World Cup Group F preview: Italy v Paraguay
The 2006 world champions, Italy, begin their defence of the World Cup this evening with a tricky opener against Paraguay.
The Azzurri are bidding to become only the third nation in the history of the tournament to retain the trophy, and aim to get their 2010 campaign off to a winning start with victory in Cape Town.
Paraguay, though, will fancy their chances of causing an upset after impressing during qualification, particularly with an aging Italy side awaiting them. An array of attacking talent in their ranks including Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardozo stand to test Italy’s creaking defence, in which 36-year-old Fabio Cannavaro is still very much at the heart of.
But there’s a feeling that some have been too quick to write off the threat of the Italians. Marcello Lippi famously led Italy to their fourth World Cup title four years ago, and will once again take charge of the team in South Africa. Tactically shrewd and vastly experienced, Lippi is a manager who commands respect and invariably gets it.
However, after taking several gambles in choosing his 23-man squad, including the decision to omit the talented trio of Francesco Totti, Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano, the Italy boss has mostly stuck to those who triumphed in ’06. But has the 62-year-old shot himself in the foot, as a result?
Both Italy and Paraguay are expected to advance to the last 16 at the expense of New Zealand and Slovakia, but the battle to finish top of the group will be equally as important as escaping Group F. That’s because the runners-up are likely to face the Netherlands, who destroyed the Italians two years ago at Euro 2008.
Tonight’s victors will have almost certainly sealed their place in the second round and, in all probability, top spot in the group, too.
Paraguay have reached the second round of the World Cup on three separate occasions, but have never advanced further. At the 2006 World Cup, they disappointed, crashing out in the first round. A similar performance would be catastrophic for the South Americans given the calibre of players at their disposal.
Gerardo Martino, who took charge of the national side in 2007, will be hoping for an assured defensive performance from centre-back duo Paulo da Silva and Julio Caceres. Thwarting Italy’s attacking could be their best opportunity to seal maximum points from tonight’s match.
Having only won one of their last 11 matches against European sides, there is a monkey on the back of the Paraguayans. But they can’t be overawed by the task of facing the reigning world champions. After all, many of their opponent’s star names are now firmly on the wrong side of 30.
Italy, meanwhile, haven’t lost to a South American team at a World Cup – excluding a penalty shoot-out – since 1978. The stats conclude that a Paraguay victory is rather unlikely in the South African capital this evening, but if any side from Group F can take points off the Italians, it’s Martino’s men.
Italy will go into the match as slight favourites, although there is little to separate the two sides in terms of form and quality.
One thing’s for sure, the question over whether Italy’s World Cup winning squad have withstood the test of time will almost certainly be answered at the Cape Town Stadium tonight.
Tags: