Re-match with Italy main attraction in New Zealand's World Cup draw

A rematch with reigning World Champions Italy is the highlight of New Zealand’s draw for the next year’s FIFA World Cup, which also sees the All Whites face Slovakia and Paraguay.

Ricki Herbert’s men were drawn into Group F at the star-studded event in Cape Town and the All Whites coach, watching from back in Wellington, was positive about the challenge of playing four-time champions and two sides ranked around the top 30 in the world.

"The quality of Italy speaks for itself - they are defending world champions," Herbert said.

"Slovakia and Paraguay are two big obstacles, two sides very different from New Zealand, but we can look forward with some confidence."

The All Whites will play all three games at altitude, beginning with Slovakia at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 16 (NZT), before tackling Italy at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on June 21 (NZT) and completing pool play against Paraguay at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium.

It will be little over a year since New Zealand played Italy in a pre-Confederations Cup friendly in Pretoria and while Italy fielded their second stringers for most of that match, All Whites assistant coach Brian Turner says the fact New Zealand lead the world champions three times before succumbing 4-3 gives the team a healthy dose of optimism heading into the replay with much more at stake:

"We drew a lot of confidence from the last time we played Italy and can take that in to the next time we play them," said Turner, deputising for Herbert at the draw.

"We don’t know a lot about Slovakia apart from they’re a good football team, they’ve won their qualification group in Europe. Paraguay came third in their group and then you’ve got the World Champs so it’s a tough group."

"I think the draw was good for us, and there’s prospects for us if we play at the very best we can to move forward."

The tournament will open on June 12 (NZT) with hosts South Africa facing Mexico in Johannesburg with former winners France and Uruguay completing the group.

There are plenty of contenders for the title of ‘Group of Death’ with Australia landing Germany, Serbia and Ghana in Group D, and the Netherlands drawing Denmark, Japan and Cameroon in Group B.

Former European champions Greece will line up against Argentina, Nigeria and 2002 semi-finalists Korea Republic in Group B, while five-times champions Brazil face Ronaldo’s Portugal, Didier Drogba’s Côte d'Ivoire and the relatively unknown Korea DPR in Group G.

Elsewhere, England may well be relieved at their own fate although Algeria, Slovenia and FIFA Confederations Cup runners-up USA could all test Fabio Capello’s men Group H has a heavy Hispanic influence with Switzerland the odd one out among an Spanish-speaking opposition in the form Chile, Honduras and top ranked Spain.

2010 FIFA World Cup Draw - Groups