Lochhead on Drawing with Italy

By Mike Takeuchi

New Zealand's Tie with Paraguay, didn't allow UCSB's Tony Lochhead and the All Whites to Advance. But it did give them three points in the World Cup Final, which is unprecedented for the country of merely four-million people. They also tied defending champion Italy. Tony talks about that big upset.

When the final whistle sounded Sunday confirming New Zealand's shocking 1-1 tie with defending champion Italy on Sunday, along with several local fans, most of the four million people in defender Tony Lochhead's country celebrated like there was no tomorrow.
The win, prompted the normally understated New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert to say that the result “stopped the nation.” Lochhead concurred with Herbert, who not only coaches the former UCSB standout on the national team, but also on the Wellington Phoenix of the Australian League, the only professional soccer team based in New Zealand. Shortly after the match, the 28-year-old took the time to express his thoughts to the News-Press.
“People are buzzing right now about football,” Lochhead said. “That is all everyone is talking about (at home) right now.”
He then went on to describe key moments in the match.
The All Whites stunned the Azzuri seven minutes into the game when a long free kick from Simon Elliot glanced off a falling Fabio Cannavaro to Shane Smelts, who pushed the ball into the net for the match's first score. It would be New Zealand's only shot on goal all day, but it gave his countrymen hope for an upset. But Lochhead said his teammates didn't share that thought.
“It was still so early into the game and Italy is such a good side that I don’t think you could ever get too far ahead (of ourselves into thinking about winning),” he said. “It was an amazing feeling when that ball went into the back of the net, though.”
Italy, took advantage of a slight tug from Tommy Smith on Daniele De Rossi inside the penalty area to gain a disputed penalty shot. Vincenzo Iaquinta converted to tie the score in the 27th minute and left the two teams knotted at halftime.
“Obviously we were disappointed to let them get a goal even thought it was a little suspect,” Lochhead said. “But if you had said to us we would be 1-1 at half time with the World Champs in the World Cup, we would have taken it. So it was more about focusing on the next 45 minutes.”
While the All Whites could not organize a run at Italy's goal, the Azzuri threw everything they had in a desperate attempt to get the three points for the win. The All Whites proved game as the defense turned away several chances, while New Zealand goalkeeper, who is Lochhead's teammate on Wellington, stopped three shots-including a diving right handed deflection in the 70th minute off the foot of Riccardo Montolivo that seemed destined for a goal.
“It was a busy day in the office for us tonight but I felt like we did well to contain them,” Lochhead said.” They have some pretty talented players who play in the top leagues in the world. I thought Pasty had a great game and he came up with some great saves especially in the second half.”
With time winding down and a tie a possibility, New Zealand closed ranks tighter.
“At this point of the game we were just trying to come away with the draw,” Lochhead said. “(They) were pushing to get that winning goal. We were just making sure our shape was solid and trying to make it as difficult as possible for them to play through us.”
The plan worked and as the whistle blew, the 78th ranked team in the world stunned the defending champions.
(This is) Such an amazing feeling- a huge result for our country!” Lochhead said. “People were going crazy after the first result that we got. They are now going absolutely nuts now. Hopefully we can capitalize on all of this and lift football onto another level.”