will need to do against Ghana and Serbia.

The days second game was the one that I, along with many neutrals, had been looking forward to most during this first round - Ivory Coast v Portugal. It should have been the game to decide who died first in the Group of Death. It was a disappointment, to say the least. Both sides, but especially Portugal, looked scared to lose, and I suspect they had both done the same calculation. Get a point from this game, then everyone loses to Brazil and beats North Korea, so both sides will be equal on points, and let goal difference make the difference. Portugal figure Ronaldo can whip them in against North Korea, Ivory Coast figure the same thing about a recovered Drogba.

Ivory Coast showed us one thing. Stop Ronaldo and you stop Portugal. Ronaldo can turn a game faster than any player in the world. In the 11th minute of this match he crashed a shot into the bar from 35 yards that only he, in the entire world, could have hit. Not Messi, and cetainly not Rooney, can generate that sort of movement and speed on the ball. But, he is easily frustrated, and there are still question marks over his performances in big tournaments. With Ronaldo not getting involved again after his early shot, Portugal never looked like scoring.

Ivory Coast on the other hand looked like all they need is a finisher to become a threatening side. Given that until the 66th minute, the world's best finisher was sitting on the bench for them, it seems that, if Drogba can reach 100% despite his broken arm, they really could survive the group of death.

However, the calculation that the two teams seemed to have made was thrown into some doubt by the North Korea Brazil game, which showed that victory over North Korea can not be taken for granted, and neither need defeat to Brazil be inevitable.

First to North Korea. They were fast, organised, athletic and they defended very bravely. What we saw from Portugal and Ivory Coast today would not be enough to break them down. They also have weapons going forward, as the late consolation goal showed.

Then to Brazil. Their number one ranking in the world is soft. This is because through Diego Maradona's absurd coaching, Argentina, Brazil's only regional competition, was effectively taken out of the game, allowing Brazil to win the Copa America and breeze through qualifying in recent years. They are a good side, but not the best in the world. Kaka has had a bad season for Real Madrid, Robinho was such a failure in England that they sold him back to Brazil, and the strikers are not in the league of Ronaldo and Rivaldo in their prime. They were lucky today, plain and simple. Maicon scored a goal from an absurd angle, practically on the by line. He claims he meant it, I don't believe him for a second. It was a cross. Even if he did mean it, they got lucky that the goalkeeper let himself be beaten that way. Don't get me wrong, it was an entirely legitimate win, and luck goes in all directions in football, but the fact is Brazil struggled to beat North Korea.

You really have to feel for these teams. Not only is it by far the toughest group, but the second place qualifier will almost certainly face Spain in the next round. That means, if Ivory Coast and Portugal are smart, they realise that they have to go after a win against Brazil - Spain is the worst possible team to face in this competition. There are plenty of twists in this group yet.