Paraguay 0 New Zealand 0: match report

Paraguay topped Group F at the World Cup on Thursday after a drab 0-0 draw with surprise packets New Zealand.
The polished South Americans who harbour dreams of at least a quarter-finals place ended with five points and were joined in the round of 16 by Slovakia, who stunned defending champions Italy 3-2 in Johannesburg.

It was a gallant exit by New Zealand, who finished unbeaten after three draws in a group where they were expected to be cannon fodder for the other three contenders but ended up finishing above the woeful Italians.
Paraguay made three changes from the team that outclassed Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein four days ago with defenders Denis Caniza and Julio Cesar Caceres and striker Oscar Cardozo coming in.
New Zealand stood by the team that started drawn matches against Slovakia and defending champions Italy with Mark Paston retained as goalkeeper although first-choice Glen Moss had completed a four-match suspension.
Victor Caceres was cautioned by the Japanese referee for fouling Rory Fallon during scrappy early exchanges with rival players constantly moaning about the behaviour of their markers.
Captain Caniza proved an adventurous defender, coming forward twice to try his luck with shots that finished well off target, while a good Nelson Valdez run down the left flank was spoilt by a poor cross.
Goalmouth action was scarce in perfect, clear mid-afternoon conditions at Peter Mokaba Stadium during the last World Cup fixture at the purpose-built ground in the northern city.
Spectators were hoping for a better second half and club-less Simon Elliott offered early promise by unleashing a drive from outside the penalty area that did not finish far off target.
A restless 35,000 crowd performed the Mexican wave and blew their vuvuzelas, but the fare being offered on the pitch was far below that expected from teams who had held the world champions.
Even a free kick just outside the New Zealand penalty area as the game approached the hour-mark did not bring any excitement with Cardozo firing lazily over.
It took 62 minutes to get a corner and Paraguay almost took the lead from it as Paston did well to parry a glancing Cristian Riveros header and the ball was cleared after a fierce goalmouth scramble.
Managers Gerardo Martino and Ricki Herbert made changes in a bid to break the deadlock with Paraguay bringing on strikers Lucas Barrios and Edgar Benitez while Chris Wood replaced Fallon.
Another New Zealand switch saw the introduction of Jeremy Brockie for Middlesbrough striker Chris Killen as the group outsiders sought the goal that would take them past the first round.

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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

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Italy 1:1 New Zealand: match report

All over the glistening, ultra-modern Mbombela Stadium, patches of white whirled, New Zealand shirts stripped from chests and held aloft in defiance and delight. The team that came as cannon fodder had just detonated Italy’s World Cup hopes.

The reigning champions, of course, can still qualify for the last 16 with victory in their final game against Slovakia, though they are unlikely to win the group. They most likely will. But any pretence Marcello Lippi and his side had of retaining their trophy was exposed as folly by the team from the ultimate backwater, the proverbial team of part-timers and no-hopers.


But that was more than enough to hold on for a point after Shane Smeltz, once deemed not good enough by Halifax, handed Ricki Herbert’s side the lead. Only through Daniele De Rossi’s canny trickery did Italy break through the wall of white, the Roma player winning a penalty expertly converted by Juventus’s Vincenzo Iaquinta.

There was nothing lucky about this point, though, for New Zealand, standard-bearers of the smaller nations. They qualified by beating the likes of Vanuatu and American Samoa, but any doubts that they might not have deserved their place can be cast aside. They are no ingénues.

Their goal may have been fortuitous - Smeltz a yard offside as Winston Reid flicked Simon Elliott’s free kick into his path, via the tumbling Fabio Cannavaro - but the way they set about frustrating the world champions was down to a mix of astute application and sheer ability.

Led by the imperious, impervious Ryan Nelsen, Ricki Herbert’s side effortlessly, instinctively switched from 3-4-1-2 when in possession to an unmoving five-man backline when without, stifling space and reducing Italy, looking mechanical rather than menacing, to long-range efforts.

Both Gianluca Zambrotta and, more threateningly, Riccardo Montolivo went close, the latter producing a viciously whipping daisy-cutter which caught the inside of Robert Paston’s right-hand post, but it was scattergun, percentage stuff, a team of artists forced to rely on the numbers game.

It had little effect. New Zealand held firm, undone only by their opponents’ mastery of the game’s darker arts.

Tommy Smith, of Ipswich Town, took on the role of mark, Daniele De Rossi the common purpose crook who had spotted his victim. The Roma midfielder was already in mid-leap when Smith fingered his shirt. It was a penalty, certainly, but perhaps only by the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of it. Vincenzo Iaquinta, coolly, calmly, converted.

Humiliation averted? Not a bit of it. New Zealand refused to buckle, to wilt to received wisdom. Paston denied De Rossi before the break, and substitute Antonio Di Natale and Montolivo, sprawling low to his right, after it.

Marcello Lippi threw on striker after striker, abandoning all pretence at system or tactical subtlety. Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini stationed themselves midway into the All Whites’ half, constantly loading the ball back to their attackers, chiding and chastising as each passage of play came to nothing.

Nelsen denied Di Natale just yards from his goal-line. Smith stretched out a leg to tip the ball from Iaquinta’s toe, Smeltz deflected the striker’s header wide from the resultant corner. Nelsen, doubled over with cramp one moment, threw his body in the way of a Zambrotta shot the next.

New Zealand, dripping with defiance, would not be broken. The white shirts began to whirl. It is a gesture with a different meaning in other parts of Europe, of course, the wall of white a sign of displeasure. The irony will not be lost on Lippi and his team.

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Italy v New Zealand: match preview

Group F
Italy v New Zealand
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: Sun June 20, 3pm BST

Italy have been the victims of sensations in World Cups past, losing to North Korea in 1966 and to South Korea in 2002, so will tread a mite warily as they face another game that, in theory, they can’t lose.

“There are teams that we should beat, we're better,” booms Daniele De Rossi. Maybe, but confidence is hardy soaring in the world champions’ camp after opening their defence with a 1-1 draw against Paraguay and they will recall that the robust All White triers, who earned a last minute equaliser against Slovakia, have already run the Azzurri close, losing 4-3 in a friendly last June.
Italy have lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with a herniated disc, with Federico Marchetti coming in as deputy, and Mauro Camoranesi may be introduced with Marcello Lippi tipped to sideline Claudio Marchisio. New Zealand likely to be unchanged.
Touchline duel
Ricki Herbert has done a marvellous job squeezing 100 per cent out from his side but in Marcello Lippi is up against one of the game’s master technicians who happens to have far more ammunition to work with.
Talking tactics
It won’t be tactical rocket science. New Zealand’s Plymouth striker Rory Fallon has promised Italy simply an examination in muscular physicality and aerial bombardment, warning: "We're a big, strong team and those diagonal balls and crosses can make it difficult for defenders.”
Italy may employ the more effective 4-4-2 formation which Lippi switched to, from 4-2-3-1, during the Paraguay game.
Key clash
Ryan Nelson remains New Zealand's tower of strength but the Blackburn stalwart’s experience and expertise will never have been needed more as he seeks to contain the striking talent of Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
What they say
Marcello Lippi: ""What would happen if we lost? I am not thinking about that. I think only about winning."
Ricki Herbert: “Nobody expects us to beat Italy but then nobody expected us to draw against Slovakia. We're in a good space, the players are really positive, I think we'll go out and play well again."
Teams
Italy (4-4-2): 12 Marchetti, 19 Zambrotta, 5 Cannavaro, 4 Chiellini, 3 Criscito, 9 Camoranesi, 6 De Rossi, 22 Montolivo, 7 Pepe, 10 Di Natale, 11 Gilardino
New Zealand (4-3-2-1):1 Paston, 4 Reid, 6 Nelsen, 5 Vicelich, 19 Smith, 11 Bertos, 7 Elliott, 3 Lockhead, 10 Killen, 9 Smeltz, 14 Fallon.
Referee: Carlos Buates (Guatemala)
Previous meetings
Played 1
2009 (Atteridgeville, friendly): Italy 4 New Zealand 3
Fact: Italy have not lost a group game in the finals since they were beaten 2-1 by Croatia in 2002.
Prediction: Despite the heroics of the All Whites against Slovakia, expect nothing more than a win for the Azzurri.

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New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia

A stoppage time equaliser from defender Winston Reid saw New Zealand claim the first World Cup point in their history with a 1-1 draw against Slovakia.

The All Whites, who lost all three matches in their only other finals appearance in 1982, looked destined for defeat after Robert Vittek had headed Slovakia into a 50th-minute lead in the Group F match.

But three minutes into injury time, Reid popped up at the back post to head Shane Smeltz's cross in and deny Slovakia victory in their first World Cup match as an independent nation.


It was no more than New Zealand deserved from a scrappy encounter in which Slovakia did little that will worry group rivals Italy or Paraguay, who also drew 1-1 when they met on Monday.

With Slovakia struggling to get their passing game going in cold, windy conditions, it was the All Whites who had the better of the chances with both Chris Killen and Smeltz (twice) failing to take good chances before Reid found the net.

Middlesbrough's Killen needed only five minutes to underline the threat he poses in the air, outjumping both centrebacks to meet Simon Elliott's inswinging free-kick with a header that was directed straight at Slovakia's goalkeeper Jan Mucha.

Twenty minutes had elapsed before Slovakia produced a moment of menace, captain Marek Hamsik curling a shot beyond the far post.

Gradually they began to assert themselves and, after being played into the box by the lively Vladimir Weiss, Stanislav Sestak toe-poked a shot inches wide of Mark Paston's left-hand upright.

Paston, who had already flapped hesitantly at one cross, was fortunate to escape unpunished after completely missing the ball as he attempted to punt the ball clear from the left edge of his box.

Vittek then sent a long range effort wide before New Zealand's best chance of the opening period fell to Smeltz. The forward's strike from a tight angle was cleanly struck but Mucha's touch was enough to deflect it into the side netting.

Hamsik's dipping shot had to palmed over by Paston just before half-time and, five minutes after the restart, the Slovakians broke the deadlock.

Allowed time on the right, Sestak whipped in a cross and Vittek, who may have been fractionally offside, got away from Reid to send a header beyond Paston and into the bottom corner.

Vittek should have made it two at the end of a sweeping counterattack with 20 minutes left, only to be frustrated by Reid's full-stretch block.

With three minutes left, Smeltz got above Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel only to steer his header wide. New Zealand's last chance looked to have gone but Reid had other ideas.

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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.

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New Zealand v Slovakia: match preview

Group F
New Zealand v Slovakia
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Kick-off: Tuesday Jun 15, 12.30pm BST

New Zealand would be delighted with a point having lost three out of three in 1986.

They miss goalkeeper Glen Moss for this game and the next, against Italy, after he was sent-off in a qualifier against Fiji. They are also without Tim Brown, who is injured.

Slovakia miss the injured Miroslav Karhan, their most capped player, for the tournament, but Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel has recovered from an ankle injury.


Touchline duel

Ricki Herbert v Vladimir Weiss: Herbert can boast the rarity of playing and coaching in the finals, having featured in 1982. Back then he took – and still owns – the shirt of Brazil’s Socrates.

There is also a generation theme in Slovakia’s side; Weiss will pick his son, Manchester City’s Vladimir Weiss junior.

Talking tactics

Herbert will probably play with one striker and block the All Whites bus in front of goal where Blackburn’s Ryan Nelsen will prove vital to their hopes if, as expected, he recovers from an ear infection.

The absence of Karhan means the defensive midfield duties will fall to Zdeno Strba, who turned 34 just before the start of the World Cup.

Key clash

Rory Fallon v Martin Skrtel: Rarely has a Plymouth Argyle player carried so much weight on his shoulders but Rory Fallon – the son of 1982 New Zealand coach Kevin Fallon – scored the goal against Bahrain in the play-offs that delivered his country to the finals.

Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, who went off with an ankle injury early in the final friendly against Costa Rica last week, is expected to be able to take his place in the centre of defence

What they say

Ricki Herbert: "It's been a long time hasn't it? 28 years for a chance to try and change something. Look, it's good to be back. It's quite a distant memory but a very fond memory."

Vladimir Weiss: "We are all full of expectation. The atmosphere is very good. It is the peak of the careers of every coach and player and there is a nice tension. We will play with modesty but will be going for a win.”

Team details (probable)

New Zealand (4-5-2): Paston; Reid, Nelsen, Smith, Sigmund; Vicelich, Bertos, Christie, Smeltz, Killen; Fallon.
Slovakia (4-4-2): Mucha; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Cech; Strba, Weiss, Hamsik, Stoch; Vittek, Sestak.
Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico).

Previous meetings: None

Fact: In their only previous finals, in 1982, New Zealand lost all three group games, scored just twice and conceded 12.

Prediction: Slovakia begin their first world Cup finals since independence from the old Czechoslovakia against one of the outsiders. Should start with an easy win.

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Team Profile - New Zealand

Confederation:OFC

Star Players:Ryan Nelsen, Chris Killen

Best World Cup Finish:First Round (1982)

Current FIFA Ranking:78

Strengths:Great team spirit

Weaknesses:Technical ability

Fans:All Whites are few in number





Coach: Ricki Herbert
Confederation: Oceania
FIFA Ranking (Apr 10): 78
Previous Appearances: 1 (1982)

Background
Football is not as popular as rugby or cricket in this geographically isolated island nation of 4.3 million people. That is why it is remarkable that 2010 will not be New Zealand’s first World Cup appearance. The All Whites, as the team is known (to distinguish them from rugby’s All Blacks), were there once before, in 1982. After an arduous 90,000-kilometre journey that took the team all over Asia and Oceania, New Zealand qualified for the finals in Spain. New Zealand lost their matches against Scotland, Soviet Union and Brazil, but by that stage history had already been made.

How They Qualified
When compared to the 1982 campaign, the journey to South Africa was relatively straightforward. After winning the Oceania group, New Zealand met Bahrain, Asia’s fifth placed team, in a two leg, do-or-die play-off series. New Zealand prevailed 1-0 over their West Asian opponents.

Strengths
New Zealand is a physically strong team with a good work ethic. The average height in the squad for the last match against Bahrain was just under 185 cm. New Zealand will be dangerous at set-pieces and will not be easily out-muscled by their opponents. The fact that this will be the first winter World Cup since 1978 will probably suit New Zealand’s playing style.


Weaknesses
There is no hiding the fact that New Zealand will not be the most technically gifted team at the finals. Lack of regular competitive international fixtures may also affect performances of the team as a whole. Finally, there is a noticeable lack of depth in the squad.

The Coach

Ricki Herbert, a former defender, was part of the All Whites team that qualified for the 1982 World Cup. He played in all three matches and went on to become one of New Zealand’s most capped players. Herbert has outwardly an understated manner which masks a person who is deeply passionate about the game - as his animated response to the teams qualification clearly demonstrated. Herbert also coaches the Wellington Phoenix side in the Australian A-League.

Star Men
Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers, England)


New Zealand’s captain brings a lot of top-class experience to the team. He is a true leader and has a calming and motivating influence on players around him. Playing at the heart of the defence, a lot rests on his shoulder and he may have a very busy World Cup.

Chris Killen (Celtic, Scotland)


The former Manchester City and Hibernian striker is another player with big match experience. He is not playing as often as he would like at Celtic but there is no doubt that he can get the job done when given the opportunity. Scored two morale boosting goals in the 4-3 loss to Italy earlier in the year.

Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)


New Zealand’s most creative player. If he can be shut down, New Zealand’s strikers will be largely cut off from the action.

Best Footballing Moment

Needing to beat Saudi Arabia in Riyadh by at least five goals to stay in the hunt for a spot at the 1982 World Cup finals, New Zealand did just that. Remarkably, after going into a 5-0 half-time lead, the All Whites failed to score further goals that would have given them automatic qualification. Instead, a play-off against China was needed.

Off The Pitch
Famous for: Its clean and green image. New Zealand’s spectacular landscapes have been used as a backdrop for a number of big budget films.
Most likely to: Have fans that will enjoy themselves, no matter what the result.

World Cup Objective
New Zealand would have to get extremely fortunate in the draw to entrain any hopes of making the second round. Realistically, if points are taken off one or two teams then this will be deemed a great World Cup.

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