New Zealand: All Whites to keep the faith

New Zealand are set to field an unchanged side for their second World Cup match against holders Italy. With midfielder Tim Brown still to fully recover from a shoulder injury, coach Ricki Herbert has hinted at keeping the same XI that started their...

New Zealand are set to field an unchanged side for their second World Cup match against holders Italy.

With midfielder Tim Brown still to fully recover from a shoulder injury, coach Ricki Herbert has hinted at keeping the same XI that started their drawn Group F opener against Slovakia.

Winston Reid scored a dramatic late equaliser on Tuesday as the All Whites began their first World Cup campaign since 1982 with an impressive 1-1 draw in Rustenburg.

Now the Kiwis face their greatest challenge as they take on Marcello Lippi's world champions at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit tomorrow.

Herbert said: "It's hard to go past a side that's created more history.

"It's a different type of proposition, a different type of team to play against, but I don't think it will be far away."

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