FIFA World Cup Group F

Italian players will surely look upon their relatively easy draw in Group F with relish as they bid to retain the World Cup they won four years ago in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. But they should not turn on the cruise control just yet, as Paraguay was impressive in qualifying, Slovakia includes some up-and-coming talents and New Zealand assures it's not just there to make up the numbers.

After an unsuccessful Euro 2008 campaign, the World Cup winning-coach from 2006, Marcello Lippi, returned to lead Italy through qualifying for South Africa. The Azzurri were undefeated as they topped their group, and the provisional squad for South Africa 2010 contains a number of survivors from its 2006 success. Gianluigi Buffon is still among the finest goalkeepers in the world, Andrea Pirlo still controls the pace of many a game from midfield, and there are few more seasoned captains than Fabio Cannavaro in central defence.

Lippi has freshened up what is otherwise an aging team, however, with his selections in attack. Big names like Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero have been left out, with in-form strikers such as Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale from Italy's less fashionable clubs preferred. Villarreal's US-born Giuseppe Rossi is the only player included who plays his club football outside Italy.

Aiming to continue qualifying form

Paraguay has appeared at every World Cup finals since 1998. It finished third, just one point behind Brazil, in the South American qualifying section. "For us it is an honour to be present at a fourth consecutive World Cup," said Nelson Valdez. "Paraguay has never done that before."

The 26-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker scored the decisive goal, against Argentina in September 2009, which secured Paraguay's passage. Dortmund teammate Lucas Barrios and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz have also made coach Gerardo Martino's squad, and goals are promised.

Slovakia will be playing at its first World Cup as an independent nation, having topped its qualifying group ahead of both Czech Republic and Poland. Coach Vladimir Weiss - who's son of the same name is included in the squad - will be hoping that Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel overcomes recent fitness worries to play in South Africa.

A number of German-based players will also be involved. VfL Bochum striker Stanislav Sestak scored six goals in qualifying, and will likely be joined up front by Erik Jendrisek. The highly-rated 23-year-old will be playing for Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga next season, having signed from Kaiserslautern, where he scored 33 goals in 85 appearances.

Kiwis look to embrace the big stage

"I love rugby, but sometimes it should share the limelight," argues New Zealand soccer forward Rory Fallon. Football is a marginal sport on the islands, and the "All Whites," as the national side is nicknamed, minnows on the international stage. This is only the second time it has qualified for the World Cup, beating Bahrain in a play-off to reach South Africa.

Coach Ricki Herbert was part of the team that failed to win a single point in 1982, alongside Kiwi football's most famous name, former Werder Bremen favorite Wynton Rufer. The current team is captained by Ryan Nelsen, who plays his club football at Blackburn in England, but otherwise contains very little in terms of top-level experience. "In all honesty, I know no players who come from there," admitted Paraguay striker Valdez.

New Zealand are clear outsiders, but Italy will also know relatively little about newcomers Slovakia and even by-now-World-Cup-regulars Paraguay. While the reigning champions should have little trouble topping the group with their usual efficiency, Paraguay versus Slovakia on June 20 should determine who can join them in the last 16.

Author: Thomas Klein / tms
Editor: Matt Hermann