Italy

New Zealand rescued a point in their first game but it wasn't special. This one later today against Italy, I suspect, will be one they want to forget.

I don't think it will necessarily be because New Zealand played badly - they will fight for everything and show levels of determination usually only associated with Wayne Rooney playing Connect Four, but Italy will have a point to prove and that will be picking up three points in the most efficient manner possible.

Italy are going to have to wait on test results before knowing the full extent of the injury to goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after he was forced out of the game against Paraguay with a nerve injury.

Buffon is considered by many as the best keeper in the world. We rate him in the top two and without him, there will be a concern that Italy can not replicate their success of 2006 - as for some, he is considered inspirational.

For a moment, there was an upset on the cards as Paraguay went in at half time 1-0 up, but actually the goal only served to wake Italy up because in the second half, they were a different team and they could have won.

In fact, I'll go so far to say had they played the first half like they played the second, they would have won, but they didn't and they would have learnt a lesson from that.

Italy surprised me in 2006. They were not the last team I thought were going to win and there is no doubt they have quality player and they know how to play football, but they were not on my list of teams that I thought were going to win.

Tonight they face Paraguay in Cape Town and both teams could win this. This isn't anyone playing Greece and it should make for an interesting game. When I say both teams could win, I also expect both teams to go through from this group so it might very well be a draw and this result won't be seen as that relevant when they both get six points against the other two teams in Group F.