Match Preview: Slovakia vs Italy

Group F

Slovakia v Italy
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 3pm BST

Italy, after two draws, are reasonably sweating for the defence of their title, even if they can be pleased by the grand tradition of being slow starters at World Cups. Daniele De Rossi admits “We are worried”, but not worried enough to trust they will slip up in opposition to a side that were picked separately by Paraguay.

Slovakia may trench Kornel Salata, after his admittance of importance match stage fright in opposition to Paraguay. If Slovakia is harbouring any real goal, they must trust yet that through Stanislav Sestak and Robert Vittek.

They said

Wladimir Weiss: "We lost against Paraguay because we weren’t bold enough up front, so we require being more positive against Italy.”

Marcello Lippi: "Not the whole thing has gone well but we don't require seeing the glass half empty. Our World Cup could start here."

Teams

Slovakia (4-4-2): 1 Mucha; 2 Pekarik, 3 Skrtel, 17 Hamsik, 11 Vittek, 16 Durica, 4 Cech, 6 Strba, 7 Weiss, 15 Stoch; 9 Sestak
Italy (4-3-3): 5 Cannavaro, 4 Chiellini, 12 Marchetti, 19 Zambrotta, 3 Criscito; 6 De Rossi, 21 Pirlo, 22 Montolivo; 10 Di Natale, 9 Iaquinta, 20 Pazzini

Referee: TBC.

Match preview: Italy v New Zealand

Group F
Italy v New Zealand
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Italy has been the victims of sensations in World Cups past, to South Korea in 2002 and losing to North Korea in 1966, they face another game that, in theory, and they can’t lose.

Daniele De Rossi said “There are teams that we should beat, we're better”. perhaps, but self-confidence is hardy high-ceilinged in the world champions’ camp after opening their defence with a 1-1 draw against Paraguay and they will evoke that the vigorous All White triers, who earned a last minute equalizer against Slovakia, have already run the Azzurri close, losing 4-3 in a friendly last June.

Italy have lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, with Federico Marchetti coming in as deputy, and Mauro Camoranesi possibly will be introduced with Marcello Lippi tipped to sideline Claudio Marchisio.

New Zealand’s Plymouth striker Rory Fallon has promised Italy simply an assessment in aerial bombardment and muscular physicality, warning: "We're a big, strong team and those diagonal balls and crosses can make it hard for defenders.”

Italy possibly will employ the more efficient 4-4-2 formation which Lippi switched to, from 4-2-3-1, during the Paraguay game.

They said

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 constructive, I think we'll go out and play well again."

Teams

Italy (4-4-2): 4 Chiellini, 3 Criscito, 22 Montolivo, 11 Gilardino, 12 Marchetti, 7 Pepe, 10 Di Natale, 19 Zambrotta, 9 Camoranesi, 6 De Rossi, 5 Cannavaro,

New Zealand (4-3-2-1): 11 Bertos, 6 Nelsen, 5 Vicelich, 3 Lockhead, 10 Killen, 9 Smeltz, 19 Smith, 1 Paston, 4 Reid, 7 Elliott, 14 Fallon.

Referee: Carlos Buates (Guatemala)