World Cup: Group F Preview

Italy, Paraguay,
New Zealand,
Slovakia

In what’s deemed a relatively weak group, defending world champions Italy are thought to be a shoo-in to advance to the knockout stage. However, the teams may be closer than most people think, thus providing for some unexpected excitement and drama, particularly in the final group matchday. Italy are efficient in their lethality; Paraguay have put together a solid squad; Slovakia can provide a couple of upsets if their inexperience doesn’t eat them up; and New Zealand will be the group’s punching bag. For three of the four teams, Group F will be a nail-biter until the very end.

FIFA Ranking: 5 

Coach: Marcello Lippi (Italy)

World Cup Appearances: 16 (Best finish: Winners – 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006) 

Intro: The defending champs enter South Africa seeking to match Brazil for most World Cup titles won. That, however, seems like a mighty challenge for the Azzurri, who feature most of the same faces that won them their fourth world title in 2006. But if there is a team not expected to win the Cup that can win it, that’s Italy. The squad’s strategy can be summed up in one word: efficiency. Lippi focuses on cohesion, allowing Italy to defend successfully and counter with lethal consequences, as evidenced by their unbeaten qualification to South Africa with a game to spare. But as good as their defense is, the opposite can be said about their offense. The Italians lack any serious threat up top, which could come to haunt them in the later rounds.

WATCH: ITALY: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH:ITALY: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP

BUY: ITALY JERSEY

Star Power: Start talking about the best keeper in the world and one name that immediately comes to mind is Gianluigi Buffon[WATCH: PLAYER PROFILE]. His sure hands and quick reflexes are matched by few in the game today. Center back Giorgio Chiellini is among the best at marking, not to mention his ability to stifle opponents in the air. Daniele de Rossi, a midfield battler who enters the tournament in his prime and who’s workrate and willingness to try his luck from long range will be a huge asset.

MLS Connection: An important figure of AC Milan during their glory years in the 1980s and ’90s, midfielder Roberto Donadoni joined the NY/NJ Metrostars in 1996 and ’97 before returning to San Siro. 

FIFA Ranking: 31 

Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentina) 

World Cup Appearances: 7 (Best finish: 2nd round, ) 

Intro: No one can speak about the Albirroja without mentioning Salvador Cabañas. In January, the attacker suffered a life-threatening bullet to the head (Cabañas is now physically recovered). The news was a large blow to a squad who had fought toe-to-toe with South American giants Brazil for dominance of the region during qualifying before ultimately finishing in third place. The Albirroja’s form during that period, however, showed the world that they will be serious challengers in South Africa. Come opening day, head coach and tactical mastermind “Tata” Martino will field a stout defense, a scrappy midfield and a potent offense that can fight with the best of them.

WATCH: PARAGUAY: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH: PARAGUAY: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP

BUY: PARAGUAY JERSEY

Star Power: Cabañas’ unfortunate shooting left a large hole in the attack that Roque Santa Cruz [WATCH: PLAYER PROFILE] and Nelson Haedo Valdez will try to fill. Santa Cruz is a tall and powerfully-built forward with good dribbling and a knack for finding the net. Haedo Valdez relies on pace, power and superb finishing once in the box. Holding midfielder Cristian Riveros fights hard for the ball and can add support to the offense with his accurate blasts from distance.

MLS Connection: In 2009, MLS standout and Guatemalan international Carlos “El Pescadito” Ruiz transferred to Paraguayan first division club Olimpia, where his 10 goals made him a fan favorite. 

FIFA Ranking: 78

Coach: Ricki Herbert (New Zealand) 

World Cup appearances: 1 (Best finish: 1st round – 1982) 

Intro: Australia’s secession from the Oceania zone left the road clear for New Zealand to take control of the confederation. And the All Whites did just that. After an easy qualification process in their regional group, New Zealand went on and beat Bahrain in a playoff for a World Cup spot, marking just the second time the Kiwis qualified for World Cup action. In Spain 1982, the All Whites lost all three matches. This time around, though, New Zealand will attempt to use their size, strength and ability to score from set pieces to make life a little difficult for their group and walk away with a few points in the process. But their lack of depth, experience and technical ability point them to another three-and-out finish.

WATCH: NEW ZEALAND: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH: NEW ZEALAND: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP 

Star Power: Leading the team is captain Ryan Nelsen. The Blackburn Rovers center back is surprisingly agile and fast for his size, and he will be expected to hold up the defensive end. On the other end of the pitch are attackers Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen. The Kiwis’ top marksman during the qualifiers, Smeltz is dangerous both on the ground and in the air. He’ll be looking to team-up with Killen, who’s size offers a significant presence in the box, to try to repeat their performance—the duo scored three goals—in a 4-3 loss in a friendly against group rivals Italy prior to the 2009 Confederations Cup.

MLS Connection: Kiwis are no strangers to MLS. The current national squad boasts three players who have donned MLS jerseys—Nelsen, Simon Elliot and Tony Lochhead—and current New York defender Andy Boyens. 

FIFA Ranking: 34 

Coach: Vladimir Weiss (Slovakia) 

World Cup Appearances: 16 (Best finish: Runner up – 1934, 1962, as Czechoslovakia) 

Intro: Slovakia have gotten better with each passing World Cup process, beginning in 1998, when they finished fourth in their qualifying group. In 2002, they finished third; in 2006, they were runners up to Germany; finally, in 2010, Slovakia will make their first World Cup appearance since becoming an independent nation. Their road to South Africa wasn’t smooth by any means, but the side showed confidence, organization on the pitch, and an electrifying midfield. However, their lack of experience can ruin their chances of advancing beyond the group stage. Nonetheless, if any team is to star in a Cinderella story, it would be Slovakia. 

WATCH: SLOVAKIA: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH: SLOVAKIA: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP

Star Power: Slovakia’s relies largely on their defense and midfield to win games. The defense is anchored by Martin Skrtel, an athletically-gifted mountain in Slovakia’s backline. In the midfield, Marek Hamsik [WATCH: PLAYER PROFILE] and Miroslav Stoch are just two offensive sparks in a talented midline. On one hand there’s tall and fast Hamsik, who provides leadership and whose dangerous runs usually end in goals. And on the other, there’s short and speedy Stoch, whose cutbacks and classy goals have won him the title of boy wonder.

MLS Connection: Lubos Reiter, a former Slovakian international, joined the Chicago Fire in 2005—his only season in MLS—and scored three goals in 14 appearances.

Group Dynamics: The battle for the top two spots will be a three-way race between Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia. In all likelihood, the group won’t be completely defined until those three teams have played each other, which means that we probably won’t find out who advances until the last day of that group’s matches.

Although Italy, with the defend-and-counter style of play, are the favorites to win the group, Paraguay and Slovakia are no pushovers. Paraguay stand a puncher’s chance against anybody, and Slovakia’s physical strength presents a solid obstacle. It should be a fierce battle between the three sides, but Italy will most likely occupy one spot, leaving Paraguay and Slovakia to battle it out for the other. Unfortunately for New Zealand, there second appearance at a World Cup will likely end as badly as the first. 

Don’t Miss This Match: Italy vs. Paraguay, 6/14, 2:30 pm ET

The group opener will go a long way in shaping the group. Both teams have a stingy defense and their midfields like to battle hard and strip their opponents of the ball. The winner will likely be the team that can find a creative spark in the midfield and have the power to unlock the other’s defense. A victory by one means that the loser will need to beat Slovakia in order to advance. 

Full Schedule (all times ET)

June 14: Italy vs. Paraguay (2:30 pm)

June 15: New Zealand vs. Slovakia (7:30 am)

June 20: Slovakia vs. Paraguay (7:30 am); Italy vs. New Zealand (9:30 am)

June 24: Slovakia vs. Italy (10 am); Paraguay vs. New Zealand (9:30 am) 

MLSsoccer.com Prediction

1. Italy

2. Paraguay

3: Slovakia

4: New Zealand