Rustenburg is the venue of this match of minnows New Zealand and Slovakia. This is only New Zealand's second World Cup appearance, and Slovakia's first big tournament. This match has academic importance at best for both teams, as Italy and Paraguay look likely to qualify from the group for the round of 16.
What New Zealand lack in skill they make up in discipline. Their recent form has not been encouraging. New Zealand had an easy ride in the qualifiers, winning 5 of 6 matches, and won a play off against Bahrain belying expectation. Star player Shane Smeltz and Middlesborough striker Chris Killen are the men to watch in th NZ squad. Blackburn Rovers star, Ryan Nelson, holds fort in defence.
Marek Hamsik, 22, leads Slovakia, a newly independent country since 1993. Skipper Marek Hamsik burst into prominence thanks to his goal scoring ways with Napoli. The team has a Liverpool star in the making in Martin Skrtel. In recent months, although they lost to Norway, a draw against Cameroon and a convincing win against Costa Rica point to Slovakia's potential. Bolton Wanderer's Vladimir Weiss is the Slovakia coach's son, and a third pillar of the team.
Slovakia won 8 of 10 matches in a qualification group comprising the likes of Slovenia, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Poland and San Marino. So they are not likely to be fazed by the prospect of facing New Zealand, who are, if anything, weaker than the above teams.
In this battle of minnows, Slovakia hold an ever so slight edge.
For the latest sports gossip and news you will not find anywhere else on the Internet, and to download a FREE eBook on the 2010 FIFA World Cup, click http://www.cricinfosite.com
Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger.
No comments:
Post a Comment