New Zealand produced the shock result of this and many other World Cup finals when they held defending champions Italy to a draw in a pulsating Group F encounter in Nelspruit.

The All Whites went ahead when an offside-looking Shane Smeltz, who was playing semi-professional football in England for AFC Wimbledon (three) years ago, toe-poked Simon Elliott’s free-kick past second-choice keeper Federico Marchetti.

It was largely backs-against-the-wall stuff for the All Whites after that. And Riccardo Montolivo had already struck New Zealand keeper Mark Paston’s right-hand post with a 25-yard right-foot drive when Italy drew level.

Daniele De Rossi fell over in the six-yard box after a shirt tug from Tommy Smith and Vincenzo Iaquinta sent Paston the wrong way with the resultant spot kick.

The All Whites soaked up considerable second-half pressure, and teenage substitute Chris Wood’s late left-foot shot came close to sealing an even more shocking result.