Italy v Paraguay Tues 15 6.30am

TEAM NEWS

Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo arrived in South Africa with a calf injury that is likely to prevent him from playing before the final group game against Slovakia.
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi should overcome a similar problem to start against Paraguay, while winger Mauro Camoranesi is available after a knee problem.
Marcello Lippi has tried various formations in training, but is expected to opt for a 4-3-3 system, with Alberto Gilardino the central striker.
Paraguay target man Oscar Cardozo has shaken off an ankle injury and is likely to be on the bench.
Argentine-born forward Lucas Barrios will start up front after impressing in warm-up games. If the Paraguayans opt for 4-4-2, he will partner Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz.

MATCH PREVIEW

In 1950 Italy became the first defending champions to lose their World Cup opener, and with their preparations for South Africa far from ideal, there may be a few first-night Azzurri nerves at the Cape Town Stadium.
Disappointing recent results, including a warm-up defeat to Mexico, have eroded the confidence of Italian fans.
The Italians are renowned as slow starters, but the statistics don't quite back up that tag - in the previous 12 World Cups they have lost their first game only once, courtesy of Ray Houghton's winner for the Republic of Ireland at USA '94.
With a chilly evening forecast in Cape Town, the Paraguayans will hope to catch the Azzurri cold. Gerardo Martino's men won more games in qualifying than Brazil, including triumphs against Chile, Argentina and the Brazilians. Those scalps would be trumped by victory against the world champions on Monday.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
- Italy came out on top in their two previous full internationals against Paraguay, winning 2-0 at the 1950 World Cup and 3-1 in a friendly in 1998.
- They also met at the 2004 Olympics, with Paraguay winning 1-0 in a group game, although both sides went through to the knock-out stage.
ITALY
- Italy were beaten 3-2 by Sweden at the 1950 World Cup, becoming the first defending champions to lose their opening game.
- Excluding penalty shoot-outs, the Italians have not lost to South American opposition at a World Cup since 1978, when they lost 2-1 to Brazil in the third-place play-off.
- Since then they have won four and drawn five of nine World Cup games against CONMEBOL opposition, although that includes two matches they subsequently lost on penalties (a semi-final against Argentina in 1990 and the final against Brazil in 1994).
PARAGUAY
- Gerardo Martino's men kept nine clean sheets in qualifying for South Africa.
- The squad includes three players born in Argentina and a fourth, Claudio Morel, who grew up there.
- Buenos Aires-born striker Lucas Barrios, who only received Paraguayan citizenship in April, has scored three times in his first three games for his adopted country.

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico)
Assistants: Hector Vergara (Canada) and Marvin Torrentera (Mexico)
4th: Joel Aguilar (Slovenia)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_11/default.stm

For our chances of going through I think one team thrashing the other would be best. 5-0 Italy please. Or 5-0 Paraguay. Then a win vs Slovakia and a draw vs the losing team in this match would see us through.

ok, they all count but that was a terrible header. just what part of the head made contact?   OUCH!!

What happened to Buffon?

Whats with the Italians hitting the ground like a sack of spuds with the slightest of touches :

Paraguay aren't exactly faultless.

Don't think that is good for us.

Don't think that is good for us.

Agree.

Goal difference will now be important for Italy & Paraguay.

Whats with the Italians hitting the ground like a sack of spuds with the slightest of touches :