The third round of Group F of the World Cup was launched the next day, and Slovakia and Paraguay appeared smoothly in the group, but in the two games, the winners did not pay much attention, but the two teams that were out of the tournament attracted more people's attention.

One with shame, the other with glory!

Italy lost 2-3 to Slovakia, only two points, and finished bottom of the group, becoming the fourth defending champion in history to go out of the group, a result that perhaps no one expected before the game.

In the final game of the group stage, Lippi finally chose to die with his veterans, and in the game, Italy was completely suppressed by Slovakia in terms of both the sharpness of the attack and the proportion of possession.

When a group of Italian sapper players couldn't create any chances on the pitch, Lippi had to replace Pirlo in the hope that he could save Italy and save himself.

Lippi on the field has completely lost the composure of the silver fox before, he anxiously looked at the situation on the field, constantly pacing on the side of the court, the whole game, Lippi almost did not sit on the chair, calmly for even a minute.

Lippi's anxiety is similar to the Champions League final he experienced in Manchester in the 2002/2003 season, but in that game, although Lippi was also very nervous, he only smoked on the sidelines.

In the previous match against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, Trapattoni had such a helpless experience in the game, he kept touching the cross in his pocket, hoping that God would help him.

Today's Lippi, even in the game rushed to fold his hands and close his eyes in prayer, perhaps at that moment the silver fox has been very clear that relying on the strength of the team can no longer qualify, only God can help Italy.

It's just a pity that in the end, God's nationality is not Italy.

Looking at Lippi's starting trident, Lippi pinned his goal hopes on Iaquinta in the final game, perhaps because Gilardino had disappointed him too much.

Lippi experimented with Gilardino and Pacini in two matches, but the result was nothing, and perhaps at this time, Lippi should lament why he chose Gilardino over Borriello in the end.

If Borriello is in the 23-man squad, his fighting power in the box, his ability to score goals, and his ability to carry the ball with his back to him, perhaps Lippi will miss it especially at this time.

Cassano, the most familiar name for Italian fans, almost every time Italy does not perform well, the Italian media and fans have to question why Lippi did not choose Cassano, but Lippi is so determined that his Pepe is the best.

Pepe may be a bit of a competitive, as he has played at a high level in all three group games, the stiff player is not a consistent regular at Udinese, and let's not forget that Pepe has been average in World Cup qualifying, while he has played less than one game in the Confederations Cup, and Italy have lost both games.

Speaking of which, in the World Cup, Pepe did not live up to Lippi's trust, he showed very hard, but after all, his ability was limited, he did not score in three games, and the only so-called assist was because he took a corner kick and the Paraguayan goalkeeper made a mistake, but think about it, what would Cassano do if he performed in this position?

After the match against Paraguay, Cassano once said in an interview with the Italian media: "I don't know what the conflict is between me and Lippi, I don't even see him, if I have to say something, I think maybe he doesn't like me as a person." ”

Cassano's words reflect the fact that in fact, Lippi's reason for rejecting Cassano is likely to be fundamentally valid, in Lippi's eyes, Cassano is an outlier, but Lippi's definition of Cassano is completely the impression he had at the club.

In fact, in the national team, whether it is Euro 04 or Euro 08, Cassano is one of the best players, and in those two cup games, Cassano almost became the savior of Italy.

In other words, Lippi's rejection of Cassano was a speculation at first, and then it was more like the result of a battle with the Italian media and Italian fans.

On the other hand, Lippi was obsessed with Iaquinta before, but after two games, Lippi found that Harmunta was really not a good tool to create deep breakthrough opportunities, and in the last game, Lippi began to turn to Di Natale, the Udinese striker's skills were good, but he was not able to live up to Lippi's expectations.

As for the question of why only Montolivo and Pazzini were selected for the Fiorentina gang, it is already a cliché, and there is no need to repeat it.

And what about Totti?

Speaking to the Italian press, Cassano said: "This Italy team played mediocre and had no bright spots because they didn't have Totti and Piero. ”

In fact, Totti's performance has been good this season, and Lippi has been giving Totti hints, but when Totti was really ready to accept the invitation, Lippi coldly rejected him.

Looking at the game in this game, when Lippi can only use Montolivo as the playmaking core of the three midfielders, but there is no performance, Lippi should wonder why he didn't bring Totti.

In the midfield, Lippi gave two precious places to Palombo and Gattuso, the former did not get a single minute chance, and Gattuso, who was going to be purged in AC Milan, got 45 minutes of chance, and the object of Gattuso's squeeze was precisely Ambrosini, who performed well in AC Milan.

In addition, let's not forget Rossi, this wonder boy in the Confederations Cup, is Italy's best player, but in the final selection Lippi gave up Rossi, no Rossi, no Cassano, no Balotelli, Lippi midfield player, no real depth breakthrough ability, two wings cross and then grab points in the middle?

What will happen to Italy with this simple style of play, we have seen today.

In fact, Lippi did not choose the squad to renew the team, but to continue the skeleton of the team he won the championship in 2006.

In this case, Lippi piled up a number of sapper players around them, but the result?

Those old people no longer have the ability to win the championship, and the new sappers who have been selected to serve them do not have the ability to save the world. Now, it can only be said that Lippi's stubbornness and crazy selection of people have ruined Italy and himself.

Italy lost 3-2 to Slovakia, and after the referee's three whistles at the end of the game, the Slovak players hugged and celebrated, the Italian players were crying, and Lippi didn't even say hello to the opposing manager, so he hurried back to the dressing room.

The farewell game of the national team of several veterans was particularly bitter.

In the final game, Italy could even appear as group winners as long as they could beat Slovakia and get two goal difference, but when the opportunity lay in front of them, the Italians missed it.

Slovakia's victory was convincing, and it was not even an upset, because Slovakia had always been in the driver's seat throughout the game.

And it was their number one star Hamsik who brought victory to Slovakia.

In the opening game of the World Cup, Hamsik scored a goal for New Zealand and then faced Paraguay, and his poor performance made it almost impossible for the team to qualify from the group.

There are also reports in the media that the pressure is so high that Hamsik is completely unable to show his true strength.

But through this match with Italy, people have seen the rooster comb head in Serie A and the Champions League again.

In direct dialogue with Montolivo, the two are contenders for the same place at Fiorentina, and in today's game, Hamsik extended his club win and Slovakia also won under him.

One goal, two assists, Hamsik's performance is surprising, but such a performance is reasonable, as a representative of the new generation of players in the European arena, Hamsik's ability, no one doubts.

If in the first game, Hamsik just played at a normal level, and in the second game, because of the huge psychological pressure, he played abnormally, then in today's game, Hamsik's performance was enough to blind everyone's eyes, and he really broke out 200 percent.

In particular, the goal that knocked on the door of victory for Slovakia, a long-range shot from outside the penalty area, made Buffon the world's number one goalkeeper helpless.

In the face of the equaliser by the Italians, with little time left, it was Hamsik again, and his breakthrough with the ball in the middle made Gattuso show his old age, and the through ball was even more amazing, and then it was the moment of celebration for the Slovaks.

Italy's humiliating exit came as a surprise, while New Zealand's unbeaten exit was a shock, as New Zealand entered the World Cup 28 years ago when they beat China 2-1 in the Singapore play-offs.

Twenty-eight years later, New Zealand reached the World Cup finals again, this time they were out of the tournament but unbeaten in the group stage with three draws.

As the least favored team in this World Cup, it was difficult to escape the fate of being out of the group in time, but the lads from Oceania can already leave with their heads held high because they have made history.

The performance of the New Zealand national team in this World Cup is indeed enough to make the media around the world take off their hats and pay tribute, because there are only 25 professional football players in New Zealand. Barron also made his debut as a substitute against Paraguay, and in terms of personnel, New Zealand is undoubtedly the weakest team in this World Cup.

In the run-up to the World Cup, New Zealand was the undisputed favourite in all media predictions.

But what about now?

New Zealand have drawn three of their three games and scored two goals.

Among them, he showed tenacity by scoring a late goal against Slovakia, and in the game against Italy, he scored a goal in the opening period, and in the end Italy equalised only through a controversial penalty, and after the 1-1 draw with Italy, amateur Barron said: "This is a special moment, we are making history. ”

With this kind of strength, to be able to play this kind of performance, Barron's words are no exaggeration.

Another point of pride for New Zealanders is that after the group stage, New Zealand overtook Italy to finish third in the group stage.

It's a shame to be out, but with the defending champions at the bottom, the New Zealanders have no regrets, and head coach Herbert proudly said: "A lot of people think we shouldn't be in the World Cup, they say our team is all amateurs and they can't afford a tournament like this, but I would say I'm proud of our players, they didn't lose a single group stage, but unfortunately we were eliminated in the end. ”

Before the start of the World Cup, in the eyes of many people, the team's World Cup journey is likely to be like watching the world, after three games, and then go home.

But when the start of Group F, New Zealand's boys drew Slovakia at the last minute with tenacious spirit, and then took the lead in the second game of the group stage to stop the powerful defending champion Italy.

In fact, everyone understands that New Zealand's strength is the worst among the top 32 teams, and the total value of the players in the team is not even worth the value of an Italian star, but it is such a team, after three rounds of the group stage, it is one point ahead of the defending champion and ranked third in the group, who can say that this is not a miracle created by the New Zealanders?

After three rounds of Group F, Paraguay is at the top of the group, and they will face Japan in the 1/8 knockout round.

Slovakia, who finished second in the group, face the Netherlands, the top of Group E, and it can be said that it is an uneven battle of strength, but the Slovaks, who have already performed miracles in the group stage, have no reason to fall in front of the Dutch out of fear.

When he learned that Slovakia would face the Netherlands next, the young captain of Slovakia Hamsik was very calm: "We know that we are making history one after another, facing the Netherlands, we will not be afraid of their strength before the game, in the game, we will still fight for the dignity and honor of Slovakia, as for the result of the game, it doesn't matter!" ”