LizzieRossetti: Didn't even know NZ had a football team in the world cup, but well done anyway.
Neither did I until my son clued me. As your basic ignorant American, stuck on American football (not soccer) I had no inkling of what real man football was like until he (my son) got into it in college. He hooked up with a rugby club and opened a new world for me. Rugby is the man!! LOL
I have gained an appreciation for the sport that is quite exciting. To put it into perspective, I saw my first ever rugby game at my son's college. He got involved with an intramural rugby club and as the protypical parent, I followed him. What an eye-opener! After watching him and the game, assaulting the spectators with a zillion questions, I came away a tad confused but excited because they won. Lots of crunching and mucking and rucking or something like that. LOL
Then I get home and he calls and says New Zealand is on the TV. Double WOW after watching them. What a team! I got to see how the game is really played and am now a fan of the sport. I sure wouldn't want any of those NZers mad at me! LOL Rugby and American football are 2 very different sports but I now think the rugby players trump the football players.
A funny aside that illustrates the toughness of the sport is the Fosters beer commercial that shows this tough ass, bald Aussie putting a band aid on his neck-the Austrailian definition of helmet! :-D
p.s., His club from SUNY Brockport just drove 5 1/2 hours to a podunk college in Saranac, NY to win the semifinal game 12-10. They play next Saturday for the Championship here in town. Can't wait! SUNY Brockport vs U of R.