Copa América review: MEXICO

This is the first part of what will be the bulk of my Copa América writing. I will be reviewing all twelve nations in order of their tournament performance and talking results, tactics and players. First off let's take a look at one of the invited teams from CONCACAF, the only side not to record a point in the 2011 tournament, el Tri of MEXICO.

Mexico, fresh from a buoyant triumph at CONCACAF's Gold Cup in June, travelled to Argentina with a squad predominantly made up of players under the age of 23. All but one of the squad was based in Mexico, and that one player (Giovani dos Santos of Tottenham Hotspur) accounted for almost half of the total senior international caps of the entire 23-man party.

Despite bringing a 'weakened' squad, el Tri were very motivated and battled hard in all of their three group games. This effort was not enough however, and they lost all three matches in Group C starting with a 2x1 against Chile in their opener, and two 1x0 losses to both Peru and Uruguay. 

Their tactics were fairly unequivocal; they played a standard Latin American 3-5-2 in their first two matches, and only switched to an unfamiliar 4-4-2 in the meaningless final match against Uruguay. The 3-5-2 is based around the front two, with Giovani dos Santos supporting Rafael Márquez Lugo, and the energy of the two wing backs-cum-wide midfielders Paul Aguilar and Dárvin Chávez.

In their first match against Chile, the previously mentioned duo of Aguilar and Chávez were pinned back by Chile's own attacking wide players Beausejour and Isla. Consequently Mexico found it very hard to link their midfield and attack, with almost all of their hopes placed on the shoulders of dos Santos, who was expected to do everything.

Line ups vs Chile (Note the restriction of the wide players and large gap between midfield and attack

Mexico did manage to take the lead in that match from a Nestor Araujo header, though it was mainly due to Chile's defensive errors as opposed to Mexico's quality.

Mexico lost their lead in the second half due to a tactical masterstroke from Chile's boss Claudio Borghi (which we will discuss in more detail when it's Chile's turn), and ended up losing the match 2x1.

Next up, Mexico took on Peru in Mendoza. Coach Luis Fernando Tena kept the same team and formation from the match against Chile, and once again el Tri struggled for ideas and were overrun in the midfield.

Mexico struggled with the quality of Juan Manuel Vargas on Peru's left wing, and if it had not been for a strong display from goalkeeper Luis Michel, then Peru could have won this match by a much larger deficit. In reality, Michel made some excellent saves and kept the score down to 1x0 to Peru.

As had happened against Chile, Mexico looked extremely one-dimensional in this match. They did manage to register a few attempts on goal during the 90 minutes, but never really deserved anything more than a defeat.

In their final match against Uruguay, Tena altered the team and moved to a 4-4-1-1 shape, seeming more interested in giving his players match experience rather than chasing a result. The only personnel change from the 3-5-2 saw Miguel Ángel Ponce come in to the side to replace Javier Aquino, but the player's positions were tweaked considerably. Hiram Mier moved from the centre back trio to right back - leaving Reynoso and Araujo in the middle - and Dárvin Chávez dropped deeper to left back. Ponce played as Chávez's replacement on the left hand side of the midfield, with the rest of the side was kept the same. 

The 4-4-1-1 formation vs Uruguay

Against Uruguay they went 1x0 down early on, but still had an impressive first half and did not give much away to Uruguay's similar 4-4-2 formation. At half time however, Tena decided to make two substitutions and brought off dos Santos and Aguilar, certainly two of el Tri's more impressive players.

Regarding Mexico's best performers in the tournament, you cannot really look past midfielder Jorge Enríquez of Chivas Guadalajara. Enríquez, who played every minute of Mexico's group games, was imposing in the midfield, showing good dribbling skills and exceptional determination.

So where do Mexico go from here? Well, eight members of the squad (including Enríquez) will join up with the under-20 side to contest the 2011 Youth World Cup taking place in Colombia which runs throughout August. 

Copa Libertadores preview

One of the most-watched football tournaments in the world, the group stage of the Copa Libertadores gets properly underway this week. The tournament has the same structure as the UEFA Champions League, in that there are eight groups of four teams, and the top two teams progress to the knockout rounds. In South America, all but two of the opening group games will take place this week, with Fluminense x Argentinos Juniors played last week (a 2-2 draw), and Independiente x Peñarol to take place next week.

So with 14 games, 28 teams, 11 nations represented and a stonking 49,000km to be travelled by the away teams, you could be forgiven for feeling a little bit out of your depth. However, have no fear, as we preview all of this week's action, game-by-game.

Tuesday 15th February

Vélez Sársfield x Caracas
Deportes Tolima x Guaraní
Deportivo Tachira x Santos
San Luis x Libertad
América x Nacional

First up we go to Buenos Aires, where Torneo Apertura runners-up Vélez Sársfield take on the 2009/10 Venezuelan champions Caracas. Both teams have just started the 2010/11 season in each of their respective nations, Vélez played out an exciting 2-2 draw with Independiente, while Caracas are 5 games in with a fairly poor 7 points. By all accounts this should be a pretty straighforward win for Vélez, as Caracas are not a team for them to fear, a far-cry from the side that shocked the whole of South America by reaching the quarter finals in 2009.

Next we go north to the west of Colombia, where Deportes Tolima play Guaraní of Paraguay in the Group 7 opener. There has been much talk surrounding Tolima recently, after famously eliminating Brazilian giants Corinthians in the qualifying rounds. It is generally accepted that Corinthians did not take their opponents seriously enough, and were caught off guard by Tolima's high tempo attacking play during the second leg in Ibagué. Los Piajos will have no such element of surprise tonight, as they take on a Guaraní side who will have prepared well for this encounter. It is imperative for each of these sides to take points off each other in this group, as with Cruzeiro and Estudiantes de la Plata widely expected to sail through in first and second spot, every point is absolutely vital for these other two sides.

We stay in the north of the continent for our next game, as the tournament's early favourites Santos begin their campaign with an away trip to Venezuela to take on Deportivo Táchira. Santos have made a good start to the season, sitting in second place in the Campeonato Paulista, while their opponents Táchira are in an interesting position, having already sealed their qualification to next year's group stages by winning the Apertura in Venezuela. O Peixe expect to start with Neymar up front, partered by either Keirrison or the impressive Maikon Leite. It will be Neymar's first appearence for Santos since winning the South American U-20 Championships in Peru. Santos will be looking for three points in what they hope will be a long and successful Libertadores campaign, while Táchira may just be hoping not to lose by several goals.

Finally we go to Mexico for the two late kick-offs, as San Luis host Libertad and América play Nacional in what is undoubtedly the game of the day. One factor in these games is the absolutely huge distances that the away sides have had to travel, Libertad have gone 6,600km from the Paraguayan capital of Asunción, while Nacional have travelled the longest distance anyone will travel in this year's Libertadores, a truly stunning 7,100km from Montevideo. The games themselves should be interesting affairs, Libertad will be aiming to get some points on the board early in Group 1, a group they are expecting to top. In the other match, every single point will be so valuable in Group 3, and with Fluminense and Argentinos Juniors playing out a 2-2 draw in the opening game, either of these sides will be desperate to sit in first place at the end of the week.


Wednesday 16th February

Unión Española x Universidad Católica
Cruzeiro x Estudiantes de la Plata
Emelec x Internacional
Jaguares x Jorge Wilstermann
Once Caldas x Universidad San Martín

Wednesday's action kicks off in Santiago with an all-Chilean affair as Unión Española take on Universidad Católica in Group 4. Although not a traditional rivalry, these two Santiago clubs will both be absolutely desperate for the points in this one. Group 4 looks like an easy win for the previously mentioned Vélez Sársfield, so these teams will regard each other as the direct competition for second place. It promises to be a good game of football, as both of these sides have an attractive, flowing style of play. Unión usually adopt a 4-2-1-3 with Uruguayan playmaker Ligüera pulling the strings behind the front three, while Universidad go for a more "Italian" 4-3-1-2.

Next is the game of the round, and arguably the game of the entire group stage, Cruzeiro x Estudiantes de la Plata. A replay of the 2009 final (Estudiantes ended up winners on that occasion), these are two of the biggest clubs in recent Copa Libertadores history. However Estudiantes will go in to this year's tournament without the coach that presided over their recent success (and the Libertadores win over Cruzeiro in 2009), Alejandro Sabella, who decided to leave his post last month. The shock of Sabella's departure may cause problems for the Argentine champions, however the talented and hard-working squad is still there, and they will be expecting nothing less than victory. I'm expecting a close game in this one, possibly a draw or perhaps Cruzeiro to sneak it by one goal.

While all the fuss is going on in Minas Gerais, the reigning champions Internacional begin their defence of the trophy in Group 6 away to Emelec of Ecuador. In preparation for this tournament, Inter have adopted an interesting strategy and are only using their B team in the Campeonato Gaúcho, choosing not to over-work their stars for the Libertadores and the Brasileirão. They should win this game and go on to qualify comfortably from the group, however I do not feel Inter have been anywhere near the same side that won last year's tournament.

After the 2010 success, praise was heaped upon Andres D'Alessandro, Tinga and super-sub Giuliano, while the invaluable play of winger Taison was somewhat overlooked, and he was sold to Metalist Kharkiv in the Ukraine. Since then, Inter have suffered from "possession without penetration" without a pacey, direct player like Taison. This frailty was exposed to the whole world in December, where they failed to make possession count and fell to TP Mazembe in the World Club Cup. In the recent transfer window, they neglected to replace Taison with someone of similar attributes, opting instead to sign two more Argentines, forward Fernando Cavenaghi and defensive midfielder Mario Bolatti, and Zé Roberto from Vasco. It is my opinion that if Inter try to play the same way as they have since last year, they will really struggle against any organised side. 

The other game in group six kicks off just afterwards, with Jaguares of Mexico hosting Bolivian side Jorge Wilstermann. Both teams are in interesting positions coming in to this year's tournament, the Mexican side have started very poorly in the 2011 Torneo Clausura which puts them in real danger of relegation this year, so they will most likely be focusing on improving their domestic form as opposed to preparing for continental competition. However Jorge Wilstermann are in an even worse position, finishing in last place in the second half of last year and finding themselves relegated to the second tier of Bolivian football. Understandably, Wilster will have their eyes on domestic promotion instead of Libertadores success, though their domestic campaign does not kick-off until June. Poor domestic form aside, Jaguares are clear favourites in this one, expect a good few goals for the home team.

The final game on Wednesday night takes place in Colombia, as Once Caldas take on Peruvian champions Universidad San Martín. This will be an extremely tough match for San Martín, as Once are very hard to beat at the Estadio Palogrande in Manizales, this superb home form being one of the main reasons for their surprise Libertadores success in 2004. San Martín will have a good go at it though, they have very little to lose as they do not exactly have a long history or large numbers of fanatic supporters. Their story is an interesting one, founded in 2004 by the local university (the Universidad San Martín de Porres), they have since won three Peruvian titles in their six short years in operation. They have a small support, mainly just students at the university, and their mascot is a man dressed as a tooth, a homage to the fact that most of their fans are studying dentistry.

Thursday 17th February

Léon de Húanuco x Junior
Grêmio x Oriente Petrolero
Cerro Porteño x Colo-Colo
Godoy Cruz x LDU Quito

Opening Thursday night's matches, we go to Peru with Léon de Húanuco taking on Junior Barranquilla of Colombia in Group 2. This is Léon's first appearence in the Copa Libertadores, after reaching the final of the Peruvian championships this year. Unlike the previously mentioned San Martín, Léon have a good number of fans, and they will be out in force on Thursday night to try and unsettle their Colombian opponents. This is an absolutely key game in Group 2, as with Grêmio expected to run away with the top spot, there are three fairly low-profile sides fighting for the second place. Additionally, this game should be quite an interesting tactical battle, with the home side adopting a 3-4-1-2 against Junior's favoured 4-3-1-2.

The other game in Group 2 kicks off right after, with group favourites Grêmio hosting Bolivian champions Oriente Petrolero. With the sale of their top-scorer Jonas to Valencia at the start of the year, there is definitely a big gap in this Grêmio squad. Also with replacement André Lima misfiring up front, it looks like they may struggle for goals this year. It is expected that Grêmio may find things tough in this year's Copa Libertadores, but they should not have any problems against the refineros from Santa Cruz.

Later we have one of the most important games of the round, one sure to attract a lot of attention from the two nations involves, as Cerro Porteño, the biggest club in Paraguay, take on Colo-Colo, Chile's biggest side. This promises to be a grand spectacle, with La Olla Azulgrana in Asunción bound to be full to the brim. I'm expecting a win for the away side, as they seem to have the better squad at the present time, all that remains to be seen is if they can overcome Cerro's home advantage. Keep an eye out for Colo-Colo's front two, Ezequiel Miralles and Esteban Paredes, a partnership that brings plenty of goals.

The last game of the week sees the Libertadores group stage come to the Argentine province of Mendoza for the first time as Godoy Cruz host Ecuadorian champions LDU Quito. You would be hard pressed to find a tougher game for Godoy Cruz to start their Libertadores story than against veterans and 2008 champions LDU Quito. A very organised and very hard to beat side, Liga de Quito will have their eyes on the trophy this year. At their home ground in Quito they are a huge challenge for any team thanks to their stadium being at such high altitude, and they pride themselves in their fitness and being able to stretch their opponents for the full 90 minutes, in high altitude or not. Godoy Cruz will have a very tough job in this one, but perhaps they can get a slice of beginner's luck.

So that's it! It promises to be a great week of Libertadores action, and hopefully reading this has given you a bit of useful background information. Regarding where to watch the games, in Europe, www.bet365.com will be showing every single Libertadores game this week through their Live Streaming service. It is completely free of charge and all you need to do is register on the site and you can get access to every Libertadores match this season, straight from your computer. For readers in the UK, you will be pleased to hear that the Copa Libertadores will be shown live on TV thanks to the new Premier Sports channel. They will broadcast Cruzeiro x Estudiantes on Wednesday night, check their website for more information. 

WC2010: Whos Going? (Part 6)

World Cup is fast approaching, so here's some more info on some of the qualified nations. I hope to finish this quite soon, so hope you can find them interesting.

IVORY COAST

Since Pelé famously predicted an African nation would win the World Cup by the year 2000, the African qualifiers are always scrutinised before the World Cup and people speculate over whether an African team will finally take the trophy. This year, many supporters and pundits say that the best chance for an African victory lies with Les Éléphants of the Ivory Coast.

Never before has there been an African nation who can call upon so many well-known, top class footballers than this year's Ivory Coast squad. Boasting such household names as Didier Drogba, Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Didier Zokora and Salomon Kalou, they really have a lot of true strength all over the field. However as has been proven in football many times over the years, big names do not make a good football team. Ivory Coast have suffered from a lack of team spirit and a distinct laziness from some top players in recent times, and if this continues in South Africa then they will surely fail.

The introduction of Sven Goran-Eriksson as manager seems to be a good choice, but as he does not have much time to really unite the squad as a unit, Les Éléphants will need to rely on the influence and leadership of their captain Didier Drogba.

The Ivory Coast find themselves in the "Group of Death" that is Group G where they will face Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. Any nation would have a tough job of qualifying from that group, but with Brazil looking sure to finish first, and North Korea true underdogs, the Ivory Coast should look to single out Portugal as their main rival and attempt to overcome them to reach second place.

Star Man: Didier Drogba

One of the best centre-forwards in world football when playing with English champions Chelsea, Drogba takes on a considerably different role when he plays for his country. At Chelsea he is employed as a centre forward who is given good service from both wings and the team is led by captain John Terry and Frank Lampard. The difference for his national team is that Drogba is the one with the responsibility of leading the team.

Don't be fooled into thinking that this is a one-man team, but Drogba's leadership and world-class quality can grind out results even when the rest of the team isn't playing particularly well. He should end the World Cup as Ivory Coast's top goalscorer, and he will be hoping to lead them as far as he can.

Player to Watch: Gervinho

Gervais "Gervinho" Yao Kouassi, 22, has a nickname that sounds a little more suited to a player in the squad of their Group G opponents Brazil, but like captain Drogba, Gervinho embodies everything that you would expect from an Ivorian footballer. The Lille forward is staking his claim to start up front alongside the Chelsea striker, and in my opinion Sven Goran-Eriksson should grant him that spot.

Listing Drogba as his main influence and idol, Gervinho takes several talents from his captain’s game. From his bullish, almost superhuman strength on the ball, to his natural eye for goal and expert finishing, and even down to the hairstyle.

Keep an eye on him in this year's Finals, a really dangerous and exciting footballer.

Prediction: With Portugal looking a bit lacklustre, I expect the Ivorians to finish 2nd in Group G. However their last-16 tie would then more than likely be up against Spain, who look too strong for them. They have the squad to go far, but I fear their draw will see them leave in the last-16.

MEXICO

The Mexicans, in my opinion, always bring something exciting to the World Cup finals. I'm sure most of you remember their clash with the USA in 2002, also the fantastic second round match against Argentina in 2006. Whether it is a memorable match, or memorable individual performances like Cuauhtemoc Blanco's sublime skills in 1998 or Jorge Campos' eccentric goalkeeping and zany kits in 1994, Mexico always leave the supporters entertained.

This year we will be hoping for something similar when they open the Finals against hosts South Africa. Mexico are a team who have passed through a lot of ups and downs recently, and a few different managers. Now they seem to have found some stability with Javier Aguirre as boss. El Vasco ("The Basque") has brought a new found optimism to the Mexican fans, with many of them hopeful of a memorable World Cup appearance.

The squad itself is littered with gems but also flaws. For example they have a great young attacking pedigree with players like Giovani dos Santos, Andres Guardado, Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez, and alongside that they have strong experienced players like Rafael Marquez, Carlos Salcido and the aforementioned Cuauhtemoc Blanco still running the midfield at 37 years old. On the other hand they have some problematic positions on the field, with heavily criticised Adolfo "Bofo" Bautista struggling to impress in his midfield spot. This is a hard problem to solve, with the squad itself only having 5 recognised midfielders, something which could leave them struggling against teams who like to dominate in midfield.

Mexico are entered into Group A in the Finals this year, meaning they will face the hosts South Africa aswell as former world champions Uruguay and France. It is a tough group for el Tri, but if they can play well as a team they should qualify alongside either Uruguay or France.

Star Man: Andres Guardado

Andres Guardado is one of the more experienced of Mexico's young attacking contingent. At 23 he has made 51 appearences for the national side, including a substitute appearance against Argentina in World Cup 2006. He plays on the left of midfield for Mexico and his club Deportivo La Coruna, and he is an automatic starter for both squads.

Truly Guardado is a player that the football world should really start to notice. One of the most energetic wingers I have seen in a long time, Guardado can run up and down the left flank for the full 90 minutes. At only 5’6” (169cm for our metric friends) he does have a slight figure, so you would be forgiven for thinking he would be knocked off the ball easily. However the reality is that Guardado has an ability, similar to that of fellow La Liga winger Lionel Messi, to throw his weight around so that it is near impossible to knock him down.

I can’t wait to see him in this year’s finals, as he is an exciting player to watch and has a huge future ahead of him. I truly believe he is one of the best young left wingers in the world just now and I expect big things in the future.

Player to Watch: Carlos Vela

Vela is a name many supporters will have heard of by now; he has been highly coveted by Arsenal for many years in their youth system, and has started to break into the first team with some impressive substitute performances. He is a real favourite in Mexico, with their support believing that he and his team-mate Giovani dos Santos will be two of the best forwards in the world in a few years time.

It is not at all guaranteed that Vela will start for el Tri, but with him held in such high regard by the fans and manager, he will surely get plenty of playing time. Vela brings a really raw attacking pedigree to the team, with great pace and fabulous dribbling skills. However, one thing about Vela’s play which will need to improve in time is in his decision making. Sometimes when he is in possession he doesn’t always know the right time to pass, or when it’s better to keep the ball than to give it away, though he is still young and hopefully he will develop this intelligence over time.

Prediction: They have a decent chance to qualify from Group A, and could find themselves with a really nice draw in the later stages. However I predict Mexico to exit in the group stage behind Uruguay and France.

NETHERLANDS

Regarded by many as one of the strongest teams in this year's Finals, Netherlands will be looking to try and finally win their first ever World Cup after many years of trying. Many would say that this year is one of their best chances since 1978, with their squad full of top class players and real danger in attack. The Dutch have their sights set on the Final, and will settle for nothing less.

Coach Bert van Marwijk will surely stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation that saw them qualify with a 100% record. It is an attacking, sometimes spectacular, but yet a secure system. Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie link up to form a scintillating attacking force, while Mark van Bommel, Joris Mathijsen and Andre Ooijer keep the back door shut with a really strong defensive spine. Definitely one of the best squads in this years finals, if they can stay strong as a unit, their quality could take them far.

The Dutch are in Group E for this year's finals, there they will face Japan, Denmark and Cameroon. It's a tough group for sure, Denmark are currently one of the strongest underdogs in Europe, and I believe Cameroon to be the strongest African side in the draw. Holland will have enough to finish 1st in Group E, but they should be wary of their last 16/quarter final/semi final opponents, with possible opponents including Italy, Brazil and Spain.

Star Man: Wesley Sneijder

Holland and Inter Milan’s creative force Wesley Sneijder is certainly one of the top midfielders going to the World Cup this year. He has been an inspiration for both club and country recently, and he plays a particularly key role in the national team. A true team player, he links up so well with his team-mates, and is very energetic, always adopting a “pass and move” style of football.

Another great attribute of his is his set-pieces. Whether it be corners or free-kicks, Sneijder is one of the top set-piece takers in the world at the moment. He is deadly when shooting for goal, and he can pick out a perfect cross almost every time, all this with either his left or right foot.

For the Netherlands, he initiates most of their attacking moves. A player truly deserving of the number 10 jersey, expect him to shine in South Africa.

Player to Watch: Eljero Elia

As a young forward in this Netherlands squad, you may not expect him to feature much behind Robben, Kuyt, Huntelaar et al, but there is a buzz in Holland surrounding Eljero Elia that they haven’t seen for a long time. Since moving to Hamburg in 2009, Elia has been gathering admirers from around Europe, and is now featuring heavily in the Oranje national setup.

Playing as a winger or forward, Elia is expected to be used liberally as a substitute by van Marwijk. Scottish fans like myself may remember his name from our decisive World Cup qualifier against the Oranje, where Elia was the man who scored the only goal into our defence at Hampden.

Elia’s best attributes lie in his speed and great dribbling abilities. He is relentless in attack, always happy to bomb forward and pressure his defender. He should perform well this year in South Africa, and I’m expecting a bright future from him.

Prediction: They should advance through their group easily enough, and they have the team to see off the best of opponents in the later rounds. I expect they will exit at the quarter finals, where they have a good chance of facing teams like Brazil or Spain.

NEW ZEALAND

Unfortunately, New Zealand are a nation that I do not know much about, so this report will come more from what I’ve read and the little bits of them that I have seen. But well, I don’t think many people know much about the Kiwis.

Traditionally a nation mad about rugby, the national football team (nicknamed “the All Whites”) have struggled to gain popularity thanks to some disappointing campaigns previously. This year is the second team the All Whites have qualified for the World Cup, the first time coming in 1982 in Spain where they lost all three group games against Brazil, the Soviet Union and Scotland.

New Zealand seem to have gained their success through a strong and stubborn defence, and a dangerous attacking partnership of Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen. Generally the squad is made up of players relatively unknown to most football fans, although team captain Ryan Nelsen, and aforementioned Chris Killen and Motherwell winger Michael McGlinchey may be recognisable to SPL followers.

Group F is New Zealand's group this year, where they face reigning champions Italy, as well as Paraguay and Slovakia. The Kiwis have a massive task ahead of them if they are thinking of qualifying, even defeating Slovakia looks like an unlikely prospect. They should have a great game against Italy, giving them the chance for a truly huge upset.

Star Man: Ryan Nelsen

Without a doubt the All Whites’ most important player, the Blackburn Rovers centre-half leads the resolute defensive line that has brought New Zealand to the finals. Nelsen, captain for both club and country, has fantastic determination and organises the All Whites defence expertly.

In a group where they will be on the back foot for most of the time, his leadership and quality will be absolutely imperative to the Kiwis.

Player to Watch: Shane Smeltz

New Zealand’s number 9 and main goal source, Shane Smeltz will have a big task ahead of him, trying to get past such stubborn defences as the Italians and the Slovakians. Playing for Gold Coast United in Australia’s A-League, he’s pretty much unknown to most of us here.

From what I have seen of him for the national team, he is a good finisher who links up well with target man Chris Killen. I’m not sure how he would fare against some of the World’s top defences, but looks an interesting player. Unfortunately I don’t know anyone who follows the A-League so can’t really shed any more light on him.

Prediction: The squad and fans will have a great time in South Africa, and I'm sure a lot of neutrals will be cheering them on against Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia. However, sorry Kiwis, they're finishing fourth in Group F...