Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Italy vs Paraguay now.

I see an italian victory 2-1.

 

Great goal by Paraguay to lead 1-0 at the half.

 

Italy needs a quick goal in this second half to have a shot in this game.

 

Go Italy. One more!

 

That was terrible goalkeeping by Paraguay to allow that Italian goal in. Keeper came out and whiffed on the ball from the corner kick which resulted in it finding De Rossi's foot for an easy goal.

 

Tie match. Both these teams should still advance, but both will be disappointed they didn't get 3 points.

 

Italy shouldn't have won this match. They played awful in the first half and Paraguay took full advantage with their opening goal. A missed punch gave Italy a lifeline which seemed to wake them up in the second half, but their pathetic display continued later on as even when Paraguay were down and out the Italians still couldn't take the lead.

Oh, and De Rossi is a pussy for one of the worst flops I've ever seen early in the match.

 

I almost forgot what it was like seeing players flop so easily, then I turned this game on

 

This will always be a rugby country but New Zealand's opening match is definitely getting a lot of hype here right now. Even the All Blacks are behind them. Link. In reality though if the All Whites can be competitive/not a joke I'd be happy, as it could well be a very long time before they make it to a World Cup again.

 

I hope New Zealand win.

My prediction

New Zealand 3-1 Slovakia

 

Slovakia lose to New Zealand? That's incredibly bold ...

 

Italy played pretty bad, but Paraguay is not in any way an inferior team. They beat Brazil and Argentina in qualifying for the World Cup. Even on paper they look better than this aging Italian side to be honest.

 

Couldn't catch it. But New Zeland and Slovakia game finished 1-1.

 

Great finish for New Zealand!

 

Incredibly disappointing performance by the Slovaks. They had better show that form that brought them out of their qualifying group as winners in the next two matches or they're done.

 

Did the ref call the game right after the tying goal? Or how did that Kiwi take his jersey off and not get a red?

 

Very impressed with New Zealand! My whole house was exploding after that goal. New Zealand might actually walk away disappointed seeing as Slovakia's goal was offside.

 

New Zealand wasn't impressive to me. They were terrible in coughing up possession over and over for 90 minutes and Slovakia were way off the form that brought them out of their tough qualification group as the winners. In any case, hopefully that draw will give them enough of a confidence boost to draw with Italy too.