Group F

Today looking a t Group F, a group the current world champions should win, but who will come second?

Italy

After stepping down as Italy manager after leading to the last World Cup title in Germany 2006, Marcello Lippi was re-appointed in 2008 after the disappointing reign of Roberto Donadoni, he is the only manager to ever win the most prestigious titles with both clubs and country and is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time. Though 4 years on, Italy are a different team, they don't have an awe of invincibility about them like some teams do (Spain for example), they were beaten in the groups at Euro 2008 by Holland 3-0 and by Spain (albeit on penalties) in the next round. In last years Confederation Cup they were beaten by both Brazil and Egypt and never got out the group. In qualifying for this tournament, though unbeaten they drew 3 times, away to Bulgaria, home and away to the Republic Of Ireland.

Many names are back from the squad from 4 years ago, in goal they have Gianluigi Buffon, a great goalkeeper and one of the world's finest, with 100 caps, the Italians can't really ask for a beater man in goal. Historically, the Italians success has always been defence, the most capped player in their history (and current captain) is Fabio Cannavaro of Juventus, with 132, the first way back in 1997. Alongside him are the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta of AC Milan (Cannavaro is 36, Zambrotta is 33) and Giorgio Chiellini, also of Juventus. The Italians have the oldest squad at the tournament and it'll be interesting seeing them play against a quick paced team The midfield is led by the mercurial Andrea Pirlo, someone who has such inventive play and always a threat at free kicks, his fellow AC Milan team-mate Gennaro Gattuso will be the holding midfielder to allow Pirlo to roam with support either side of him from Juventus' Mauro Camoranesi and Roma's Daniele De Rossi.

What Italy really lack is a true world class goal scorer, Alberto Gilardino of Fiorentina has 16 goals in 39 games but if he's injured or suspended, the look to Vincenzo Lazuinta (45 in 35 games) or Antonio Di Natale (9 in 31 games), personally i hope they take a younger forward like Villareal's Guiseppe Rossi (should he make the final 23 man squad, he will be the only Italian not playing his club football in Italy) or Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini.

Italy are a good if ageing side, but recently they have been conceding goals and scoring less, it's hard to see them really compete to retain their trophy but then, 4 years ago, no-one expected them to win it. I can see them dropping points in this group, though they should have enough quality to qualify from it. Then a potential clash with possibly Holland or Denmark could be very interesting. What i'm really looking forward to is half-time during Italy matches just because when a commentator says it's a 'change of sides', i can nudge the person next to me and tut and say "typical" (World War II joke there)

Interesting fact, many inventions such as the thermometer, piano, electric battery, nuclear reactor, ice cream cone, glasses (eyes), typewriter, sewage system and cutlery. National dish, most eaten worldwide, pizza (one of the few words known all over the world), lasagna, spaghetti bolognese, Italian dishes are loved globally

Paraguay

Arguably the third best South American team after Brazil and Argentina, Paraguay have never progressed past the second round of a World Cup finals (which they have got to three times) and will be looking to get past that stage this time around. former Argentina international Gerardo Martino has won various titles managing teams in the Paraguay league but this is his first time managing a nation on such a grand stage.

Their main star player is Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz who needs 5 more goals to be the all time leading scorer in Paraguayen history and at the age of 28, it would be expected he can achieve that and maybe score a couple in this tournament. Alongside him in attack is Nelson Valdez of Borussia Dortmund.

The midfield boasts talents like Atalanta's Edgar Barreto and Sunderland's Cristian Riveros but the quality of players they have in the middle of the field reflects the team, okay but not of any huge quality, it's time and again they work hard against the smaller teams and become easy targets for the larger teams in the later rounds.

Captain Denis Caniza plays his club football in Mexico and will be appearing in his 4th World Cup finals, described as "the Paraguay Nobby Stiles", this tournament is expected to be his last at the age of 35.

Goalkeeper Justo Villar who plays in Spain for Real Valladolid took over from the legendary Jose Luis Chilavert (8 goals in 74 international appearances!!!) in 2003 and has shown himself to be reliable and commands his goal well.

I nteresting fact, duelling is still legal but can only take place between two people, there has to be medical staff on hand and participants must be registered blood donors. Paraguay also has the largest navy of any land locked country.

National dish, mandioca, seems to be a burger made of yuca root fried in peanut oil

New Zealand (basically Wales but with sunshine)

Qualifying for the finals for the second time in their history (at Espana 82, they lost all three group games and conceded 12 goals), their odds of 2000/1 mean they are the rank outsiders for the tournament. Coached by one of the players from the 1982 finals, Ricki Herbert has taken advantage of Australia's decision to join the Asian Football Confederation means New Zealand are the qualifiers from the Oceania Football Confederation consisting of them, Papua New Guinea, Tonga Fiji and other 'Pacific Islands' nations, showing not much quality is needed to get through the qualifying campaign but as Australia have left to get more competitive matches elsewhere, New Zealand could become a regular fixture for years to come. Having already announced their 23 man squad, captain Ryan Nelson of Blackburn Rovers is most likely the only name people will recognise though fellow defender Tommy smith plays for Ipswich Town and forwards Chris Killen of Middlesbrough, Rory Fallon of Plymouth Argyle and Chris Wood of West Brom are also included. This show show the lack of quality and this is a team that will struggle to score, let alone win.

Interesting fact, 94% of those in jail in NZ are males, 50% are Maori's. They also drive on the left side of the road, like the British and Lindsay Lohan

National dish, lamb, with a ratio of 9 sheep to every person, there's plenty to go round. New Zealand lamb is exported all over the world, even as far as the UK (the Co-op are main buyers).

Slovakia

After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Slovak Football Association was founded in 1993 so this is a team and a country only 17 years old. The 2010 World Cup is the first time in their brief history they have qualified for the finals. Coming top of a qualifying group containing Slovenia, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland and Poland, they have shown in qualifying that former player and now manager Vladimir Weiss has been right to stick with the same core of players throughout, it has been said it's harder to get out the team once your in it, than it is to get in the team in the first place.

The squad has players based all over Europe, from Scotland to Russia, from Turkey to Romania. Their most ever capped player is midfielder Miroslav Karhan of Germany's Mainz 05 (recently signed after being part of the Wolfsburg team that won the German Bundesliga in 2009), capped 96 times so far (and also his countries 4th top goalscorer of all time). The midfielder is also packed with up and coming players like Manchester City's Vladimir Weiss and Chelsea's Miroslav Stoch and national captain Marek Hamsik of Napoli will look to improve on his 8 goals in 30 games.

In attack they rely heavily on Robert Vittek who's 18 goals in 69 games isn't the greatest record going into the tournament but accompanied by Bochum's Stanislav Sestak who has 10 in 29 games, they will pose a threat.

Newly signed Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha was previously with Legia Warsaw, becoming their no. 1 after Lukasz Fabianski left the club to join Arsenal in 2007 and has won various cups in Poland but his 14 caps show his lack of experience and i think his lack of top class football can go against him as well.

Defensively, they have a hub of consistent performers, most notable is Martin Skrtel of Liverpool who has an impressive 5 goals in 37 games. Radoslav Zabavnik of Mainz 05 is the most experienced defender.

The simple fact is, no-one expects Slovakia to win a game, but then they weren't expected to qualify (certainly not as group winners) and by keeping faith in the same players and keeping this tradition into the finals, they have nothing to lose, and it's this relaxed attitude that could spring a surprise.

Interesting fact, former tennis champion Martina Hingis was born in Slovakia, she had a Slovak father and a Czech mother, also a descendant of Slovakian parents is Andy Warhol

National dish, bryndzove halusky, which in English means potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon.