2010 World cup: F group analysis
In group F, defending champion Italy will clash with attacking teams like Paraguay and Slovakia. New Zealand is on high after its shock win over Serbia. Italy is low on defence after its group stage exit from 2009 Confederation game. It may be a first world cup for Slovakia as an independent nation but its parent country, Czechoslovakia has very good world cup record. Italy is always a favourite in world cup but this team is not looking that strong and confident.
Qualification of Group F teams:
1. Italy: Topped their qualifying group and never lost a game in world cup qualifiers.
2. Paraguay: Third place in South American qualifiers. Brazil and Chile are toppers.
3. Slovakia: Qualified for first time to FIFA world cup. It topped European qualifying group that contains Slovenia, Poland and Czech Republic.
4. New Zealand: They qualified to world cup after 28 years by beating Bahrain in a play-off.
Analysis of Group F teams:
1. Italy: Italy players are experts in playing defence. They rarely concede goals. Coach is expert in using substitutes. Forwars do not have good track record at big tournaments. But, its performance is pathetic in warm-up games. It may not be easy for Italy for Italy to top Group F. Italy coach, Lippi does not have guts of German coach who is betting on young and in-form players.
2. Paraguay: Paraguay is one of few teams who defeated Brazil in last 3 years. Lucas barrios is in roaring form and team has very good attackers. They are looking much better than Itallians in attacking. Can these forwards overcome resilient Italian defence?
3. Slovakia: They always play entertaining football. Slovakia scored 22 goals in qualifiers. Italy should not underestimate them.
4. New Zealand: Kiwis won heart of their country men even before start of world cup (win over Serbia). They play without any burden of expectations.
Predictions on group F teams:
1. Italy: It may reach second round but Italy should top group. Coach is betting on experience of players but attacking game of Paraguay and Slovakia may give some trouble to these aged players.
2. Paraguay: Paraguay will face stiff competition from Slovakia for second spot.
3. Slovakia: Slovakia is an underdog in Group G. It has potential to surprise Italy and Paraguay.
4. New Zealand: It will exit from group stage but may play crucial role in deciding fortunes of other group teams.
Final analysis of Group F:
Every team wants to finish on top otherwise they need to face strong Holland in last 16. Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia will fight for top 2 slots. Italy may top group G. This group may show some surprise results. I will not be surprised if Italy exits from second round and I am not ruling out Italy Vs Holland clash in second round. Unfortunately, Italy was grouped against fast and attacking teams. Whether these aged Italy stars can cope and take Italy to quarterfinals by using experience?
Schedule of Group F games:
Date | IST | Venue and City | Soccer Game |
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June 15 | 12 AM | Green Point stadium, Cape Town | Italy Vs Paraguay |
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June 15 | 5 PM | Royal Bafokeng stadium, Rustenburg | Slovakia Vs New Zealand |
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June 20 | 5 PM | Free State stadium, Bloemfontein | Paraguay Vs Slovakia |
June 20 | 7:30 PM | Mbombela stadium, Nelspruit | Italy Vs New Zealand |
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June 24 | 7:30 PM | Ellis Park stadium, Johannsesburg | Italy Vs Slovakia |
June 24 | 7:30 PM | Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane | Paraguay Vs New Zealand |
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Group F sqauds and analysis:
| Italy | Paraguay | Slovakia | New Zealand |
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World Cup Appearances: | 16 times | 7 times | First time | Once |
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Best Performance: | 4 time champion 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 | Last 16 in 1986, 1998, 2002 | First time | Exit from group stage in 1982 |
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FIFA ranking: | 5 | 31 | 34 | 78 |
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My Rating: | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 |
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| Coach Name: | Marcello Lippi | Gerado Martino | Vladimir Weiss | Ricki Herbert |
Coach rating: | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 |
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Captain: | Fabio Cannavaro | Denis Caniza | Marek Hamsik | Ryan Nelsen |
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Squad: |
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Goalkeepers: |
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1. | Gianluigi Buffon | Justo Villar | Jan Mucha | Mark Paston |
2. | Federico Marchetti | Diego Barreto | Dusan Pernis | Glen Moss |
3. | Morgan De Sanctis | Aldo Bobadilla | Dusan Kuciak | James Bannatyne |
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Defenders: |
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1. | Fabio Cannavaro | Denis Caniza | Martin Skrtel | Ryan Nelsen |
2. | Giorgio Chiellini | Julio Cesar Caceres | Jan Durica | Ben Sigmund |
3. | Gianluca Zambrotta | Paulo Da Silva | Peter Pekarik | Ivan Vicelich |
4. | Domenico Criscito | Claudio Morel | Radoslav Zabavnik | Winston Reid |
5. | Leonardo Bonucci | Dario Veron | Martin Petras | Tony Lochhead |
6. | Salvatore Bocchetti | Aureliano Torres | Kornel Salata | Andy Boyens |
7. | Christian Maggio | Antolin Alcaraz | Marek Cech | Tommy Smith |
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Midfielders: |
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1. | Claudio Marchisio | Victor Caceres | Marek Hamsik | Tim Brown |
2. | Daniele De Rossi | Enrique Vera | Vladimir Weiss | Leo Bertos |
3. | Andrea Pirlo | Cristian Riveros | Miroslav Stoch | Michael McGlinchey |
4. | Mauro Camoranesi | Jonathan Santana | Kamil Kopunek | David Mulligan |
5. | Gennaro Gattuso | Edgar Barreto | Jan Kozak | Simon Elliott |
6. | Riccardo Montolivo | Nestor Ortigoza | Juraj Kucka | Jeremy Christie |
7. | Angelo Palombo |
| Marek Sapara | Andy Barron |
8. | Simone Pepe |
| Zdeno Strba | Jeremy Brockie |
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| Aaron Clapham |
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Forwards: |
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1. | Antonio Di Natale | Roque Santa Cruz | Robert Vittek | Shane Smeltz |
2. | Giampaolo Pazzini | Nelson Valdez | Stanislav Sestak | Rory Fallon |
3. | Alberto Gilardino | Oscar Cardozo | Erik Jendrisek | Chris Killen |
4. | Vincenzo Iaquinta | Lucas Barrios | Martin Jakubko | Chris Wood |
5. | Fabio Quagliarella | Rodolfo Gamarra | Filip Holosko |
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| Edgar Benitez |
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Share your views on Group F teams and predict their progress in 2010 football world cup.
