Defending champions Italy will take on the in form South Americans in Cape Town on Monday. Paraguay are the strongest hurdle Italy are likely to face in group F, and the champions’ recent bad form, underlined by the loss to Mexico in last week’s warm up, will be a cause for worry.

Be that as it may, Italy have a 2-0 head-to-head dominance over Paraguay, in their last two encounters.

Coach Marcello Lippi is banking on the same players who delivered the World Cup platter in 2006, including the likes of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and skipper Fabio Cannavaro. An organized defence and tactical skills are the strong suits of this side that will look to dynamic striker Gennaro Gattuso and midfielder Andre Pirlo to repeat their 2006 heroics.

The rest of group F – comprising New Zealand and Slovakia – has little to worry the Italians, who will try to virtually cement their place in the next round witha  victory over the Paraguayans.

Paraguay’s coach Gerardo Martino will be confident of his team’s passage to the round of 16, given the mix of young talent in the form of Oscar Cardozo and Nelson Valdez and the experience of Roque Santa Cruz. Their FIFA ranking is 31, and does not reflect their true standing especially in the last two years during which they have scalped the likes of Brazil and Argentina.

Although Italy had an unbeaten qualification campaign against a field comprising Bulgaria, Montenegro, Ireland, Georgia and Cyprus, their 17-8 goal record in the 10 matches is less than impressive.

Paraguay who finished behind Brazil and Chile in the CONMEBOL region qualifiers were impressive in a strong field that also had Argentina, who,incidentally lost to Paraguay.

Roque Santa Cruz who played previously for Bayern Munich will spearhead Paraguay’s strike force and do battle with Juventus’s rock solid Giorgio Chiellini in the Italian defence, a contest whose result could determine the direction of the match.

Daniele de Rossi and Gennaro Gattuso are likely to make up Pirlo’s absence owing to injury in Italy’s midfield. Lippi will look to end the goal draught with  three-pronged attack in the shape of Laquinta, Natale and Gilardino.

Lucas Barrios’s recent form should help him join Santa Cruz, in the Paraguay squad, trumping the likes of contenders Oscar Cardozo and Nelson Valdez.

Da Silva and Veron will man the Paraguay defence and can expect an aerial barrage from Gilardino and some wily moves from veteran Di Natale.

While Paraguay’s current form is a potent positive, Italy are no pushovers even in bad times. In the situation, a hard fought draw would be a fair result.