Final Score - WC2010 Group F, Paraguay vs New Zealand

Thursday 24th June 2010 - Peter Mokoba Stadium, Polokwane - Att. 34,850
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

LINEUPS:
Paraguay (442): Villar, Bonet, Morel, de Silva, Alcaraz, Caceres, Valdez (Caniza 89'), Vera, Barrios (Benetez 55'), Santa Cruz, Riveros (Barreto 78')
New Zealand (343): Paston, Reid, Smith, Nelson, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot (Brown 79'), Vicelich (Mulligan 63'), Fallon, Smeltz, Killen

This match may not have had the action of the previous but it more than made up for it in intensity as Paraguay win the game but lose the war. The first half-hour had little to offer but a yellow card to New Zealand's Shane Smeltz would suspend him for the second round if his team made it out of the group. Another foul by the All Whites gave Paraguay the first chance of the game when Mark Paston charged out of his goalmouth and brought down Enrique Vera before converting the spot kick himself. Vera had intercepted a bad pass and dribbled his way into the area before the referee made his easy decision.

With more unimaginative but tense play New Zealand had the chance to equalise before halftime when Bertos placed a delightful chip over the defense for Rory Fallon who shot it straight at Villar. Paraguay needed another goal to finish above NZL on goal difference and nine minutes after the restart a reflex save from Paston stopped Barrios from scoring it on a fine free kick that the keeper saw very late.

The South American side kept up the pressure but were unable to really break down their opponents defence led by Ryan Nelson, and their next best chance came when Claudio Morel came up with a great run from defence before shooting it into the side netting. So, it ends 1-0 and the even GD of New Zealand barely gets them into an historic second round while Paraguay rue their missed chances throughout the group stage.

Paraguay 1 - 0 New Zealand
Goalscorers:
PAR Vera 31'

Discipline:
NZL Smeltz 18'
NZL Paston 30'
PAR Riveros 57'
NZL Smith 68'

Man of the Match:
NZL Ryan Nelson

GROUP F
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Italy	3	1	2	0	2	1	+1	5
New Zealand	3	1	1	1	1	1	0	4
Paragauy	3	1	1	1	1	2	-1	4
Slovakia	3	1	0	2	3	3	0	3

Final Score - WC2010 Group F. Slovakia vs Paraguay

Sunday 20th June 2010 - Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein - Att. 26,643
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)

LINEUPS:
Slovakia (451): Mucha, Pekarik, Zabavnik, Skrtel, Durica, Strba, Kucka, Kopunek, Vittek (Holosko 64'), Jendrisek (Cech 71'), Stoch
Paraguay (442): Willar, Bonet, Morel (Veron 61'), da Silva, Alcaraz, Caceres, Valdez (Santana 79'), Vera, Barrios (Gamarra 61'), Santa Cruz, Riveros

Slovakia entered this game with a slightly different look in midfield. Kamil Kopunek comes in for the suspended Hamsik, and an injury to Vladimir Weiss gives Kucka a chance to start. The game had few goalscoring chances and this was partly down to a lot of stoppages including eight yellow cards in a match that started rough and continued throughout the ninety minutes.

Victor Caceres earned the first booking by jumping into a tackle only seconds after the match kicked off, but Slovakia scored the first goal when Kopunek and Stoch showed good aerial prowess that split the defense for Erik Jendrisek to slot home. Paraguay had the chance to equalise before halftime  when a hard, but this time fair tackle, started an attack, ultimately ending on the foot of Barrios who scuffed his shot straight at the goalie.

The second half was even less of an exciting spectacle that thankfully did came to an end after four more yellow cards and a penalty kick that cemented the win for Slovakia. Kamil Kopanek was involved again, this time intercepting a pass before sending substitute Holosko in behind the defense. He was bundled to the ground and up stepped Miroslav Stoch to bang it home just off the post.

Slovakia 2 - 0 Paraguay
Goalscorers:
SVK Jendrisek 21'
SVK Stoch 89'

Discipline:
PAR Caceres 1'
PAR Riveros 7'
SVK Vittek 28'
PAR Morel 38'
SVK Durica 49'
SVK Jendrisek 60'
SVK Stoch 78'
PAR Santa Cruz 88'

Man of the Match:
SVK Kamil Kopunek

GROUP F
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Slovakia	2	1	0	1	2	1	+1	3
New Zealand	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
Italy	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Paragauy	2	0	1	1	0	2	-2	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group F, Italy vs Paraguay

Monday 14th June 2010 - Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town. Att: 62,869
Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico)

LINEUPS:
Italy (451): Marchetti, Zambrotta, Criscito, Cannavarro, Chiallini (Gattuso 66'), De Rossi, Montelivo, Marchisio, Gilardino, Iaquinta, Pepe (Di Natale 66')
Paraguay (442): Villar, Bonet, Morel, da Silva, Alcarez, Caceres, Valdez, Vera (Ortigoza 73'), Barrios (Cardozo 60'), Santa Cruz (Gamarra 82'), Riveros

The Italian midfield bossed this match without generating many chances as Paraguay stood resolute in defense, led as they were by Claudio Morel. Claduio Marchisio was dominant throughout the ninety minutes, displaying good control and strong tackling, and it was himself along with Montelivo that dictated much of the play.

Marchisio had a great chance to score himself in the 13th minute when Gianluca Zambrotta, who himself had just sent a shot into the side netting, crossed for the midfield maestro six yards out only to see his header stopped on the goal line. After this Paraguay found their rhythm at the back and looked to smother the game, breaking for a chance if they could. And their best chance of the match came late in the opening half when Vera and Riveros played some nice football out on the wing before a pullback to Paulo da Silva, who had remained forward after a failed set piece, and his shot deflected kindly for Marchetti to save.

Italy came out firing on all cylinders in the second half with Gilardino shooting at the keeper, and Di Natale squeezing his shot through a crowd only to be saved.  These two attacking players would have more chances in the latter stages of the match when, after a fine team move, Iaquinta played in Gilardino one-on-one only to see him fluff his lines and Di Natale scoop the rebound high over the bar.

Italy 0 - 0 Paraguay
Goalscorers:
None

Discipline:
ITA De Rossi 31'
PAR Vera 55'

Man of the Match:
ITA Claudio Marchisio

GROUP F
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Italy	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Paragauy	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Slovakia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0