David Leggat: All Whites result deserves applause

Spare a moment for a silent nod of appreciation for the All Whites this weekend.

That's the least they deserve after a remarkable result against the world game's world champions Italy in a place called Rustenberg on Thursday. A 4-3 loss, after leading three times. Who'd have picked it?

Yet another example of how, to an older generation, it must at times seem a funny old game.

They'll remember vividly New Zealand being marmalised 8-1 and 11-0 by Manchester United in Auckland and Christchurch. They were then a few months away from being the first English winners of the European Cup, (that's the Champions League as was to you, young man).

One goal was conceded as the goalkeeper was wrestling with his sweater, trying to yank it over his head as the ball sailed past him into the net. Those were the days.

A seven-goal thriller against the world's best in a place in Africa you'd never heard of - at least until the All Blacks played a test there three years ago - out in the sticks a couple of hours from Pretoria? Brilliant.

And after Italy come European champions, and current world No 1, Spain on Monday morning as the Confederations Cup gets moving.

The thing about soccer is this: unless you have a world beating team against Eastern Suburbs third grade you're always going to get a chance to score, be it from a bobble, a miscue or taking a chance on a 25-metre screamer.

So the All Whites knew that at some point(s) during the Italian game they would have chances. The key thing was to take them and in that respect you'd couldn't fault them.

Italian soccer has long been based upon ironclad defence. The hard men keep it tight and leave the fancy stuff to the pretty boys up front. So to bag three is some achievement for a team ranked No 82.

In another part of the soccer world this week, Manchester United finally got rid of Cristiano Ronaldo, and will pocket £80 million of Real Madrid's cash. No tears were shed in the red part of the city.

They'll be glad to have got shot of the preening Portuguese poseur, but might be wondering how they'll compensate for the bucket of goals he's supplied in the last couple of years.

Ronaldo, incidentally, was photographed getting up close and personal with Paris Hilton in a Los Angeles nightclub yesterday. That has a certain symmetry to it. All Whites and Ronaldo; same game, different scale.

Another reason to salute Ricky Herbert's men today is that the All Blacks step out for the first time this year, at Carisbrook tonight. They'll be forgotten in a few hours' time.

It may be All Blacks B - a twist on the usual bleat about the calibre of Northern Hemisphere visitors down here in each mid-year window - but it's still the ABs.

The spinners have been in full voice this week with some reach-for-the-bucket stuff about the return of Luke McAlister who seems to be, if you are silly enough to believe everything you hear, the panacea for anything ailing the All Blacks.

And it's France, the mob who find a way to get All Black knickers in a tangle when it really matters.

So the home team, their coaches and back room battalion will have their best "we're off to the war love, take care of the kids" faces on tonight.

Contrast that with the sheer delight of the All Whites and their coaching staff at Rustenberg as the unthinkable seemed to be unfolding.

The All Blacks will expect to win, and probably will, even with a patched up side whose final adjustment happened only yesterday.

The All Whites didn't for a moment, yet almost did. Next up Spain. No problem...