World Cup 2010 Group F Analysis
Group F of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is comprised of Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. Paraguay termed as hot favourites to lead the points table. This Group along with Group D and Group E are said to be the most uncompetitive groups in the 2010 FIFA world cup.
Italy
Italy are the defending champions and have won the World Cup four times before , the men in blue have been placed in an easy-go-through group with no team really capable of troubling them and restricting their progress to the knock out stage. The FIFA rankings are self explanatory. Italy are ranked 5th, and are the only team besides Brazil to have won the World Cup in succession. The aging “Azzuri” squad, with the average age of a player around 30, heavily relies on its defence and experienced players. Coach Marcello Lippi stood by his word by not bringing in players who did not help them qualify for the 2010 World Cup. The ones left out include some big names such as Francesco Totti, Luca Toni, Alessandro Del Piero and Fabio Grosso. Immense responsibility now lies on the shoulders of 31-year old keeper Gianluigi Buffon and 36-year old defender Fabio Cannavaro.
Paraguay
Paraguay comes in to the World Cup 2010 with dreadful memories of the 2006 World Cup, where they were edged out of the first round. The South American team is ranked 31st in the FIFA rankings and are ranked second highest in the group. They will be looking forward to a win in their opening encounter against Italy in Cape Town. Paraguay had 10 wins in the qualifiers, one over Brazil, and finished ahead of Argentina and Uruguay in the South American group. Roque Santa Cruz is their key player. Having scored twenty goals in his international career Santa Cruz is a dangerous striker. Italy will be favourites on the outset but they need not be complacent against the stifling defence Paraguay boasts.
Slovakia
Slovakia will play their first game against New Zealand on June 15 in Rustenburg. They are ranked 34th in the FIFA rankings. A lot is being expected from star performers, Peter Pekarik and Marek Hamsik. The former is a young, solid, defender while the latter is a ballistic midfielder. Both these players could make a difference to the group standings. Slovakia overcame a tough European group which included Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. They won seven of their matches and lost two. One thing that might be of worry is the shaky backline, as they gave the third highest number of goals in the preliminary matches.
New Zealand
New Zealand, also knows as All Whites, are clearly the underdogs of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Ranked 78th in the FIFA rankings they are the third lowest ranked to make it to the World Cup field. Realistically, they are most likely to finish at the bottom of the group without causing a stir or an upset. Ryan Nelson, of Blackburn Rovers, is the captain of team New Zealand and certainly the best player they have. This is New Zealand’s second appearance in a World Cup since 1982. Their manager, Ricki Herbert, is the first Kiwi to have played on a Cup squad and now manages one. Middlesbrough’s Chris Killen is another threat possessed by New Zealand.
Predictions
The reigning champions and four-time FIFA World Cup champions, Italy at first glance looks to be clear favourites to take top spot in Group F. Though the race for second place promises to be wide open with Paraguay and Slovakia, the probable contenders. New Zealand formidably sealing the bottom spot.
The players to watch out for in Group F
Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Fabio Cannavaro (ITA), Gennaro Gattuso (ITA), Andrea Pirlo (ITA), Robert Vitteck (SVK), Justo Villar (PAR), Salvador Cabanas (PAR), Ryan Nelsen (NZL)
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