New Zealand to field same team against Italy

Nelspruit, South Africa: New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert will keep the same team that drew with Slovakia to face Italy in Sunday's Group F match.

Herbert said on Saturday that midfielder Tim Brown still isn't fully fit following surgery on a shoulder injury and will be left off the starting lineup again.

Herbert said Brown was "not quite there" and that the Kiwis' third match against Paraguay was "probably a better target for him."

The New Zealand players trained on the semi-synthetic pitch at the Mbombela stadium for the first time on Saturday ahead of the match with Italy, with all 23 players involved.

New Zealand and Italy both drew their opening matches. New Zealand drew 1-1 with Slovakia, while Italy drew 1-1 with Paraguay.

Herbert said a friendly loss against Italy last June would have little bearing on Sunday's game.

New Zealand led three times during that game ahead of the Confederations Cup but finally succumbed 4-3 after Italy coach Marcello Lippi made a host of substitutions.

"Everybody was shuffling the deck a little bit," Herbert said. "(It's) completely different. It's a World Cup game, there's a lot more on the line and being holders of the World Cup I'm sure they see (the match) as a strong opportunity to win."

New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen said teams would take the All Whites more seriously after the 1-1 draw with Slovakia.

"Probably people underestimated us, and now they're not, and that's one thing that's gone against us," he said.

"Most teams probably thought (playing New Zealand) was a banker for them. Now they know they'll have to stand up and play well to beat us."

Herbert said there would be no extra pressure on his team despite playing the defending champion.

"I think this team's done an incredibly good job to put football back in New Zealand to a marvelous place," he said. "I think pressure comes with every football match. We'll take it in our stride.

"The group is in a very tight position and whatever the outcome (on Sunday) we will still be in with a chance in round three."