1. GodOnEarth18 New Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 17, 2006
    Location:
    Greenwich
    Italy and Paraguay seem to be the early favorites. Will the Kiwis and Slovakia make some noise?
          
  2. forza_azzurri Member

    Member Since:
    May 31, 2005
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Country:
    Italy
    Italy
    Paraguay
    Slovakia
    New Zealand


    Although Italy and Paraguay could swap positions. In either case no excuse for those 2 not to go through.
  3. vancity eagle New Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 6, 2006
    NO, this is a ridiculously easy group.
  4. gumbacicc Member

    Member Since:
    Dec 7, 2004
    Location:
    USA
    I agree. In contrast to 2006, we (Italy) have an easier group. My prediction is that Italy, nonetheless, makes hard work of it and doesn't take full points. I would not even be shocked if Paraguay finished above us at this stage. It has not been unusual for Italy to perform poorly at the group stage and turn it up during the knock out rounds.

    I would predict Italy and Paraguay through, but I would not be surprised if Slovakia finished above Paraguay. Sorry Kiwis.
  5. Maruti New Member

    Member Since:
    May 14, 2006
    Ridiculously easy group. Happy goal hunting Italy and Paraguay.
  6. dna77054 Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 28, 2003
    Location:
    houston
    That opening Italy-Paraguay game is just screaming 0-0 tie.
  7. SourCream&OnionUtd Member

    Member Since:
    Nov 19, 1998
    You know, I might actually put a few down on New Zealand to do the Haka all over this group and get out alive. Figure it would pay handsomely were it to occur.
  8. markmcf8 Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 18, 1999
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Country:
    United States
    I expect Italy to take the group and Slovakia to finish second. Slovakia won their UEFA group in qualifiers. They have plenty of skill and quality attacking. Of course, I haven't seen Paraguay lately, so maybe they are better than they used to be.
  9. Bengoechea Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 28, 2005
    Location:
    São Paulo
    Country:
    Portugal
    1- Italy
    2- Paraguay
  10. wolf6656 New Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 9, 2004
    Location:
    Canada
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Country:
    Portugal
    Come on FIFA! Get real. Here we had a field of 32 teams that may have been the deepest group ever, and somehow you managed to draw this abortion of a group?????
    Anybody who thinks that FIFA fixes WC draws just has to look at this group to realize that this is not intentional. Even if you tried you couldn't make a group this bad. Even group C is better than this.
    Slovakia vs Paraguay is the only game that has any meaning here.
    I pity Italy in the Rd of 16. They will be asleep at the wheel and lose badly.
  11. ITALIA1982 Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 14, 2005
    Location:
    Toronto
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Italy might play Holland in the R16, if either side finishes 1st and the other 2nd in their groups...
  12. ITALIA1982 Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 14, 2005
    Location:
    Toronto
    Club:
    AC Milan
    FIFA's ranking has them as:

    Italy #4
    Paraguay #30
    Slovakia #34
    New Zealand #77

    The group's average FIFA ranking is 36.25!!!surely one of the lowest groups
  13. ronaldo99 Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 21, 2008
    Group C is better?

    Slovakia>Slovenia
    Paraguay>USA
    NZ<Algeria
  14. Pyros Member

    Member Since:
    Sep 6, 2009
    Location:
    La Coruña
    Club:
    Valencia CF
    Country:
    Spain
    I'm leaning towards Italy and Paraguay now, but maybe Slovakia will qualify instead of Paraguay, who knows.
  15. wolf6656 New Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 9, 2004
    Location:
    Canada
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Country:
    Portugal
    I know Slovakia comes before Slovenia in the dictionary, but I'm not comparing overall quality of teams. I'm just saying that at least there might be a hint of drama in C.
    Italy and Paraguay could mail this one in. Groups like this are what happen when you put continental separation as your prime criteria instead of ranking your pots first by quality, and only then try to suit continental considerations.

    That being said, I suppose Slovakia could have a surprise up its sleeve, but I doubt it.
    Of course we could always end up with a ridiculously arrogant and overconfident Italy who finds them selves struggling to get out of this at the end, but I doubt it. I think they're too good for that. (hahahaha)
  16. ronaldo99 Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 21, 2008
    Slovakia also came before Slovenia in their qualifying group.

    I don't see why you think there will be drama in group C anymore more than this group. You think Slovenia and Algeria could cause upsets anymore than Slovakia or NZ?
  17. mattteo Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 19, 2006
    Location:
    Genoa
    Club:
    Genoa CFC
    Country:
    Italy
    1 Paraguay
    2 Slovakia

    Gut feeling
  18. Azuran Member

    Member Since:
    Nov 15, 2006
    Location:
    Toronto, ON
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Country:
    Canada
    Slovakia never beat Slovenia though.
  19. GodOnEarth18 New Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 17, 2006
    Location:
    Greenwich
    Let's put it this way, the quality of Paraguay's strikers is a source of strength for a change. With their always disciplined defense they could surprise Italy in that first game. It wouldn't shock me if they finshed tops int he group, but I don't see how Italy don't advance.

    also don't pay attention to the fifa's silly rankings, they mean jack. Paraguay dropped something like 15 spots the last 2 months as they mailed in games and broke in players with qualification assured. Not to mention Paraguay is god awful in all friendlies (Qatar? Really?)

    overall I am thrilled with their draw.
  20. Caesar Moderator

    Member Since:
    Mar 3, 2004
    Location:
    Oztraya
    This is a good group for NZ. They were never going to qualify, but these opponents give them a great chance of a sneaky point or two.

    They may well decide who wins the group.
  21. Suyuntuy Member+

    Member Since:
    Jul 16, 2007
    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    Let me see...

    Italy 0 - 0 Paraguay
    NZ 0 - 2 Slovakia

    Italy 4 - 0 NZ
    Slovakia 0 - 0 Paraguay

    Paraguay 1 - 0 NZ
    Slovakia 0 - 1 Italy

    Italy 7
    Paraguay 5
    Slovakia 4
    NZ 0

    ZZZZZ.....
  22. GodOnEarth18 New Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 17, 2006
    Location:
    Greenwich
    this ain't the paraguay of old. their gonna score more than 1 goal in these three matches for sure.
  23. wolf6656 New Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 9, 2004
    Location:
    Canada
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Country:
    Portugal
    ........zzzzzz
    zzzzzz...........................
  24. ASU55RR Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 31, 2004
    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Country:
    Czechia
    Slovakia is a very tight defensive team, I predict them to defeat New Zealand, but after that hard to say much for sure. I doubt they will win against Paraguay or Italy, but would almost predict a scoreless draw for those matches. If Slovakia's striker hit the form they were on this time last year, they might make some noise.

    Still my head says

    1. Italy
    2. Paraguay
    3. Slovakia
    4. New Zealand

    I think 2nd place comes down to goal differential.
  25. tomwilhelm Member+

    Member Since:
    Dec 14, 2005
    Location:
    Boston, MA, USA
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Country:
    United States
    7 Italy
    5 Paraguay
    3 Slovakia
    1 New Zealand

    Pretty straightforward group. One of the few, IMO.
    Italy 0:0 Paraguay
    NZ 0:1 Slovakia

    Italy 3:0 NZ
    Slovakia 1:2 Paraguay

    Paraguay 1:1 NZ
    Slovakia 0:2 Italy

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