World Cup Group F

World Cup Group F

Italy

New Zealand

Paraguay

Slovakia

Who will win the group?

Italy

Who will finish second?

Paraguay

No chance?

New Zealand and Slovakia

How They'll Finish

4. New Zealand - There really isn't much to say here. They are the 78th ranked team in the world. This is a tournament in which the top teams have feverish unwavering support from their fan bases. The teams feed off of that. Kiwis don't care about soccer. They care about rugby. Also, the team is nicknamed "The All Whites," as opposed to the rugby team's "All Blacks." Let's see how that plays in post-apartheid South Africa.

3. Slovakia - This is the Slovaks first World Cup since the nation separated from the Czech Republic in 1993. They don't have a lot of international experience outside of their successful qualifying campaign. Perhaps that is why they play so tentatively, especially when they have a lead. Their M.O. is to grab a 1-0 lead and then pull back and play defense until the end of the match. It's boring, but it's worked so far. It won't be enough to get them out of the group though.

2. Paraguay - La Albirroja also tend to play a defensive style of soccer but they do have a decent striker in Roque Santa Cruz. They had a very successful qualifying run and have plenty of momentum because of that. This is also their fourth straight World Cup. If Santa Cruz can get some assists from the guys behind him, which might be a tall order, then Paraguay will be able to generate some offense. Either way, because of their experience, they should have enough to beat the teams at the bottom of the group and get to the round of 16.

1. Italy - The Italians are the defending champs, but don't put to much stock in that. The problem is, their roster is basically the same now as it was in '06. They simply have to many players on the roster whose age starts with a 3. Also, there has been the ongoing drama between coach Marcello Lippi and the extremely talented Antonio Cassano, the bad boy of Italian soccer. The two have gone back and forth for months. Cassano has not been invited to the team, but has also scheduled his wedding for June 19th, right in the middle of tournament. All of that being said, the Azzurri are easily the most talented team in this group, age, drama, and all. Their players may be getting old, but many of them were among the best in the world at their positions when they were in their prime. They may be a little slower, but they are still tactical. It will be difficult to repeat as champs, it has only been done twice before, but the Italians should have no problem making it out of this group.