Preview & Prediction: Italy Vs Paraguay

Italy Vs Paraguay:

Defending champion, Italy will take on Paraguay in a game that may decide group topper. Paraguay is impressive in South American qualifiers and also in warmup games.

Match timing: June 14 at 11:55 PM IST

Venue: Green Point stadium, Capetown.

Key players:

Italy: Italy has so many famous players but none of them are in good form. Pirlo and De Rossi may not play due to fitness problems.

Paraguay: Lucas Barrios, Santa Cruz and Nelson Valdez

Squad analysis:

Italy: Defending champions are playing well against dodgy opponents like Switzerland but they are struggling against pacy opponents like Mexico. Without Pirlo, they miss creativity in midfield. Italian forwards are not replicating their club form for country. Strong defence helped them to win world cup in 2006 but Italy defenders will struggle against Paraguay despite experience.

If their legs can stop Paraguay forwards for 90 minutes, Italy can easily win this game.

Paraguay: Oscar Cardozo may not start for Paraguay. Still, they have lot of attacking options. Lucas Barrios is in exceptional form in warmup games.

Strange but true: This Italy squad struggles against pace but Paraguay has lot of pace. Paraguay squad does not like possession but Italy tries to keep lot of possession.

Final analysis: Italy’s aged squad will lose to Paraguay. Just like Mexico in a recent friendly, Paraguay will expose Italy’s aged squad. Paraguay has good attackers. Absence of Pirlo is a big blow for italians. There is no improvement in Italian performance after their exit from group stage in 2009 Confederations cup.

World Cup game Prediction: Italy 1 – Paraguay 2