Italy vs New Zealand Fifa world Cup Preview

he Italians are notoriously slow starters at major competitions, but even the most dedicated Azzurri fan must have been fretting when their team – already 1-0 down to Paraguay - returned for the second half without Gianluigi Buffon. However, while Buffon’s back injury - which will keep him sidelined against the Kiwis – was undoubtedly a blow, Italy recovered their composure in the second half to claim a deserved 1-1 draw. With an identical result in Group F’s other match leaving the section perfectly poised, nothing less than a win, preferably of the convincing variety, will satisfy an expectant Italian public.

However, Marcello Lippi knows from experience that New Zealand will be no pushovers. Not many teams put three goals past the Italians, but that was just what Ricki Herbert’s All Whites managed when the sides met in a June 2009 friendly here in South Africa. Lippi’s side eventually triumphed 4-3, but were given a real scare by a Kiwi side who go into Sunday’s rematch buoyed by winning their first-ever FIFA World Cup point in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Slovakia.