Group F of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 14 June 2010 and ended on 24 June 2010. The group consisted of 2006 winner Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. Italy and Paraguay previously met in the first round of the 1950 tournament, with Italy winning 2–0; neither qualified for the next round.
Italy were eliminated from the group with just two points, behind underdogs New Zealand, who drew all three of their matches to finish on three points. New Zealand ended up being the only unbeaten team at this World Cup, as eventual champions Spain lost to Switzerland in their Group H game while Japan and Ghana who both failed to advance on penalties in the knockout stage had previously lost a group game. Italy placed last, making it the first time since 1974 that the Italians did not advance beyond the first round and the first tournament they didn’t win a World Cup match.
Standings
Paraguay advanced to play Japan (runner-up of Group E) in the round of 16. Slovakia advanced to play Netherlands (winner of Group E) in the round of 16.
Matches All times local (UTC+2)
Italy vs Paraguay Italy entered the fixture as defending champions, having won the 2006 edition of the tournament, and their starting lineup featured five of their World Cup winning team.
Paraguay defender Antolín Alcaraz put his team in front on 39 minutes with a well-timed header. Veteran Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was substituted off at half-time, with what appeared to be back injury.
Half-way through the second half, an error from Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar allowed Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi to score an equaliser.
GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon RB 19Gianluca ZambrottaCB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c)CB 4 Giorgio ChielliniLB 3 Domenico CriscitoCM 6 Daniele De RossiCM 22Riccardo MontolivoAM 15Claudio Marchisio RW 7 Simone PepeLW 9 Vincenzo IaquintaCF 11Alberto Gilardino Substitutions:GK 12Federico Marchetti MF 16 Mauro Camoranesi FW 10 Antonio Di Natale Manager:Marcello Lippi GK 1 Justo Villar (c)RB 6 Carlos BonetCB 21Antolín AlcarazCB 14Paulo da SilvaLB 3 Claudio MorelDM 15Víctor Cáceres RM 13Enrique VeraCM 16Cristian RiverosLM 17Aureliano Torres SS 18Nelson Valdez CF 19Lucas Barrios Substitutions:MF 11 Jonathan Santana FW 9 Roque Santa Cruz FW 7 Óscar Cardozo Manager: Gerardo Martino
Man of the Match: Antolín Alcaraz (Paraguay)
Assistant referees: Héctor Vergara (Canada) Marvin Torrentera (Mexico) Fourth official: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador) Fifth official: Juan Zumba (El Salvador)
New Zealand vs Slovakia This was New Zealand's first World Cup game since their debut in the 1982 tournament, where they lost all three of their group games.
Slovakia went ahead early in the second half via striker Róbert Vittek. New Zealand struggled to create any clear cut chances of their own, however deep into stoppage time Winston Reid equalized for New Zealand via a header. The 1-1 draw was New Zealand's first ever point at the FIFA World Cup finals.
GK 1 Mark PastonRB 4 Winston Reid CB 6 Ryan Nelsen (c)CB 5 Ivan Vicelich LB 19Tommy SmithRM 11Leo BertosCM 7 Simon ElliottLM 3 Tony Lochhead RW 14Rory FallonLW 10Chris Killen CF 9 Shane SmeltzSubstitutions:FW 20Chris Wood MF 21Jeremy Christie Manager:Ricki Herbert GK 1 Ján MuchaRB 5 Radoslav ZabavníkCB 16 Ján ĎuricaCB 3 Martin ŠkrtelLB 4 Marek ČechDM 6 Zdeno Štrba RM 7 Vladimír Weiss CM 9 Stanislav Šesták LM 17 Marek Hamšík (c)CF 11 Róbert Vittek CF 18 Erik JendrišekSubstitutions:FW 13 Filip Hološko MF 15 Miroslav Stoch MF 19 Juraj Kucka Manager:Vladimír Weiss Man of the Match: Róbert Vittek (Slovakia)
Assistant referees: Celestin Ntagungira (Rwanda) Enock Molefe (South Africa) Fourth official: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan) Fifth official: Rafael Ilyasov (Uzbekistan)
Slovakia vs Paraguay
GK 1 Ján MuchaRB 2 Peter PekaríkCB 3 Martin ŠkrtelCB 21Kornel Saláta LB 16Ján Ďurica DM 6 Zdeno ŠtrbaCM 17Marek Hamšík (c)RW 9 Stanislav Šesták LW 7 Vladimír Weiss SS 8 Ján KozákCF 11Róbert VittekSubstitutions:FW 13Filip Hološko MF 15Miroslav Stoch Manager:Vladimír Weiss GK 1 Justo Villar (c)RB 6 Carlos BonetCB 14Paulo da SilvaCB 21Antolín AlcarazLB 3 Claudio MorelDM 15Víctor CáceresCM 13Enrique Vera CM 16Cristian RiverosAM 18Nelson Valdez SS 9 Roque Santa CruzCF 19Lucas Barrios Substitutions:DF 17Aureliano Torres FW 7 Óscar Cardozo MF 8 Édgar Barreto Manager: Gerardo Martino Man of the Match: Enrique Vera (Paraguay)
Assistant referees: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon) Bechir Hassani (Tunisia) Fourth official: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador) Fifth official: Juan Zumba (El Salvador)
Italy vs New Zealand New Zealand took a surprise early lead when Simon Elliott's free-kick into the Italy penalty box was flicked on by defender Winston Reid, allowing striker Shane Smeltz to poke the ball into the Italy goal. The goal ended up being New Zealand's only shot on goal for the entire match.
New Zealand conceded a penalty on half an hour when Tommy Smith tussled with Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi, allowing Italy to equalize. Italy pushed for a winning goal in the second half but were unable to score, and the game finished 1-1. The result meant that after their opening two games, New Zealand had the same number of points as reigning World Cup champions Italy.
The draw extended Italy's winless run to five games, consisting of four draws and a 2-1 loss to Mexico in a World Cup warmup. For New Zealand, it was only their second ever point at the World Cup, having also drawn their opening game to Slovakia by the same score.
GK 12Federico MarchettiRB 19Gianluca ZambrottaCB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c)CB 4 Giorgio ChielliniLB 3 Domenico CriscitoRM 7 Simone Pepe CM 6 Daniele De RossiCM 22Riccardo MontolivoLM 15Claudio Marchisio SS 9 Vincenzo IaquintaCF 11Alberto Gilardino Substitutions:MF 16Mauro Camoranesi FW 10Antonio Di Natale FW 20Giampaolo Pazzini Manager:Marcello Lippi GK 1 Mark PastonRB 4 Winston ReidCB 6 Ryan Nelsen (c) CB 5 Ivan Vicelich LB 19Tommy Smith RM 11Leo BertosCM 7 Simon ElliottLM 3 Tony LochheadRW 14Rory Fallon LW 10Chris Killen CF 9 Shane SmeltzSubstitutions:FW 20Chris Wood MF 21Jeremy Christie MF 13Andrew Barron Manager:Ricki Herbert Man of the Match: Daniele De Rossi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Leonel Leal (Costa Rica) Carlos Pastrana (Honduras) Fourth official: Koman Coulibaly (Mali) Fifth official: Redouane Achik (Morocco)
Slovakia vs Italy
GK 1 Ján Mucha RB 2 Peter Pekarík CB 3 Martin ŠkrtelCB 16Ján ĎuricaLB 5 Radoslav ZabavníkRM 17Marek Hamšík (c)CM 6 Zdeno Štrba CM 19Juraj KuckaLM 15Miroslav StochSS 11Róbert Vittek CF 18Erik Jendrišek Substitutions:MF 20Kamil Kopúnek MF 9 Stanislav Šesták DF 22Martin Petráš Manager:Vladimír Weiss GK 12Federico MarchettiRB 19Gianluca ZambrottaCB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c) CB 4 Giorgio Chiellini LB 3 Domenico Criscito DM 6 Daniele De RossiCM 8 Gennaro Gattuso CM 22Riccardo Montolivo RW 7 Simone Pepe LW 10Antonio Di NataleCF 9 Vincenzo IaquintaSubstitutions:DF 2 Christian Maggio FW 18Fabio Quagliarella MF 21Andrea Pirlo Manager:Marcello Lippi Man of the Match: Róbert Vittek (Slovakia)
Assistant referees: Darren Cann (England) Michael Mullarkey (England) Fourth official: Stéphane Lannoy (France) Fifth official: Eric Dansault (France)
Paraguay vs New Zealand Paraguay qualified for the round of 16 for the fourth time in their history after being held to a 0–0 draw by New Zealand.
With their third successive draw, New Zealand concluded their campaign undefeated above World Cup holders Italy, but failed to qualify for the round of 16 by a single point.
GK 1 Justo VillarRB 4 Denis Caniza (c)CB 5 Julio CáceresCB 14Paulo da SilvaLB 3 Claudio MorelDM 15Víctor Cáceres RM 16Cristian RiverosLM 13Enrique VeraAM 9 Roque Santa Cruz AM 18Nelson Valdez CF 7 Óscar Cardozo Substitutions:FW 19Lucas Barrios FW 10Édgar Benítez Manager: Gerardo Martino GK 1 Mark PastonRB 4 Winston ReidCB 6 Ryan Nelsen (c) LB 19Tommy SmithCM 7 Simon ElliottCM 5 Ivan VicelichRM 11Leo BertosLM 3 Tony LochheadAM 10Chris Killen AM 9 Shane SmeltzCF 14Rory Fallon Substitutions:FW 20Chris Wood MF 22Jeremy Brockie Manager:Ricki Herbert Man of the Match: Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay)
Assistant referees: Toru Sagara (Japan) Jeong Hae-sang (South Korea) Fourth official: Koman Coulibaly (Mali) Fifth official: Inácio Cândido (Angola)
See also Italy at the FIFA World Cup New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup Paraguay at the FIFA World Cup Slovakia at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports