Group F, four teams, four goals, a single point each.

Italy started badly, but are perennially slow starters at World Cups as the pundits pointed out more than was necessary, not sure who they were trying to convince, us? Themselves? Lippi? Paraguay, relatively unknown started bright enough, looked compact and were pretty fierce, and a touch more composure in the final third and they could have had Italy looking for more than a single goal in the second half.
One substitution at half time and a change in formation and Italy looked like a more balanced, able and threatening side. Paraguay played with two solid banks of four which frustrated the Italians for the first period. A goal from a set play seemed the most likely and indeed Paraguay obliged just before half-time.
Italy a changed side in the second half looked threatening, and were duly rewarded with a goal just past the hour mark after a horrendous mistake from the Paraguayan keeper, but that was our lot in terms of goals for the game.
Cannavaro belies his 37 years and still looks world class.

The second group game saw Slovakia take on the mighty New Zealand in a game that won't have worried Italy or Paraguay too much. It was a rather dull affair for large periods. New Zealand were greater than the sum of their parts, Slovakia were poor. They duly took the lead after a poor first half and New Zealand then wasted a glorious opportunity to draw level with 4 minutes to play, at that point it looks like the chance to equalise has gone, esp when the altitude of Rustenberg seems to be taking it's toll. Then with the last play of the game NZ drew level with a wonderful arcing cross and lovely glancing header from the centre-back Reid. It's our first taste of last gasp action at this Cup and the All Whites gain their first ever point at the Finals.