World Cup Group F Preview

All of a sudden, Group F became a lot more interesting to me. That's because I was picked by the Seattle Sounders as one of 32 bloggers during the World Cup, and I get to represent Slovakia! I love Slovakia! I guess. So now, this clearly becomes the most interesting group in the tournament.
I mean, you've got defending champion Italy, obviously always a marquee team. Paraguay, which had tragedy before the tournament but high hopes now. New Zealand, which just might be the worst team in the entire field, but comes from such an awesome land that who cares? And now, Slovakia, which is in Europe and has a father-son coach-player combo which is just plain precocious. So sit back and enjoy, I give you, Group F!


Italy
Some might call this team experienced. Some might call it old. Either way, it's a talented group that surely will be in the middle of the title run. A core of Italy is already in its 30s, which, as much as I hate to admit it, is an issue. Italy was lackluster at Euro 2008 and then failed miserably at the Confederations Cup. But it breezed through qualifying, so maybe it's figured things out. Italy shouldn't have many problems in this group so we won't learn much about it until the knockout stage. Good news though, in that midfielder Andrea Pirlo looks like he'll overcome his injury and play, a big deal given he's the team's most creative midfielder. This is a good team, but how good remains to be seen.
Coach: Marcello Lippi. Lippi, who looks a lot like pre-death Paul Newman, is one of the top coaches in the world. I mean, he won the World Cup with a group that was reeling from a scandal in Serie A in 2006, so he's got that. He's also very tactically sound and his players really like him. That's because he refuses to get rid of them, mostly, which has led to concern that his team is way too old to repeat as champion. He also left most of the country's best strikers at home, believing that goals are for suckers. So we'll see how it works out.
Players to Watch
Giorgio Chiellini: Now the best defender on one of the best defensive teams in the world, Chiellini is athletic and tough, not afraid to be maybe a little too physical. The Juventus back could have some pressure on him as those around him are aging rapidly.
Fabio Cannavaro: Speaking of aging rapidly. The 37-year-old captain of Italy is still good, but, he's 37. Another Juventus defender, he's not the same player he was four years ago.
Daniele de Rossi: If Americans had good memories, they'd hate de Rossi, who's cheap foul on Brian McBride in 2006 earned the Italian a four-game suspension. Clearly, Italy missed him as it went on to win the title without him. But make no mistake, de Rossi is a stud offensive midfielder who has the ability to create and score.
Antonio Di Natale: Never considered much of an option for the national team until he went nuts with Udinese this season, scoring a Serie A-high 29 goals. Italy will need every bit of his scoring talent to balance its solid defense.
Gigi Buffon: Possibly the world's top keeper, and certainly in the top two. He's been in the box for Italy for over a decade and shows no sign of slowing down. He was solid all season for Juventus, and gives Italy a chance every game.
Gianluca Zambrotta: Another veteran defender who used to be great, but is not great anymore. In fact, he had a bad year for AC Milan and there was talk that he wouldn't even make the team. But here he is! Thanks Coach Lippi! Zambrotta made the all-tournament team in 2006, but won't this time.
Alberto Gilardino: A good all-around forward who can score a number of ways and has thrived since leaving AC Milan for Fiorentina. Gilardino will have to score regular for Italy too, being that he'll be the No. 1 striker.


New Zealand
New Zealand is such an awesome country. I recently read a book in which New Zealand figured prominently, and the people just sound wonderful. I bet every player on the team is a great guy. Unfortunately, this is probably the worst team in the tournament, which is tough. But what do you expect from a country that devotes most of its resources to rugby?
Most of the players are semipro, and I mean that literally, not to belittle them. Only one guy plays for a top-league team. Two guys aren't even on a team. The best result this team has ever gotten on the international level was a 0-0 tie with Iraq. But listen up America, nine of the guys on the team played for U.S. colleges, including two at Stanford. So if you're looking for a second team to cheer for, pass up Brazil for once and go for these likeable fellas.
Coach: Rick Herbert. Along with Bob Bradley, has the least exotic name of any coach in the tournament. He's the first New Zealander to actually coach the national team, adding to his good rep that started when he was the defensive leader on his country's only other World Cup team in 1982. He did get the U-23 team into the Olympics, and just getting this group of raggamuffins to South Africa should earn him some kind of honor.
Players to Watch
David Mulligan: Why do I like this guy? Because he made the team without actually being on a club team. He did, in his defense, play very low-level soccer in England at one point. He's probably not going to play much, but I like that he's on the team. It would kind of be like me being on the team.
Ryan Nelsen: The only guy on the team anyone might have any chance of recognizing. He's a big, strong but athletic defender who played for D.C. United before moving on to a regular spot with Blackburn Rovers in the EPL. He's the team captain but also also a family man, and he might miss some games to be at the birth of his first son. But I guess you can't blame him.
Simon Elliott: Another guy who isn't on a team right now, he's also 36 and a regular at midfield. Pretty cool. Used to play in MLS and the English Premier League, but probably won't be back any time soon.
Shane Smeltz: He scored eight goals in qualifying and holds the New Zealand domestic league record for goals, so he can score. But can he score against Italy? Maybe not.
Aaron Clapham: He's never played a match for New Zealand. Ever. But he might be a top reserve because he is a creative midfielder on a team that has little creativity.
Winston Reid: The 21-year-old originally played in the Dutch youth system but switched to New Zealand in March. Maybe he'll make a difference. Whatever.


Paraguay
Paraguay can now be considered a mainstay for the World Cup, having qualified four times in a row and advancing out of group play two of the last three, though not in 2006. It also may have been the most impressive team in South American qualifying, finishing second but tying Chile for the most wins with 10. But this is also a team dealing with adversity, as leading scorer Salvador Cabanas was shot in the head - maybe by a hit man. ...seriously! - in a Mexico City bar in January. He lived, and will even come back at some point, but he's out for South Africa. Apparently he just didn't want it enough to overcome a bullet in his head. Still, this team has talent up front, but a conservative approach has limited they chances. Still, regarded as a favorite to reach the next round.
Coach: Gerardo Martino. The fourth foreign coach in the last four World Cups for Paraguay, Martino was an outstanding midfielder in Argentina before becoming a successful club coach in Paraguay. He was named South America's top coach in 2007, the year he took over Paraguay, he was mentored by the very offensively-minded Marcelo Bielsa but is much more conservative with this team.
Players to Watch
Oscar Cardozo: The 6-foot-4 forward scored goals like crazy for Benfica in Portugal, 25 in 28 games and may be on his way to a bigger club. He's the guy most likely to take Cabanas' spot as the top offensive threat for Paraguay, if the system allows him to.
Nelson Haedo Valdez: A versatile forward who scored five goals in qualifying, he's been a regular for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and is another talented attacker hoping his coach opens things up a bit.
Lucas Barrios: A teammate of Haedo Valdez in Germany, where he scored 18 goals, he only recently became eligible for the national team after growing up in Argentina. The forward scored a goal in each of his first two appearances, so he's clearly a welcomed addition.
Roque Santa Cruz: The most experienced forward on the team, he's second all-time for his country with 16 goals. A physical, strong attacker who plays at Manchester City, though he scored just three goals there this season. He's also been dealing with constant injuries for pretty much his entire career.
Justo Villar: An athletic keeper, he played just seven minutes of the opening game in the 2006 tournament before being injured and missing the rest of the World Cup. The team captain plays at Valladolid in Spain and is one of those wacky Latin keepers who likes to take free kicks.

Slovakia
My favorite team since I was. ...well, since yesterday. Claiming the second half of its former country (the cool, sexy half, I think) Czechoslovakia, Slovakia has slowly moved towards this point, which is its first appearance in the World Cup. With a mix of veterans and young, talented players and a coach who plays pretty much everyone (though I'm still waiting), Slovakia topped its qualifying group which included evil twin Czech Republic. This team plays a pretty basic game but drew a fortunate group and stands a potential chance of advancing out of group play.
Coach: Vladimir Weiss. Seems to be universally liked by his players, fans and the media, and why not? The 45-year-old is one of a long-line of Vladimir Weiss', which includes his father (a former player and manager), and his son, who is now on the team. His use of pretty much every Slovakian in the country at some point has also brought a sense of ownership to the team. A solid scoring midfielder when he was a player, he enjoys the type of popularity you and I can only dream of.
Players to Watch
Martin Skrtel: I looked it up and no, there is no vowel missing in Skrtel. The tall center defender is a regular for Liverpool, though he hasn't played well there. He played very well in qualifying and is the top back for Slovakia.
Jan Mucha: He's not the best keeper in the world, but dammit he's the best they got! He did get a transfer to Everton, where he'll compete with Tim Howard, so maybe he should play like he earned it!
Stanislav Sestak: The top scorer in qualifying with six goals, he's the focal point of Slovakia's attack. It's kind of a surprise given that he'd done little in his career to show he would be anything less than mediocre.
Marek Hamsik: A creative attacking midfielder and just 22, he scored 12 goals for Serie A Napoli this season. He's the team captain and leader, and the driving force of the Slovakian offense.
Robert Vittek: At one point was one of the most coveted forwards in Europe but he's struggled lately while playing in Turkey. He did not score once for Slovakia in qualifying but will have to be a threat in South Africa.
Vladimir Weiss Jr.: The coach's son, which often isn't a good sign. But he seems like a good enough kid, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. A fast and skilled midfielder and just 21, he'll be a regular on the wings. He's on lone to Bolton from Manchester City and could be one of the breakout stars of the tournament.