Being a Kiwi, it's hard to look at group F from anything other than an All Whites perspective.  Where might we grab a point, or even a win?  And who might really put us to the sword?

From a more objective viewpoint, there are other questions, not least of which is who'll get out of this group and find themselves in the round of 16?

For starters, it's not the worst group to find ourselves in.  In fact, the draw was a lot kinder to New Zealand than it was to Australia.  Had the All Whites ended up in Group D with Ghana, Germany and Serbia, there'd be very little to feel optimistic about.  At least in Group F, there are glimmers - even glowing embers - of hope.

Slovakia has to be New Zealand's best chance of getting their first World Cup result.  For starters, they're the lowest ranked of our three opponents, are at their first World Cup and we're playing them first up, which means they'll have limited knowledge of the Kiwi players, tactics and style.

Having said that, they're certainly not to be taken lightly.  Any side that qualifies by winning a European group containing the Czech Republic, Poland and fellow qualifiers Slovenia is clearly no lightweight.  They did however lose twice to the Slovenians.

There's plenty of press around for Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik with a number of Europe's biggest clubs planning a post-World Cup swoop for the talented playmaker who has been compared to Patrick Vieira. In defence, Liverpool's Martin Skrtel is a massive presence and youngster Miroslav Stoch is nippy and incisive out wide.

Italy don't strike me as the type of team who are really going to give anyone a thrashing.  They're more likely to score a goal or two and then sit back, defend in typically Italian keep-ball style and not exert themselves beyond what is absolutely necessary to secure the three points.  Even in qualifying, they only scored more than two goals once in ten games.

Goals win matches, but defence wins tournaments and Italy proved that four years ago, conceding just an own-goal and a penalty in seven games to lift the trophy in Germany.  Things are unlikely to change much here.  The incomparable (if aging) Fabio Cannavaro marshals his back four superbly and even when opposition attackers do happen to find a way through, they're faced by one of the world's foremost goalkeepers in Gianluigi Buffon.

If any side is going to really test the defensive resources of New Zealand, it's Paraguay.  This is their third consecutive World Cup finals appearance, and in qualifying they beat Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.  These guys are certainly no mugs, even if they stuttered slightly, winning just three of their last eight qualifying matches.

Perhaps the worst case scenario for New Zealand is for Slovakia and Paraguay to draw their match, meaning Paraguay may need a resounding victory in the game against the All Whites to secure qualification from the group.  If Roque Santa Cruz is fit, he'll trouble the Italian defence, let alone New Zealand's, and when teamed with beanpole Oscar Cardozo upfront, they make a potent pair.  

So who's going through?

Of course, that sentence should read, "Who's going through with Italy?"  Apart from Spain, the Italians are the shortest-odds favourite to win any of the eight groups and will progress without too many problems.

Second place is a straight shoot-out between Paraguay and Slovakia, making their clash in Bloemfontein the defining match of the group.  Both will expect all three points against New Zealand, but will also back themselves to get something out of their game with Italy.  Perhaps it'll be the one who can do that who'll progress at the expense of the other.