Group F features reigning World Champions Italy, coming off their 2006 triumph in Germany. If you missed that team, don't worry. Marcello Lippi has brought back all your favorites. Fabio Cannavarro, Andrea Pirlo, Daniele de Rossi, Gianluigi Buffon - there all here. For better or worse. In this quartet with the Azzurri: a solid Paraguay team, the skilled Slovaks, and a New Zealand team that will win over some fans through their three matches.
World Cup 2010 Group F Preview, Predictions: The Court Of The Defending Champions
The Azzurri were surprise winners of the 2006 World Cup, but with the history of Calcio in Italy, nothing should surprise us from the Italians. Here is a brief preview of the Italian’s Group F.
C’mon All Whites!
Match-by-match, here is SB Nation’s breakdown of World Cup 2010’s Group F:
Italy versus Paraguay, June 14, Cape Town
Italy used a veteran team and the tactical flexibility used by Marcello Lippi to win the 2006 World Cup. They bring back the heart of that 2006 team - four years older, many of whom have struggled at the club level. Fabio Cannavaro, the best player at Germany 2006, has seen his form dip over the last four years, as has right back Gianluca Zambrotta. Gennaro Gattuso has struggled this season, and Andrea Pirlo is not covering as much ground as he did in the past.
Those concerns in the heart of the team make a match with Paraguay problematic. Particularly in the right side of defense, Italy may have problems dealing with the Paraguayan strike tandem of Roque Santa Cruz and Lucas Barrios. And whereas Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino tends to play conservatively as his team steps-up its level of competition, Italy will not be able to counter often against Monday's opposition.
There has been a great debate as to whether Italy is too old to replicate their 2006 success. One side notes the age and form, while the other side counters with a nod to history. Add in Paraguay’s ability to exploit specific weakness along Italy’s defense, and you could see a frustrating Paraguay 1, Italy 1 to start the Azzurri defense.
New Zealand versus Slovakia, June 15, Rustenberg
New Zealand has not been given much of a chance in this tournament, but good performances in friendlies against Serbia and Australia show they are capable of giving teams problems. Their strength and work rate help augment their talent deficiencies, and a recent switch to a 3-4-3 formation, while sounding more ambitious than their previously used 4-5-1 or 4-4-2, actually gives them a chance to get more defensive-minded players on the pitch.
The problem, as it pertains to their match against Slovakia, is the skill if their opponents. Putting more bodies in defense is never a bad idea when your main concern is stopping goals, but against a team that has skill-speed combinations in midfield like Miroslav Stoch, Vladimir Weiss and (most importantly) Marek Hamsik, you would think the other Vladimir Weiss (the player's father) could find a way to overload one part of the defense and get his skilled players to break down the Kiwis.
And here is where New Zealand’s disadvantages really come into play. Ryan Nelson is a fine defender, but his best trait is not in his quickness. His strength is ... in his strength. And where Slovakia can create an advantage against New Zealand’s best players, the Kiwi’s lack of depth gives them no alternatives.
New Zealand will win hearts in this tournament, but they may not win matches. We could see Slovakia 3, New Zealand 0, though some of that will be opening match exhuberance. Expect New Zealand to play better.
Slovakia versus Paraguay, June 20, Bloemfontein
Unlike New Zealand, Paraguay is used to playing against speed and skill. They finished third in qualifying on a continent defined by the combination. While Slovakia will still find success with their skill players, Paraguay will not be overrun.
At the other end, Slovakia will be tasked with dealing with Barrios and Santa Cruz, but quietly Slovakia has one of the more solid center pairing in the tournament. Jan Durica is one of the better central defenders in Russia, playing for Lokomotiv Moscow, and if Martin Skrtel's injury problems are behind him, Slovakia will have a strong base in the middle.
Paraguay, like Slovakia, will see some success. Expect an even battle with both teams needing strong, individual performances from defenders to contain their opponents: Paraguay 1, Slovakia 1.
Italy versus New Zealand, June 20, Nelspruit
This match will give Italy a chance to bounce back from their draw with Paraguay. If not for that result, you could see New Zealand muscle their way to a point in an ugly match, but this will ultimately be a controlled but dominant performance from the defending champions - the typical Italian result that makes you wonder how good they are and can be.
Some will find the performance disappointing for Italy, but after two rounds they’ll be on four points and tied on points atop the group, winning this one, Italy 2, New Zealand 0.
Unfortunately for them and Slovakia, with Paraguay on two and still to play New Zealand, it sets-up a potential win-and-in match between the Slovaks and Italians.
Paraguay versus New Zealand, June 24, Johannesburg
Again, New Zealand has a match-up where you think they could get a draw, but with Paraguay yet to win a match yet still alive for the second round, they will not overlook the Kiwis. Again, Paraguay just has too much quality, firepower for New Zealand, even if their skill-set doesn’t match-up as well with the Kiwis as the Slovak’s does.
Perhaps Nelson Haedo Valdez off-the-bench gives them the spark they need to put this match away, but Paraguay 2, New Zealand 0 should get the Paraguayans into the second round (pending Italy-Slovakia) with New Zealand going home with a record that fails to tell how hard they played.
Italy versus Slovakia, June 24, Polokwane
This is where Richard loses the plot, you might say, but hear me out.
Both Italy and Slovakia won their qualifying groups, but Slovakia’s was the stronger group, and the Slovaks “looked” better in going through (for whatever that’s worth). In matches since qualifying ended last fall, this trend has only been reinforced.
When you look at the individual players on these teams and assess their club performance, you see Italy seems a little deeper but may not have a player playing at the level of Marek Hamsik.
Hamsik plies his trade in Italy, is familiar with every player he will be playing against, and is very aware of the weaknesses along the Azzurri defense. His speed, along with the speed of his teammates, will befuddle an Italian team used to winning these types of matches.
That said, all of this goes out the window if Italy opens this tournament and gives us reason to forget 2008-2010, but until that happens, I like Slovakia 2, Italy 1. Final Standings
Slovakia - 7 points
Paraguay - 5 points
Italy - 4 points
New Zealand - 1 point
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