Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
ITALY
Coach:
Marcello Lippi
Star player:
Andrea Pirlo
Previous appearances: 1934 (winners), 1938 (winners), 1950 (first round), 1962 (first round), 1966 (first round), 1970 (runners-up), 1974 (first round), 1978 (first round), 1982 (winners), 1986 (second round), 1990 (third place), 1994 (runners-up), 1998 (quarter-finals), 2002 (second round), 2006 (winners).
Chances: So many of the 2006 side are still in place under Lippi, the man who led them to glory in Germany. The question is whether they will have enough in the tank to become the first side to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. The semi-finals look like being the end of the road for the Azzurri this time, but they should have no problems at all in Group F despite being notoriously slow starters at big tournaments.
NEW ZEALAND
Coach:
Ricki Herbert
Star player:
Ryan Nelsen
Previous
appearances: 1982 (first round).
Chances: The All Whites ensured a truly global event by qualifying as the Oceania region’s representative, but few would back them to get beyond the group stage. Blackburn defender Nelsen lifts the team in quality and stature, but there are not enough players of similar ability around him to predict anything other than a first-round exit.
PARAGUAY
Coach:
Gerardo Martino
Star player:
Nelson Haedo Valdez
Previous appearances: 1930 (first round), 1950 (first round), 1986 (second round), 1998 (second round), 2002 (second round), 2006 (first round).
Chances: At their fourth World Cup in a row, Martino’s side are a good bet to secure a place in the last 16. Valdez and new Sunderland midfielder Cristian Riveros are their star performers, with a solid defence still the base from which they operate. It looks like a straight fight between them and Slovakia to join Italy in the knockout phase.
SLOVAKIA
Coach: Vladimir
Weiss
Star player:
Marek Hamsik
Previous appearances: None.
Chances: World Cup debutants who possess plenty of individual talent as well as team spirit, but a lack of past finals pedigree may be their greatest weakness. Napoli star Hamsik will particularly relish the chance to pit his wits against Italy though, and Weiss has got the whole squad working well for him.
