England Takes Out First World Cup Match On Snow

5 July 2006

England Takes Out First World Cup Match On Snow

Freezing temperatures and challenging pitch conditions met the players in today's high altitude World Cup Soccer Match between England and New Zealand at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Played high on the mountain at 1,800m with spectacular views overlooking the Wakatipu Basin to Queenstown, the game saw England alleviate their World Cup misery with a 4-1 win over New Zealand, despite temperatures of -10C.

The game presented challenges to both sides with a variable pitch hiding such obstacles as thigh-deep snow drifts which resulted in some interesting playing tactics. The athletes, ardent football fans from both Lake Wanaka and Queenstown, were keen to defend their individual nation's pride with whatever it took. However, they had the added encouragement of keeping it clean by means of a Cardrona Season Pass for all those who took part and weren't yellow-carded.

"It was a lot of fun with everyone really getting in to the spirit of the event with passing skiers and boarders yelling their encouragement to the teams,” said match referee, Bruce McGechan of Cardrona Alpine Resort. There was some very creative football skills being produced that David Beckham himself would have been proud of. In keeping with the World Cup, we held a couple of penalty shoot-outs with England coming out top both times " Beckham probably wishes the same were true of their efforts in Germany!

ENDS

© Scoop Media