Group F

1. Italia
2. Paraguay
3. New Zealand
4. Slovakia

June 14, 20:30 – Italy vs. Paraguay
June 15, 13:30 – New Zealand vs. Slovakia
June 20, 13:30 – Slovakia vs.Paraguay
June 20, 16:00 – Italy vs. New Zealand
June 24, 16:00 – Slovakia vs. Italy
June 24, 16:00 – Paraguay vs.New Zealand

Group Preview
Marcello Lippi's decision to omit such talent as Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli and Francesco Totti from his squad panel has led to some bookmakers offering them as low as 16-1 to repeat their 2006 Berlin triumph. Those odds have not been improved by the untimely calf injury suffered by midfielder Andrea Pirlo, which will sideline him for at least the Italians' first two group games. Squadra Azzura starts tonight to defend their title and they are favourites to win this group.
Paraguay qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals on the penultimate day of the South American qualifying campaign. The Albirroja finished third in the CONMEBOL zone behind Brazil and Chile but ahead of Argentina and Uruguay. The South Americans will be without an important player in striker Salvador Cabanas, their top scorer in qualifying, after he was shot in the head in January, but Valdez revealed that Paraguay have taken inspiration from his recovery.
Slovakia are on the verge of playing their first ever match at a FIFA World Cup finals as an independent nation, and the first opponent couldn’t be a better one. After they proved their worth in the qualifying matches the Slovaks are confident they can beat any team on a good day. They know that the fact that they are participating this world tournament is already a big achievement, and players like Skrtel (the Liverpool defender) or the VFL Bochum’s striker Sestak, will try to lead on their team in the second stage.
The All Whites' previous experience in a final tournament is best to be forgotten, their three matches in 1982 resulting in three defeats, but a surprise 1-0 win over Serbia and narrow loss to Australia recently have raised hopes among New Zealand fans that their team might not be the Group F whipping boys. We wish them good luck!