Paraguay v New Zealand: match preview

Group F
Paraguay v New Zealand
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 3pm BST
A draw could be enough to put the All Whites into the second round, providing Italy against Slovakia finishes in a lower-scoring draw.
Paraguay are expected to keep the same side that beat Slovakia while New Zealand are likely to keep the same team that drew with Italy with Tim Brown again on the bench.
Ryan Nelsen missed training on Wednesday with a stomach upset but the captain, man of the match against Italy, should be fit.
Mark Paston will again start in goal even though first-choice Glen Moss is eligible to play after his two-match suspension for a stupid sending off against Fiji in the qualifiers – two years ago.

Touchline duel
Gerardo Martino v Ricki Herbert: Herbert, once of Wolves, is enjoying the finals, having played in them back in 1982.
He has masterminded draws against Slovakia and Italy and now must get the better of Martino, an Argentinean who is attempting to take Paraguay beyond the World Cup second round for the first time in their history.
Talking tactics
Herbert must decide whether to keep faith with a three man defence in which Blackburn’s Ryan Nelsen is key.
Nelsen will be happy if Paraguay elect to go with a traditional 4-4-2, as they did in their last game.
Key clash
Justo Villar v Shane Smeltz: The Paraguay goalkeeper has conceded one goal, against Italy, and has impressed in South Africa.
But in Shane Smeltz, a six foot, one inch striker born in Germany, he faces a tough test, if the man who plays for Gold Coast United, in Australia, maintains his impressive form.
What they say
Ricki Herbert: "I don't think we will hold back. I think we are competitive - nothing else and no different to a lot of sides at this World Cup. Our aerial dominance has caused a lot of teams problems and hopefully we can do it again.
Gerardo Martino: "What the victory againstSlovakia did was to improve our spirit and make us mentally stronger. Our objective now it to make the last 16 and we have a good possibility of doing that."
Teams
Paraguay: Villar; Morel, Da Silva, Alcaraz, Bonet; Vera, Riveros, V Caceres, Santa Cruz; Aldez, Barrios
New Zealand (3-4-1-2): Paston; Reid, Nelsen, Smith; Bertos, elliott, Vicelich, Locchead; Smeltz; Fallon, Killen
Referee: Y Nishimura (Japan)
Previous meetings
Played 1: Paraguay 1, Draws 0, New Zealand 0
1995: (Santiago De Chile, friendly): New Zealand 2 Paraguay 3
Fact: New Zealand have scored four goals in five World Cup ties.
Prediction: Paraguay need a point to qualify for the last 16 so a point is the most likely outcome