Colin Chong rates the players in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match between Algeria and Slovenia.
New Zealand
Mark Paston - 4
Tried to entertain the crowd somewhere around the half an hour mark with his horrible miskick. Was lucky to only conceed a goal.
Tony Lochhead - 7.5
Has a great left foot, putting in many dangerous balls in to the penalty area. Came back to match every Slovakian player as well.
Winston Reid - 7
Had a quiet match till his goal, playing a crucial role in keeping his team in the game on numerous occasions.
Ryan Nelsen - 8
Skipper was water tight in defence. Two thumbs up for him.
Tommy Smith - 6
Good covering for Nelson, making occasional runs forward.
Ivan Vicelich (78' off) - 4.5
Kept too low a profile for his coach's liking in the hour or so he was on.
Simon Elliott - 6.5
The 36 year old is a good distributor of the ball, but could not conjure a killer pass. Do not be fooled by his age, his legs are far from aging.
Leo Bertos - 5
The only times we see this man is near the touchline or at the corner flag.
Chris Killen (72' off) - 5.5
Chances in both halves of the match but quiet after that. Could only play the ball back majority of the time.
Rory Fallon - 6
Easily matched, or even better the Slovakians in the air for large periods of the match in both penalty boxes. Had a quiet second half though.
Shane Smeltz - 6.5
His best chance amazingly, came at around the 80th minute. However, he duplicated Stanislav Sestak assist with an equally brilliant cross for the equaliser.
Substitution:
Chris Wood (72' on) - 5
The striker struggled to make an impact in the time he was on.
Jeremy Christie (78' on)
N/A
Slovakia
Jan Mucha - 6
Had nothing much to do but pick the ball from his own net.
Marek Cech - 6.5
Showed a bit of skill for a defender and impressed at left back.
Radoslav Zabavnik - 6.5
Had nothing much to do but watch the impotent New Zealand forwards run at him.
Martin Skrtel - 7
Liverpool man defended well and hardly put a foot wrong in the whole game. Did well today after a long spell out due to injury.
Jan Durica -5
Anonymous player.
Zdeno Strba - 7
Solid, no nonsense anchorman, breaking down the very few New Zealand attack.
Vladimir Weiss - 7.5
Injected some creativity and pace into the match. Looked dangerous every time he has the ball. Man to watch in Slovakia's upcoming matches.
Marek Hamsik - 6.5 (90+1' off)
The wonderkid would have been disappointed with his performance today as he remained quiet for most of the match.
Stanislav Sestak (81' off) - 7
The hardworking forward came up with a pin point assist.
Robert Vittek (84' off) - 7.5
Dropped very deep and was lively from kick off till he was substituted. Deserved his goal but was it offside?
Erik Jendrisek - 4
If the Slovakians had only one substitution to make in this game, my vote goes to him.
Substitution:
Filip Holosko (81' on)
N/A
Miroslav Stoch(84' on)
N/A
Juraj Kucka (90+1' on)