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Defending champions Italy alongwith Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand form Group F which at first glance looks like a no-brainer. The Azzurri are easily the most recognisable and stronger of the four in the group with CONMEBOL dark horses Paraguay the other closest stake-holder. The Guaranies will consider themselves fortunate as Group F gives them an excellent opportunity to go one better to their previous effort in 2006. The All Whites from Oceania have nothing to lose in the tournament with the whole universe touting them to finish pointless and helping opponents conjure goal fests. Despite this being their first taste of FIFA World Cup, the Slovakians will be expected to play an active role in the war for qualification and one will be naive to take this new-entrant lightly.
Title holders Italy are definite favourites to win the group and progress to the round of 16 with ease and should do so with a perfect record. Their 3 other group-mates don't seem to share their pedigree of the big stage; though as seen in Euro 2008, the Azzurri are less than infallible. The Italian squad is primarily placed in the defensive and highly skilled Serie A with most of them regular participants of the UEFA Champions League which is considered as the pinnacle of club football. On paper the Azzurri are the best in terms of quality, experience and skill of all four teams and in the build up to the World Cup it is difficult to think of any other team winning Group F.
Paraguay and Slovakia are expected to battle it out for second place with New Zealand attempting to play party poopers. The All Whites' first qualification in almost 3 decades is already an achievement worth commending and even a point at the finals would be considered a massive achievement for the team from down under. Of the aforementioned two teams Paraguay are higher ranked in the FIFA World rankings and are also the more experienced of the two in the finals. The likes of Roque Santa Cruz, Oscar Cardozo and Nelson Valdez are established football strikers in top European leagues and one would think their quality at the right end of the pitch is a dash superior to that of Slovakia. The encounter between the two teams should determine the second qualifier and on paper Paraguay look set to take that game from the scruff of its neck.
Key Players:
Roque Santa Cruz is a striker one should look out for in Group F. The Paraguayan has played for Bayern Munich and Blackburn Rovers and currently plys his trade at the big-spending Manchester City. His domestic season was blighted with injury but the blue eyed boy of Paraguay still shoulders the responsibilities of a whole nation. The tall goal scorer is brilliant in the air with great physical strength and a genuine eye for goal. Opponents will be well aware of Santa Cruz's talent and will keep a close eye on him in Paraguay's fixtures.
Andrea Pirlo is a playmaker who plays a crucial role in constructing attacks for the Azzurri. The AC Milan player is a set-piece specialist and is one of the more elegant Italian superstars. After a fantastic performance in 2006 that got him plaudits from all footballing quarters, Pirlo will look to impress once again in South Africa. With most of his colleagues in the twilight of their footballing careers, Pirlo's role will be highly magnified.
Slovakian midfielder Marik Hamsik has been Napoli's best player for the last couple of seasons in Serie A. His vital goals, passing and playmaking abilities show signs of another Paul Scholes in the making and one knows how dearly the Slovakian team needs a player of his quality in the World Cup to enhance their chances. Hamsik is young and has been the source of huge speculation in the transfer window. He has taken Serie A by storm helping his club to decent finishes in the table.
Head to Head
Italy have won both their games against Paraguay. New Zealand will play Slovakia for the first time ever, while they have lost one game each to Italy and Paraguay. Slovakia have never faced Paraguay though as part of Czechoslovakia, they have faced Italy 27 times, winning 8, losing 10 and drawing 9.
Schedule
14/06 - Italy vs Paraguay, Cape Town - 07:30 PM (GMT) - Match Report
15/06 - New Zealand vs Slovakia, Rustenburg - 12:30 PM (GMT) - Match Report
20/06 - Slovakia vs Paraguay, Mangaung/Bloemfontein - 12:30 PM (GMT) - Match Report
20/06 - Italy vs New Zealand, Nelspruit - 03:00 PM (GMT) - Match Report
24/06 - Slovakia vs Italy, Johannesburg - 03:00 PM (GMT) - Match Report
24/06 - Paraguay vs New Zealand, Polokwane - 03:00 PM (GMT) - Match Report
Group F kick starts with arguably the most engrossing encounter of the group between Paraguay and Italy. The Guaranies need to get points out of this clash if they wish to progress as group leaders while the Italians will want to send a signal of intent to the likes of Spain and Brazil by beating a team of considerable quality. The winner of the encounter between Slovakia and Paraguay may end up deciding one of the two qualifiers for the round of 16 with both teams having a number of quality players looking to impress European scouts and more importantly write a new chapter in their country's history.
Prediction
Group Winners - Italians to top the group going through undefeated.
Runners Up - Paraguay is the second strongest on paper, to go through on goal difference.
Trivia
Since 1994, one of the two teams qualifiers from Group F always makes it to the quarterfinals but fails to go beyond the last 8.
Read the team previews here: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
File Photograph Copyright: Ryu Voelkel
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