MATCH: Italy vs Paraguay

DATE AND TIME: 14/06. 7: 30 PM Nigerian Time

VENUE: Cape Town Stadium

REFEREE: Benito Archundia(Mexico)

Italy has been a shadow of itself in the run-up to its defence of the World Cup title. The Italians have drawn three, lost one and won one of their last five matches, drawing against three World Cup qualifiers, losing to Mexico and beating Sweden.

The lack of strength on the Italian attack has been shown up with just three goals scored during the last five matches. The Italian defence has looked good, however; conceding only three goals during this period.

Paraguay has won two, drawn two and lost one of its last five World Cup warm-up matches. The Paraguayans' victories came against relatively lightweight teams, while draws were secured against South Africa and the Ivory Coast.

The Paraguay attack has been in decent enough shape, scoring nine goals in five matches while the defence has been letting in a goal a game during the same period.

HISTORY

Italy and Paraguay have met just twice in the history of international football. The first of these meetings took place in the distant past, with Italy winning a 1950 World Cup clash between the two teams. The teams played their second match at the 2004 Olympics, with Paraguay scoring a 1-0 win.

RECENT GAMES

ITALY
Nov 14, 2009: Italy 0 Netherlands 0
Nov 18 2009: Italy 1 Sweden 0
March 3, 2010: Italy 0 Cameroon 0
June 3, 2010: Italy 1 Mexico 2
June 5, 2010: Italy 1 Switzerland 1

PARAGUAY
Mar 31, 2010: Paraguay 1 South Africa 1
May 15, 2010: Paraguay 1 North Korea 0
May 25, 2010: Paraguay 1 Ireland 2
May 30, 2010: Paraguay 2 Ivory Coast 2
June 2, 2010: Paraguay 2 Greece 0

I predict a score draw. Italy are well known for not starting tournaments well but once they pick up momentum, they become hard to defeat.

Paraguay will do all the play but the Azurri will hold them to a draw

Not Necessarily. Tbh it depends on which players Lippi picks to start.

I just got off the phone with Lippi
He will be using his preferred 4-3-3 formation. The probable starting 11 will be:
Buffon
Criscito
Zambrotta
Chielini
Cannavaro
Marchisio
Pirlo
De Rossi
Di Natale
Gillardino
Iaquinta

italy formation

Paraguay formation

the Romans are well prepared, so i dint think the Paraguay can upset them. i hope the maximum 3 P goes to the Romans cause the like it when the going is rough and hard. :o2 nothing can do the required damages on the south Americans. GILADINO is hard one for the south Americans to deal with. so they have a pain on there ass.

this game is kinda hard to predict, but with the firepower Italy has got, they should clinch the 3 poins.
but Paraguay has got some skilled players too, and will test the Italian defense thoroughly.
crossing my fingers on this one though

not so sure if Pirlo will play

The Azuris will win d match.

Where can I watch this match online?

The Italians are gorgeous as ever; hot damn!

Click on this link, u can watch the match live

http://www.southafricalive.net/live.php


The match is gonna be a tough one, Paraguay will surprise Italy

watch out for Lucas Barrios in the Paraguayan team. He was the third highest scorer in the bundesliga

Italy to win.

Travelista:

The Italians are gorgeous as ever; hot damn!

Sorry I can't see any hot one. Which one in particular?

lizzybabe1:

Italy to win.

Sorry I can't see any hot one. Which one in particular?

Cannavaro in particular. What a bum on that one! Zambrotta's another one.

Travelista:

The Italians are gorgeous as ever; hot damn!

you must be in nigeria. poor you. i would not even go into details into what they think about black women. unreciprocated lust

The Italians are mounting more pressure here.

buzugee:

you must be in nigeria. poor you. i would not even go into details into what they think about black women. unreciprocated lust

So, does it make you feel good to look down on those that are in Nigeria? You must live a miserable life. Anyway, not in Nigeria and I don't know how unattractive you are but my 'lust' rarely goes 'unreciprocated'.   You don't know what everyone thinks about Black women, so save your breath.

lizzybabe1:

Italy to win.

Sorry I can't see any hot one. Which one in particular?

Why did you say Italy will carry the day?

Travelista:

So, does it make you feel good to look down on those that are in Nigeria? You must live a miserable life. Anyway, not in Nigeria and I don't know how unattractive you are but my 'lust' rarely goes 'unreciprocated'.   You don't know what everyone thinks about Black women, so save your breath.

i dont look down on people in nigeria. what that statement means is that people in nigeria still have this 'utopia' view of oyinbo but people that live in oyinbo land quickly change that 'utopic' view

i digress. so those of you watching on ESPN. was it really necessary to say that paraguay is the poorest country in the world and the people cannot afford the basic necesities of life. was that really necessary ? what did that piece of information have to do with football ?

buzugee:

i dont look down on people in nigeria. what that statement means is that people in nigeria still have this 'utopia' view of oyinbo but people that live in oyinbo land quickly change that 'utopic' view

i digress. so those of you watching on ESPN. was it really necessary to say that paraguay is the poorest country in the world and the people cannot afford the basic necesities of life. was that really necessary ? what did that piece of information have to do with football ?

I get you what you're saying.

As for ESPN, they've mentioned Paraguay being poor at least twice and it's beyond unnecessary. I wonder if they'll bring up Brazil and it's notorious favelas. Probably not.

Travelista:

They've mentioned Paraguay being poor twice and it's beyond unnecessary.

part of their huge plan to dehumanize the brown people of the world  i swear sometimes i feel  i will have a more peaceful life if i throw away my tv goalllllllllllllllllllllll

WHAT A GOAL! Italians are down wt one as the rain increases

GoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaL. . . Italians seems confused, scorer was virtually gifted that goal.

Don't know if it makes Cameroon feel any better, but Italy has played just as badly as they did against Japan The even lost the goal about the same time. Absolutely no creativity or clue in the final third for Italy. Did they even have a shot on goal?

So far the only games that were any good at this World Cup were RSA - Mexico, Nigeria - Argentina, Ghana - Serbia and Germany - Australia. Today's matches have all been terrible.

Based on what I've seen so far, I dont think Italy has what it takes to defend the WC

Die Hard Italians 1 - 1

like play, like play. . . equalizer!!! Oh well, game on!

Gila almost did it