Italy is technically the defending world champion. Still, the Italians have not fared well against elite competition since claiming their last World Cup crown in 2006.
Perhaps that is why falling into the easiest group in the 2010 World Cup could turn out to be a good thing for the aging Italian squad. Things are set up for Italy to build up some momentum or suffer the embarrassment of an early exit.
The chances of Paraguay, Slovakia or New Zealand offering Italy much resistance in Group F are minimal at best.
ITALY: The Italians had a terrible showing at the Confederations Cup last summer, and that has cast doubt on the ability of the veteran group to successfully defend its World Cup title.
AC Milan star Andrea Pirlo has earned a reputation as an inventive playmaker from the central midfield. The Azzurri will need everything they can get from Pirlo, which makes his recent calf injury in a friendly against Mexico all the more troubling. If Pirlo is at less than 100 percent, Italy will need Daniele De Rossi to step up his own aggressiveness.
Offensively, the Italians will look to Alberto Gilardino to fuel the offense and come up with timely goals like he did during the qualifying stage. Defensively, few teams can rival the experience Italy brings to the pitch. Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defenders Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta have combined for an astounding 328 career caps between them.
PARAGUAY: As another veteran team that seems to have lost some steam on the way to South Africa, Paraguay is hoping to regain the form that helped it claim impressive victories over Chile and Brazil during the qualifying stages.
Moving out of group play will hinge on Paraguay living up to its tough defensive reputation. Paulo da Silva, Claudio Morel and Julio Cesar Caceres anchor the back line and will be counted on to set a strong defensive tone.
The team suffered a blow on the offensive end of things when striker Salvador Cabanas was shot inside a Mexico City bar in January, forcing him to step away from the game for an indefinite period. Roque Santa Cruz is still a potent scorer, though, with 21 international goals to his credit.
SLOVAKIA: It is not a stretch to say that Slovakia's fortunes could rise and fall based on what its midfield does.
Marak Hamsik is the linchpin in that midfield and it will be on his shoulders to both create goals with his quick passing and get forward to score whenever possible. Stanislav Sestak and Robert Vittek are the ones who will be Hamsik's targets up top. The duo has combined for 30 goals in international play this decade for Slovakia.
Defensively, Slovakia could be hurting a little with Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel struggling from injuries. Skrtel broke his foot in February and injured his ankle against Costa Rica over the weekend.
NEW ZEALAND: Out of all the teams in South Africa, New Zealand most resembles soccer's version of a 16th-seeded NCAA basketball tournament play-in game winner. The Kiwis are not much beyond ordinary on both ends of the pitch and will likely struggle to cobble together a single point in Group F.
One bright spot for New Zealand is center back Ryan Nelsen. As his time with D.C. United and later Blackburn Rovers shows, Nelsen is a quality defender. The Kiwis will need him at the top of his game — both in terms of play and leadership.
Offensively, Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz are the closest thing that New Zealand has to consistent scorers up top and both will need to find their scoring groove quickly for the Kiwis to make any noise in South Africa.
e-mail: jcoon@desnews.com