Group F betting preview

Group F - Outright Odds
Italy - 13.0
Paraguay - 51.0
New Zealand - 1001.0
Slovakia - 151.0

Holders Italy have one of the handier groups and, despite concerns over the age of the Azzurri, should have enough in the tank to progress as winners. Slovakia and Paraguay will battle it out for the runners up spot while New Zealand are there to make up the numbers and will be happy to get on the scoresheet.

Italy are being written off by many pundits after a sluggish build up notable for a defeat to Mexico. This is nothing new as the Italians are traditionally slow starters, saving their best form for the tournament itself. Along with Fabio Capello, coach Marcello Lippi is the best manager in the tournament and unlike Don Fabio has won the World Cup. Discard Lippi and Italy at your peril and I expect them to comfortably top the group. After that...I'll get back to you.

New Zealand have neighbours Australia to thank for their place in the finals. The Socceroos switched Oceania for Asia ensuring their smooth path to a first World Cup since 1982. Mind you the mighty Fiji, ranked 132nd to NZ's 78th, beat them 2-0 at home so it's not a surprise the All Whites are considered to be the whipping boys of the World Cup.

Paraguay finished just a point behind Brazil, beating the Selecao and Argentina at home in qualification but shipped 16 goals in 18 games. Losing star striker
Salvador Cabanas, who was shot in January, is a blow they will hope to cushion that by turning to Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Valdez. This team has goals in them, only question is if they can keep them out at the back.


Slovakia are competing in their first tournament as an independent nation and will fancy their chances of nabbing the runner up spot. The Slovaks won their group ahead of Slovenia and finished six points clear of former compatriots Czech Republic, memorably beating them 2-1 in Prague. Coach Vladimir Weiss worked miracles with Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions League and will need similar fortune for the Slovaks to reach the last 16.

Betting potential
It's a no brainer that Italy are going to qualify but you aren't going to get rich at odds of 1.08. Money to be made will be on backing against New Zealand with the
handicap. Take Slovakia at -1.5 at 2.23 to notch up the goals necessary in the opener. If you want to play it safe back Italy against NZ with a -1.5, -2 which is 1.62.

To qualify
Italy 1.08
New Zealand 15.0
Paraguay 1.45
Slovakia 2.25

Not to qualify
Italy 7.0
New Zealand 1.03
Paraguay 2.65
Slovakia 1.55

Best bet
Slovakia versus Paraguay immediately jumps out with some generous prices on the three way. Slovakia 3.75, Draw 3.27, Paraguay 1.96. Given Paraguay's leaky defence and suspect goalkeeper plus Slovakia's habit of scoring early I can smell goals already. Back over 2, 2.5 goals at 1.94. It all figures.

Outside bet
Paraguay to score first against Italy at 2.38. The Italians are famed for starting slowly and could be hit on the break by an early goal just like in their most recent warm up games against Switzerland and Mexico who both opened the scoring within the first 20 minutes.