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World Cup: SBI’s Group F Preview

Cannavaro

By TRAVIS CLARK

Can Italy win back-to-back World Cups? Marcello Lippi is relying on a squad heavy on experience and age in the quest to become the first nation to repeat since Brazil in 1962. While their age is a concern, a squad led by players like Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Fabio Cannavaro cannot be written off.

Paraguay would be a much more dangerous side, if not for the tragic attack on Salvador CabaƱas back in January, and the poor form of Roque Santa Cruz. Looking to fill the void and boost the attack is the naturalization of Lucas Barrios and Benfica's Oscar Cardozo.

New Zealand is a side happy to have made its first finals since 1982, and just a second appearance overall. Captain Ryan Nelsen is the team's most prominent figure, out to prove that New Zealand can muster anything more than three games and out. Shane Smeltz and Rory Fallon must score early and often for the All Whites to have any chance of springing any sort of upset.

Slovakia is technically making its debut at the World Cup — from 1960 to 1992, it competed as Czechoslovakia, before the country split into two back in 1993 — and the inexperience could prove costly during the first round. A solid foundation of Marek Hamsik, Stanislav Sestak, and Martin ƅĀ krtel is augmented by exciting young talents VladimĆ­r Weiss and Miroslav Stoch. The head-to-head match against Paraguay could determine the other nation to advance.

Here is SBI's take on Group F:

WORLD CUP GROUP F

Top Players to Watch

Gianluigi Buffon, Italy

Alberto Gilardino, Italy

Marek Hamsik, Slovakia

Martin ƅĀ krtel, Slovakia

Ryan Nelsen, New Zealand

Oscar Cardozo, Paraguay

Young Players to Watch

VladimĆ­r Weiss, Slovakia

Miroslav Stoch, Slovakia

Chris Wood, New Zealand

Ɖdgar Benƭtez, Paraguay

SBI's Predicted Order of Finish

1. Italy

2. Paraguay

3. Slovakia

4. New Zealand

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How do you see Group F playing out?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Paraguay is hard to figure…not sure how they’ll respond and play without Cabanas. However, they had a strong run in CONMEBOL qualifying. My instinct, though, tells me Italy and Slovakia advance out of this group.

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  2. Paraguay!! Mbarete! Big question for Paraguay is if Roque or “Tacuara” (means bamboo in guarani) Cardozo will start. Cardozo scores a ton for his club but never seems to put it together for the Albiroja. Then there is Nelson Haedo Valdez and Lucas Barrios, another tough choice. I hope they can put 3 forwards on the field. I wouldn’t be surprised if Paraguay finishes over Italy…

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  3. Italy’s vast experience in diving/flopping and win-at-all-costs unfair play will surely put them atop this Group.

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  4. I don’t like this Italian team at all. They are too old and relying on the success of ’06, Lippi is making the mistakes of countless other managers – going to the well one too many times.

    I do like this Paraguayan team, they defend very well, are organized, and despite the loss of Cabanas, still have some good attackers in Barrios and Cardozo.

    New Zealand won’t get embarassed, but I’d be shocked if they get a point in this group.

    Slovakia I think will be better than people expect and I predict will get out of the group – along with Paraguay.

    Yes, I’m saying Italy doesn’t get out of the group.

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  5. Anybody thinking of signing for a big club in Mexico City should go talk to Salvador CabaƱas…Apparently not what he was expecting.

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  6. Actually, no joke, New Zealand’s soccer team is call the “All Whites”…. their rugby team is called the “All Blacks”

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  7. Come on, this is the NZ side that couldn’t get out of their group in the Federations Cup last year with SA and Iraq. WHile I like the Kiwis, they just don’t have enough quality players to make it out of the group, even with an overaged Italian team.

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  8. Paraguay

    Italy

    New Zealand

    Slovakia

    New Zealand are scoring goals and can do better than many expect. If Italy start slowly they could sneak a draw, then if they beat Slovakia-4pts total, may have an outside shot.

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  9. except that they only play 3 games, phil. other than that, you have shown yourself to be an expert in all matters related to the World Cup.

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  10. oh, right, standings:

    PAR SLO and ITA will each have a record of 1-0-3
    ZEA will have a record of 0-4-0

    1. Paraguay (advance on goal differential)
    1. Slovakia (advance on goal differential)
    2. Italy
    3. New Zealand

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  11. Mr. Lalas, if this is really you, you should reform your band!

    Loved the tune you did on ESPN back in the day “everyboday’s kicking baaaaaaaaaall”

    I disagree with you about this group being a snoozer. I think this has the potential of being the “soccer-as-a-bloodsport” group. The All Blacks seems to have a very physical style (it’s a soccer pitch, not the Thunderdome!). and I think that Slovakia and Paraguay have speed and youth on their side, which when it goes up against the diving and flailing catenaccio style of Italy has all the makings of a zebra sprinting into a wood chipper!

    Yup. Everything ugly about this game will be flaming display in the group. Love it or hate it it should be as spectacle.

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  12. I’d love to see Italy flame out, but they got gifted such an easy group. Not that the fift will prevent them from diving and flopping all over the field.

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