Italy launch World Cup defence under cloud

Italy launch their World Cup defence against Paraguay in Cape Town Monday with few pundits expecting them to go all the way again.

The Netherlands are another giant who will make their debut on day four of the tournament as they face Denmark in Johannesburg while Samuel Eto’o-inspired Cameroon tackle ambitious Japan in Bloemfontein.

Surprise champions in Germany four years ago, the Azzurri (Blues) have done little in the past four years to suggest they can conquer the world again and join Brazil as five-time winners.

Fortunately for 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, his team are in one of the less daunting mini-leagues with the Paraguay clash followed by New Zealand in Nelspruit and Slovakia in Johannesburg.

Lippi, who steps down when Italy exit the first tournament hosted by Africa, says pre-tournament results like a 2-1 Brussels loss to Mexico that flattered the Italians are irrelevant.

“I can tell you we have a great will to do well. Friendlies are not crucial although injuries may have prevented us experimenting or doing some things I wanted,” he stressed.

Italy are favoured to top the group with the Bloemfontein clash of Paraguay and debutants Slovakia likely to produce the runners-up and New Zealand given little chance of avoiding three losses in only their second appearance.

The Dutch have flattered only to deceive so often that many are reluctant to place them among the favourites and star striker Robin van Persie acknowledged this by saying the squad were tired of being “friendly world champions”.

Well organised under long-serving coach Morten Olsen, the Danes are capable of stretching the Group E favourites but probably lack the fire power to cause an upset at the 90,000-seat Soccer City stadium.

A Cameroon side coached by Frenchman Paul le Guen face a Japanese side set what seems an overly ambitious semi-finals target by coach Takeshi Okada given the ‘Blue Samurai’ have never gone further than the second round.

Germany were the most impressive day-three winners as they crushed 10-man Australia 4-0 in Durban despite missing a host of chances at the futuristic Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Mueller and Cacau were on target for the three-time champions who created endless chances despite missing injured midfield conductor Michael Ballack.

A hyper-strict Mexican referee flashed numerous yellow cards and gave Australia midfielder Tim Cahill a harsh straight red, which rules him out of a clash with Ghana.

The other matches were settled by a solitary goal with a late Asamoah Gyan penalty giving Ghana success over Serbia, who had centreback Aleksander Lukovic sent off with 15 minutes left in Pretoria.

Slovenia won at the World Cup for the first time thanks to a soft late goal from captain Robert Koren in Polokwane with Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi allowing a timid shot from outside the area slip past him.